Friday, December 24, 2021

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 2 - See, Amid the Winter's Snow (lyrics: Edward Caswall; music: Sir John Goss) [England]

Edward Caswall wrote the poem See, amid the winter's snow shortly after converting from the Church of England to the Roman Catholic Church and joining the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. It was first published in 1858 as part of The Masque of Mary and Other Poems. In 1871, John Goss wrote the tune Humility specifically for the carol. Later in the year, the publisher Bramley and Stainer selected See, amid the winter's snow to be included in their Christmas Carols Old and New hymn book. The carol went on to became very popular, though some of the original seven verses were cut from later publications.

The hymn tells the story of the nativity from the viewpoint of the shepherds and captures their wonder and joy when they see Jesus. The refrain to each verse continually adds to that excitement by declaring Christmas Day to be the dawn of redemption for the whole world.

See, Amid the Winter's Snow - St. Thomas Choir, Fifth Avenue, New York


See, Amid the Winter's Snow - Sarah Hunt 

 


 See, Amid the Winter's Snow - Cambridge Choir of King's College


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Twelve Days (After) Christmas

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