DESCRIPTION:
The Choir of Manchester Cathedral, under the direction of Christopher Stokes and accompanied by organist Jeffrey Makinson, perform Welsh composer William Mathias' 'A Babe is Born,' a twentieth century setting of a fifteenth century text. Echoing, in many ways, the choral work of Benjamin Britten and of Peter Maxwell Davies, Mathias' use of bold rhythms and colourful textures has endeared his music to cathedral and chapel choirs, with 'A Babe is Born' a particular Christmastime favourite.

[ Text ]

A babe is born all of a may* (*maid)
To bring salvation unto us.
To him we sing both night and day:
Veni creator Spiritus!

At Bethlehem, that blessed place,

The Child of bliss now born he was;

And him to serve God give us grace:

O lux beata Trinitas!

There came three kings out of the East,

To worship the King that is so free,

With gold and myrrh and frankincense:

A solis ortus cardine!

The angels came down with one cry,

A fair song that night sung they

In worship of that child:

Gloria tibi, Domine!

Noel!

[ Recording available on the disk 'Sing, Choirs of Angels!' (Herald, 2001). ]