Advent Reflection 09 December

Shepherd’s Pipe Carol

 

Pause for a moment

 

Have you ever played a musical instrument?

 

Listen to the music

 

Going through the hills on a night all starry
On the way to Bethlehem
Far away I heard a shepherd boy piping
On the way to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
"Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
Is come to bring us peace on earth
And He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem."

 

       "Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
         On the way to Bethlehem
         Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
         On the way to Bethlehem?
                 Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:"
                 Dance and sing for the joy that Christ the newborn King
                 Is come to bring peace on earth
                 And He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem." 

"None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem;
But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
When I get to Bethlehem."

Angels in the sky came down from on high
Hovered over the manger where the babe was lying
Cradled in the arms of his mother Mary
Sleeping now at Bethlehem

 

"Where is the new King, shepherd boy piping merrily
Is He there at Bethlehem?"
"I will find Him soon by the star shining brightly
In the sky o'vr Bethlehem."

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
"Dance and sing for joy that Christ the king of Kings
Is come to bring us peace on earth
And He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem."

 

"May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily
Come with you to Bethlehem?
Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle
Is it far to Bethlehem?"

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
"Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
Is born in the stable yonder,
Born for you at Bethlehem."

 

Learn about the carol

 

The "Shepherd's Pipe Carol" was composed by John Rutter in 1966 when he was 18 and studying as an undergraduate at Clare College at the University of Cambridge. Rutter stated that he believed his inspiration for writing it came from when he sang as a boy soprano during the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and heard pipe music as the title character headed for Bethlehem with the Biblical Magi. The carol was first performed by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge conducted by Rutter at a Christmas concert. A few days later, David Willcocks, the director of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, requested a copy of Rutter's manuscript for the "Shepherd's Pipe Carol" and made calls to EMI for the "Shepherd's Pipe Carol" to be published in 1967. It was Rutter's first composition to be published. Rutter and Willcocks later formed a publishing partnership and helped to compile the Carols for Choirs series of hymnals from the second edition for the Church of England.

Prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, choirs in the Baltic states reportedly circulated photocopies and faxes of the "Shepherd's Pipe Carol" to be sung as a sign of resistance to Soviet control.

 

Time for reflection

 

This is one of those carols that can border on the ‘twee’. It would seem not to hold any great theological truths or carry any solemnity like the Advent hymns that we have been looking at. Yet, it speaks of something else. It is perhaps a pointer to the Jesus with the twinkling eye as he laughs with his friends or parries words with the people he meets. It points beyond the ‘baby in a manger’ to ‘a king being born’ – and even the youngest shepherd boy can know that the best he can offer in his pipe-playing may not be valued by anyone else, but will be heard by a King.

 

Time for Action

 

Dust down your old recorder / other instrument and have a play – or have a good sing.