Christmas
Twas In The Moon of Wintertime
- Words:
- Jean de Brébeuf, 1642. Translated by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926.
- Music:
- 'Huron Carol' or 'Jesous Ahatonia' or 'Une Jeunne Pucelle' traditional French, 1557.
- Setting:
- John Murphy, 2008.
- Metre:
- 8 6 8 6 8 8 6 4 7
- 1'Twas in the moon of wintertime,When all the birds had fled,That mighty Gitchi ManitouSent angel choirs instead;Before their light the stars grew dim,And wand'ring hunters heard the hymn:Jesus your King is born,Jesus is born,In excelsis gloria.
- 2Within a lodge of broken barkThe tender babe was found,A ragged robe of rabbit skinEnwrapped His beauty 'round;But as the hunter braves drew nigh,The angel song rang loud and high:Jesus your King is born,Jesus is born,In excelsis gloria.
- 3The earliest moon of wintertimeIs not so round and fairAs was the ring of glory onThe helpless Infant there.The chiefs from far before Him kneltWith gifts of fox and beaver pelt.Jesus your King is born,Jesus is born,In excelsis gloria.
- 4Oh children of the forest free,Oh sons of Manitou,The holy Child of earth and Heav'nIs born today for you.Come kneel before the radiant Boy,Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.Jesus your King is born,Jesus is born,In excelsis gloria.
Scripture
Topics
In the hymnals
- The words are in 45 hymnals indexed by Hymnary.org. Their history →
Words, music and setting are in the public domain. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project (Brian J. Dumont), which places its own work in the public domain. The piano is the FluidR3 General MIDI sound font (MIT licence). How many hymnals print a hymn, and when it was written, is from Hymnary.org.