1. |
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O, do not move (X3)
Listen (X3)
To the sound of the gentle beginning
Chanted Gospel reading from 1st John:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. ….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among men, O Christ our God. Who art one of the Holy Trinity. Glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Save us!
The Beginningless God descended to earth,
And dwelt in the womb of the Theotokos.
The King and the Lord of all creation,
Came to refashion and restore Adam.
O men of earth dance and rejoice,
And Ye ranks of Angels be glad.
(Glory to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit)
(Instrumental)
Receive, O Bethlehem, your God and Master,
Behold the weaver of Heaven and Earth
Magi are coming on the Persian road,
To offer Him gifts of adoration.
O men of earth dance and rejoice,
And Ye ranks of Angels be glad.
(Glory to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit)
Nature rejoices and exalts Him,
Come and join us for this Holy Feast day
God has entered our humanity
That we may enter His divinity
O men of earth dance and rejoice,
And Ye ranks of Angels be glad.
(Glory to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit X2)
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2. |
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The one that has no beginning
Descended from Heaven
Into a young man
R leru’I ler…………..Lord from Heaven above (repeats after each verse)
From the Eastern Sunrise
The Magi came
To bring gifts to the Master
Where is the King?
They asked
And then Herod
Got very angry
Leaving Herod
The Magi departed
Following the Star
Lightening the way
Finding Jesus
They gladdened mightily
Praising the Lord
And bowing to Him
They brought gold
To praise him
And pricy incense
For the One from above
The Angels were singing
Above the manger
The heaven and the earth
Gladdening as one
Today
The whole world celebrates
Praising the Lord
And singing for Him
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3. |
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There was great rejoicing
On this Christmas morning
O’er the manger softly glowing
The star was shining
(Choir) Soft and slow
O’er the manger softly glowing
The star was shining
(Soprano/Tenor)
Christ was borne in glory
Of the Virgin Mary
Let us humbly like the Shepherds
Knell in adoration
(Choir)
Let us humbly like the Shepherds
Knell in adoration
(Soprano/Tenor)
Angels softly singing
Glory proclaiming
From the heavens to the manger
Praising God the Savior
(Choir)
From the heavens to the manger
Praising God the Savior
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4. |
The Star of the Lord
06:10
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Chanted prayer from the Nativity Cannons:
“Your birth, O Christ our God,
dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth.
For by Your birth those who adored stars
were taught by a star. To worship You, the Son of Justice,
and to know You, Orient from on High.
O Lord, glory to Thee.”
(Son) What star, oh mother
Shines early in the morning?
(Mother) Hey, it is the star of the Lord.
(Son) It shined, oh mother
High and low.
(Mother) Hey, it shined over the whole Earth below.
(Son) There where it shined, oh mother,
A tree grew up.
(Mother) Hey, all the way up to the blue sky.
(Bulgarian) Boza zvezda, Boza zvezda
Cela dolna zemja
Baza zvezda, Boza zvezda
Cak do sinjo nebe!
(Translation: “God’s star, God’s star.
Shines over the whole Earth!
God’s star, God’s star
All the way up to the blue sky!”)
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5. |
The Coventry Carol
03:59
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Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by lully lulla X2 (the little tiny child)
By-by, lully, lullay
Oh, sisters two how may we do
For to preserve this day?
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
By-by, lully, lullay
Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by lully lulla X2 (the little tiny child)
By-by, lully, lulla
Herod the King in his raging
Charged he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight
All young children to slay
Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by lully lulla X2 (the little tiny child)
By-by, lully, lulla
That woe is me poor child for thee
And ever mourn and day
For thy parting neither say nor sing
By-by, lullay, lullay
Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by lully lulla X2 (the little tiny child)
By-by, lully, lulla
By-by, lullay, lulla
By-by, lullay, lulla
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6. |
There Was a Path
06:35
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There was a path, it was well trod (X2)
Who walked on it? (X2)
The Mother of God.
On the way she met Saint Elizabeth. (X2)
Where are you going, (X2)
My dear sister?
I am going to the church, (X2)
To listen, (X2)
To the evening prayers.
Sister, do not go to church (X2)
They say you are, (X2)
Going to bear a son.
You will have him on the glorious day, (X2)
When the wells’ water, (X2)
Is frozen,
And what news it would be, (X2)
If a maid gave birth, (X2)
To the Son of God.
She gave birth on the glorious day, (X2)
When all the wells’ water (X2)
Was frozen
Not a bird, not a quail, (X2)
Only winter,
Only blizzards.
Only one well’s water did not freeze, (X2)
The one where Mary, (X2)
Was bathing her son.
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7. |
Welcome, O Christ
06:38
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Chanted prayer from the Katavasias (Eighth Ode):
“The furnace moist with due was the image and figure of a wonder beyond nature. For it burnt not the Children whom it had received, even as the fire of the Godhead consumed not the Virgin’s womb into which it had descended. Therefore, let us sing in praise: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him above all forever.”
Out of fiery love you descended from Heaven,
Out of eternal light into thick darkness
Out of eternal beauty into monstrous suffering
Extend your pure hands to those suffocating in sin
Heaven is amazed, the Earth is shaken,
Welcome, O Christ! People rejoice! (X2)
Love knows not fear nor humiliation
Welcome O Christ, Master of Salvation!
Out of fiery love, O King of all beauty,
You descended into the cave of humanity.
Heaven is amazed, the Earth is shaken,
Welcome, O Christ! People rejoice! (X2)
O Holy Virgin, O Golden censor
That God may descend through you, from the Heavenly City,
Ever blessed Lady, O Grace-filled Mother!
Show us now the infant God
Laying in a manger
Heaven is amazed, the Earth is shaken,
Welcome, O Christ! People rejoice! (X2)
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8. |
There Is No Rose
03:19
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There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Je-su
Alleluia (X3)
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space
Resmiranda (X3)
By that rose we may well see
There be one God in persons three
Paresforma (X3)
The angels sung and the shepherds too
Gloria-in-excelsis Deo!
Gaudeamus (X3)
Leave we all this worldly mirth
And follow we this joyful birth!
Transeamus (X3)
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9. |
From the Clear Blue Sky
08:00
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From the clear blue sky, a divine choir
Can be heard sweetly singing. (x2)
Gifted shepherds appear on the hill
Bringing white lambs as gifts. (x2)
A star on the horizon watching over the path,
Shines softly in the distance (x2)
It leads the magi with their precious gifts
Carried in white bags. (x2)
And a frail Infant with holy face
Sits quietly smiling. (x2)
His Mother was cradling Him
And everyone was joyous. (x2)
The holy sky and all the earth
Were illuminated by Him. (x2)
They became holy as they received (Those who let Him in.)
God’s grace and His mercy.
And us, having witnessed this miracle,
Pray and kiss His face. (x2)
Yearning to devote our lives to Him
And praise Him forever. (x2)
From the clear blue sky, a divine choir
Can be heard sweetly singing
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10. |
Down in Yon Forest
05:35
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Chanted Prayer from the Katavasias (Ninth Ode):
"I see a strange and most wonderful mystery: The cave is Heaven; the Virgin the throne of the Cherubim; the manger a room in which Christ, the God who cannot be contained is laid. Him do we praise and magnify.”
Down in yon forest there be a cave
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
Therein lies the power to heal and to save
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
O in that cave is a pallet bed
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
Tis hanged all over with gold and red
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
And at that pallet is a stone
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
Which appeared that night to be a throne
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
Under that cave is a gushing flood
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
From Christ’s own side tis water and blood
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
Beside that bed a shrub tree grows
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
Since He was borne it blooms and blows
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
O hail yon cave where none can sin
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
Cause its gold outside and sliver within
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
Over that bed the moon shies bright
Sing May Queen May Sing Mary
Denoting our Savior was born this night
Sing all good men for the newborn baby
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11. |
Sweet Sleep
05:12
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Sweet sleep has come to your eyes,
Sweet breezes are blowing back and forth.
Sleep had come to my dove,
With a sweet song I say, rock.
I will put my little dove to sleep,
I will say to my little one, rock.
You open like a red rose,
Under your shadow I sit and say, rock.
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12. |
Nativity Fire
04:22
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En-sar-ko-si (Incarnation) Ενσάρκωση
The Son departs His throne aloft
The multitudes part and prostrate
The angles open the portal
The wheels of time lock into place
Soprano: A-thá-na-tos (Immortal) Αθάνατος
Alto: A-gi-os (Holy) Αγιος
The earth prepares for Him a bead
The star illuminates a path
The unheard song begins again
God wraps Himself in human flesh
Soprano: A-thá-na-tos (Immortal) Αθάνατος
Alto: A-gi-os (Holy) Αγιος
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Graham Sparkman Kentucky
For twenty years, Graham Sparkman has actively been involved with multiple aspects of the music industry. Although he
primarily works within the scope of audio engineering and music production, Graham has years of experience as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, arranger and composer.
Graham was born and raised in the small Appalachian town of Hazard, Kentucky.
... more
Graham Sparkman recommends:
Previous project of Graham & Cedric Sparkman
go to album
Live WKIC Recordings From 1949
by The Kentucky Hilltoppers
Produced by Graham Sparkman
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