Page 12 - The Wondrous Cross - CD Booklet

7. A song was heard at Christmas
We now have a selection of Christmas hymns or carols. Our first is by the famous
Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926). He is one of our living hymn writers and, at
the time of writing, had reached the grand old age of 94! He has written over 400
hymns with notable ones such as ‘Tell out my soul’. An ordained priest, he served
his earlier life in evangelical offices until becoming archdeacon of Norwich then
bishop of Thetford.
On his summer holidays he would often write a carol to be included in his annual
Christmas Card. ‘A song was heard at Christmas’ is wonderfully constructed. In
each verse, we look back to an aspect of the Saviour’s birth but then reflect on its
influence today through changed lives in praise of God.

Dudley-Smith often chose well-known tunes to go with his carols and hymns.
Here he chose the modern hymn ‘Holy Apostles’. My version is up-beat and here
scored for piano and string quartet. The first two verses follow familiar lines with
choir unison, women, and then men unison. The third verse is more reflective
and the choir sings harmony a cappella. A string interlude brings us back to the
final rousing verse with descant.
A song was heard at Christmas A star was seen at Christmas,
to wake the midnight sky: a herald and a sign,
a Saviour's birth, and peace on earth, that all might know the way to go
and praise to God on high. to find the child divine.
The angels sang at Christmas The wise men watched at Christmas
with all the hosts above, in some far eastern land,
and still we sing the new-born King, and still the wise in starry skies
his glory and his love. discern their Maker's hand.