Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 3 - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

While shepherds watched their flocks is a traditional Christmas carol describing the Annunciation to the shepherds, with words attributed to the Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's poet laureate Nahum Tate. Professor Jeremy Dibble of Durham University has noted that While shepherds watched their flocks was "the only Christmas hymn to be approved by the Church of England in the 18th century and this allowed it to be disseminated across the country in The Book of Common Prayer." This was because most carols, with their roots in folk music, were considered too secular and thus not suitable for use in church services, at least until the end of the 18th century. As a result of its approved status, many tunes have been associated with the carol. In the United Kingdom, the standard hymn tune for While shepherds watched their flocks is "Winchester Old," originally published in Este's psalter The Whole Book of Psalmes (1592). The tune most commonly used in the United States is David Weyman's adaptation of "Christmas", taken from an aria in Handel's opera Siroe (1728), and arranged by Lowell Mason in 1821.

I love the Old Winchester version, so that's the one we'll explore today . . .

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around

‘Fear not,’ he said, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind

To you in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign

The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed
And meanly wrapped in swaddling bands
And in a manger laid

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song

All glory be to God on high
And to the earth be peace
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease!

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Stories of Music

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - The Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Sarah Cantor and Daniel Mayers (recorders)

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Libera