The Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 5 - Charlie Warren gives us an introduction to today's piece:
"Herbert Howells (1892-1983) composed Here is the little door in 1918 to the words of poet Frances Chesterton (1869-1938). Even in this early work (Howells was 26) there is an indication of the mystical choral style that he would later make his own. The poem depicts the visit of the Magi first through evocative description of the traditionally attributed gifts – gold, myrrh and incense. The second verse is where Howells’s word-painting comes to the fore in illustrating the ambivalence of Chesterton’s text. Christ repays the Magi with his own gifts – a sword and the smoke of battle, and returns the myrrh for embalming the ‘honored happy dead’. There is an uncomfortable tension wrought by the poem and setting which cannot be ignored. How can a message of peace and love be reconciled with a call to arms? Perhaps Here is the little door can serve as a salutory reminder; that there is an  ever-present possibility for bold faith to be used in the service of deadly hate."

Here now, the peace and serenity of the season depicted in gorgeous music.

Here is the little door, lift up the latch, oh lift!
We need not wander more but enter with our gift;
Our gift of finest gold,
Gold that was never bought nor sold;
Myrrh to be strewn about his bed;
Incense in clouds about his head;
All for the Child that stirs not in his sleep.
But holy slumber holds with ass and sheep.

Bend low about his bed, for each he has a gift;
See how his eyes awake, lift up your hands, O lift!
For gold, he gives a keen-edged sword
(Defend with it Thy little Lord!),
For incense, smoke of battle red.
Myrrh for the honoured happy dead;
Gifts for his children terrible and sweet,
Touched by such tiny hands and
Oh such tiny feet.

Here is the little door - Brandenburg Choir

 Here is the little door - The Gesualdo Six

Here is the little door - TENET Vocal Artists