12 Days of Christmas Hymns: Day 12

     With today being Christmas Eve, it would also be the last day of this series.  For those of you that do not know, I grew up in the Episcopal Church.  Christmas was one of my most favorite church holidays because of the music that we would sing and play with the handbells.  When I think of Christmas music from church, I think of one composer.  John Rutter.  His music is so beautiful to listen to and, if you know the words, sing along with.  I do love the more modern music sung in church, but part of me will always love the traditional hymns of my upbringing.  John Rutter, this post is dedicated to you.

CANDLELIGHT CAROL by John Rutter

Verse 1: How do you capture the wind on the water? How do you count all the stars in the sky? How can you measure the love of a mother, or how can you write down a baby's first cry?

REFRAIN: Candlelight, angel light, firelight and starglow shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn. Gloria, Gloria in excelsis deo! Angels are singing; the Christ Child is born.

Verse 2. Shepherds and wisemen will kneel and adore him, Seraphim round him their vigil will keep; Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Savior, but Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.

(REFRAIN)

Verse 3. Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger: Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay. Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation: A child with his mother that first Christmas Day.

(REFRAIN)

To hear it sung by the Cambridge Singers, click here.

Source of lyrics: http://www1.assumption.edu/chapelchoir/audio/rejoice/candlelight_carol.html