Day 6 - To Shepherds As They Watched
This carol sent me down a surprisingly deep rabbit hole as I tried to come up with some interesting things to say about it. The basics are straightforward . . .
The original hymn, Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar (From Heaven Came a Host of Angels), was written by Martin Luther in 1532, based on readings from the Bible in Luke ii. 10, 11, and Matthew, ii. 6. Luther apparently wrote these verses because his first Christmas hymn, the fifteen stanza Vom Himmel hoch o Engel kommt (From heaven above, O angels, come) was considered too long. The verses celebrate Christ's birth with "glad tidings," the arrival of the Christ-child as Savior, and an invitation to all to come to the manger. Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar is one of only two hymns preserved in Luther’s own handwriting.
1) Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar,
From heaven came a host of angels,
erschien den hirten offenbar;
appearing openly to the shepherds;
sie sagten ihn’: „Ein Kindlein zart,
they said to them: "A tender child,
das liegt dort in der Krippen hart.
lies there in the hard manger.
2) zu Bethlehem, in Davids Stadt,
In Bethlehem, in David's city,
wie Micha das verkündet hat,
as Micah has prophesied,
es ist der herre Jesus Christ,
it is the Lord Jesus Christ,
der euer aller Heiland ist.
who is the Savior of you all.
3) Des sollt ihr alle fröhlich sein,
Therefore, you should all be joyful,
daß Gott mit euch ist worden ein.
that God has become one with you.
Er ist geborn eu’r Fleisch und Blut,
He is born of your flesh and blood,
eu’r Bruder ist das ewig Gut.
your brother is the eternal Good.
4) Was kann euch tun die Sünd und Tod?
What can sin and death do to you?
Ihr habt mit euch den wahren Gott;
You have the true God with you;
laßt zürnen Teufel und die Höll,
let the devil and hell rage,
Gottes Sohn ist worden eu’r Gesell.
God's Son has become your companion."
5) Er will und kann euch lassen nicht,
He will and can never leave you,
setzt ihr auf ihn eu’r Zuversicht;
if you place your trust in Him;
es mögen euch viel fechten an:
many may fight against you:
dem sei Trotz, der’s nicht lassen kann.
defy him who cannot desist.
6) Zuletzt müßt ihr doch haben recht,
In the end you must prevail,
ihr seid nun worden Gotts Geschlecht.
you have now become God's offspring.
Des danket Gott in Ewigkeit,
Therefore thank God for all eternity,
geduldig, fröhlich allezeit.
patient and joyful at all times.
It is set to the tune Puer nobis nascitur from the 1582 collection Piae Cantiones (Pious Songs), and the two most famous and widely used harmonizations of the hymn are by Michael Praetorius (1609) and George Ratcliffe Woodward (1910).
Puer nobis nascitur (chant)
Puer nobis nascitur - Montreal Compline Choir
Puer nobis nascitur (Michael Praetorius) - Gabrielli Consort
Next we turn to the English version of Luther's hymn, or should we say, one of the English versions, and one that follows the original very closely. This is the 1854 translation by Richard Massie, To Shepherds As They Watched By Night (below). Here's where my search got tangled and messy. One would think that Massie's fine translation would receive some outstanding performances online. That is not the case as of Christmas 2025. There are a number of "pop" and "contemporary" sounding versions using Massie's words, but no performances by professional choirs. And the only videos presenting the lovely George Ratcliffe Woodward harmonization are by a number of pianists who recorded the arrangement in lieu of a full choir.
1. To shepherds as they watched by night
Appeared a host of angels bright;
Behold the tender Babe, they said,
In yonder lowly manger laid.
2. At Bethlehem, in David's town,
As Micah did of old make known;
'Tis Jesus Christ, your Lord and King,
Who doth to all salvation bring.
3. Oh, then rejoice that through His Son
God is with sinners now at one;
Made like yourselves of flesh and blood,
Your Brother is the eternal God.
4. What harm can sin and death then do?
The true God now abides with you.
Let hell and Satan rage and chafe,
Christ is your Brother--ye are safe.
5. Not one He will or can forsake
Who Him his confidence doth make.
Let all his wiles the Tempter try,
You may his utmost powers defy.
6. Ye shall and must at last prevail;
God's own ye are, ye cannot fail.
To God forever sing your praise
With joy and patience all your days.
To Shepherds As They Watched By Night - George Ratcliffe Woodward harmonization; Andrew Remillard, piano
All this searching then led me to other recordings of choirs singing the same music, but to different texts. Which then steered me to producing a list of other texts that use the 16th century tune as an underlay - some English transformations of Luther's original ideas, and others quite unrelated to Luther's words or Christmas at all . . . though Puer nobis nascitur is a medieval Christmas carol. Here's what I found:
Hymns using the tune Puer nobis nascitur, from the 1582 Piae Cantiones:
- A Little Child the Savior Came
- All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord
- As Angels Joyed with One Accord
- As it fell upon a night
- Come Join with Me
- Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth
- Creating Spirit, Holy Lord
- Creator of the Stars of Night
- Emmanuel, We Sing Thy Praise
- Epiphany of Wisdom's Dawn
- Father in Heav'n, Who Lovest All
- Good News from Heaven the Angels Bring
- Jesus Christ the Lord is Born
- Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day
- The Lord Whom Earth and Sea and Sky
- My Song Forever Shall Record (Psalm 89)
- My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
- O Father, Listen to Our Prayer
- O God, You Are My God Alone
- O Lord of Hosts, Almighty King
- O Lord, Thy People Gathered Here
- O Love Divine, Who's Constant Beam
- O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
- O Splendor of God's Glory Bright
- O That I Could Forever Dwell
- O Thou Whose Gracious Presence Shone
- On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
- That Easter Day with Joy was Bright
- These Treasured Children
- Thou Lord of Hosts, Whose Guiding Hand
- 'Tis Winter Now, the Fallen Snow
- To Shepherd's as They Watched by Night
- Unto Us a Boy is Born
- Unto Us is Born a Son
- The Virtue of Humility
- We Are But Little Children Poor
- We Praise Thee, God, for Harvests Earned
- What Star is This, with Beams So Bright
Here's one of the best performances that I could find, by a choir singing the music of Puer nobis nascitur and the words What Star is this, with Beams So Bright
The Redeemer Choir
1. What star is this, with beams so bright,
More lovely than the noonday light?
’Tis sent to announce a newborn king,
Glad tidings of our God to bring.
2. ’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed,
“From Jacob shall a star proceed;”
And lo! the eastern sages stand
To read in heav’n the Lord's command.
3. O Jesus, while the star of grace
Impels us on to seek thy face,
Let not our slothful hearts refuse
The guidance of thy light to use.
4. To God the Father, heav’nly Light,
To Christ, revealed in earthly night,
To God the Holy Spirit raise
An endless song of thankful praise!
And here's a beautiful organ prelude on the same tune . . .
Prelude on To Shepherds As They Watched By Night - Paul Manz, composer; Yasmin Phillip, organ
And LASTLY(!), a fine version of a variation on the Puer nobis nascitur tune (in 4/4 time instead of 3/4 time) and to the words As It Fell Upon A Night
Duqeusne University Chamber Singers
1. As it fell upon a night
In the winter weather,
Angels bright in starry height
Began to sing together.
2. Shepherds sleeping on the plain
Woke to see the glory,
All amazed they stood and gazed
And heard the angels’ story.
3. Unto you a child is born
In a manger lowly,
Humble, He, yet born to be
The King of Love most holy.
4. Happy angels from afar,
Cease your singing never!
In excelsis gloria!
Forever and forever.
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