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Christmas Card Carol 2019: City of David

Nov 6, 2019

“… unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 KJV

This year’s Christmas Card Carol was inspired, in a roundabout way, by this book:

It’s called “Stone Manger,” by Jeffrey R. Chadwick.

The book is a fascinating look at what the first Christmas wasn’t, and what it might have been, as seen through the eyes of a professional archaeologist. It did something that I love in a good book: it made me curious.

I’ve never been to Bethlehem, nor am I likely to ever attempt that trip. (MS is kindof a beast.)

So I took the tour digitally, courtesy of Google Earth, and wandered around modern Bethlehem to see what I could see. (I must be in great shape, because I wasn’t tired at all by the end of it!)

Everywhere I looked was stone, and stone-like material, and more stone. Most of what I could see was a beautiful pale color, which made even the smallest streets very striking. As I wandered, this couplet sang itself at me:

City of David; city of stone
Arise from your slumber and welcome your own

I rather liked the way that little couplet sounded, singing in my head. So I started writing the rest of the song. And in the end my beloved little couplet didn’t make the cut. 🙁 So sad. I so wanted it to work, but … hard choices.

The song is called “City of David.” It’s set for solo voice and for SATB choir.

Here’s a rendition of the solo version, with vocals by James Loynes:

There are also accompaniment track and piano track recordings available.

If you want to sing my poor, abandoned couplet in your head while you listen to this song, I’m sure it would be very grateful.

Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a happy November!

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