O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Congregation)

View/View/print sheet music: 4-hand Piano accompaniment for hymn #208 (PDF) / (.pc)
Obbligato for two flutes (PDF) / (.pc) ?

Words by Phillips Brooks; Music by Lewis H. Redner; Arranged by Sally DeFord

This easy selection is arranged for 4-hand piano and obbligato for two flutes. It's designed to be played with Hymn #208 in the 1985 LDS Hymnbook. For the three verses included in the hymnbook, you can vary the sound by having different combinations of players, e.g., the Primo could be played for verse 1, the Secondo added for verse 2, etc. The 2nd flute is optional, as the 1st flute carries the melodic line of the obbligato throughout.

Please note: the original file for the flute obbligatos contained two typos. These have now (12/9/09) been corrected.

Lyrics

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.