The Gift of Music: Celebrating Christmas and Epiphany
By James Kennerley, Music Minister
The timeless beauty of music remains as powerful as ever during this season. Whether it’s a lively Christmas tune playing in a store or the angelic voices of choristers offer-ing praise to the Almighty, Christmas music has a unique way of lifting our spirits. While Christmas melodies may fill the air well before December 24, in church, we honor Advent’s profound purpose—a time of waiting, preparing, and keeping watch for the birth of Christ. Once He arrives, we joyfully celebrate for a full twelve days, even as the secular world may have already packed away its decorations.
This sacred season of Christmas and Epiphany is graced with some of the most ex-quisite sacred music, much of which we experience through the liturgy at Saint Mary’s. So, let your Spotify playlists echo with Christmas music at least until January 6 - and, in keeping with some Anglican traditions, perhaps even until February 2, the Feast of the Purification, also known as Candlemas!
WE THREE KINGS
We Three Kings is a cherished Christmas carol written in 1857 by John Henry Hopkins Jr., an American cler-gyman and composer. Hopkins created the hymn for a Christmas pageant at the General Theological Semi-nary in New York City, where he served as a music instructor. It holds the distinction of being the first wide-ly popular Christmas carol composed in America.
The piece recounts the journey of the Magi, often referred to as the "three kings," as they follow a star to Bethlehem to honor the newborn Jesus. Each king’s gift symbolizes an important aspect of Christ’s identity and mission: gold represents His kingship on earth, frankincense signifies His divinity, and myrrh foreshad-ows His suffering and death. The carol’s enduring appeal lies in its vivid storytelling and memorable melody, making it a staple of Christmas celebrations around the world.
THE MORNINGSTAR
“Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” translated in the Hymnal 1982 as “How brightly shines the morning star,” is a hymn composed by Philipp Nicolai in 1597 and first published in 1599. Drawing inspiration from Psalm 45, the hymn envisions Jesus as both the bridegroom and the morning star. The melody, also attributed to Nicolai, has inspired countless composers over the centuries, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Men-delssohn, Max Reger, and Hugo Distler. This Epiphany season, the choir will perform a stunning setting by Peter Cornelius, which pairs the chorale with a rich, expressive baritone melody, creating a truly extraordi-nary musical experience.
THE HOLLY BEARS A BERRY
The Sans Day Carol is a traditional Cornish Christmas carol named after the village of St Day in Cornwall, England, known in Cornish as "Sans Day." Though its precise origins are unclear, the carol is believed to date back to the 19th century, with lyrics and a melody rooted in older folk traditions.
The carol celebrates the Nativity through vivid natural imagery, focusing on the holly plant. Each verse uses the holly’s characteristics as symbols of Christ’s life and mission. For example, its red berries represent His blood, its green leaves signify eternal life, and its thorny branches evoke the crown of thorns. The lyrics con-nect these natural symbols to the story of Jesus’ birth and the redemption He brings. A recurring refrain ties the verses together, joyful and repetitive, making the carol both memorable and celebratory.
Musically, the Sans Day Carol features a gentle, pastoral melody typical of English folk songs. It shares thematic similarities with The Holly and the Ivy but is distinct in both its text and musical phrasing. The carol was preserved in the 19th century by Gilbert Hunter Doble, a Cornish clergyman with a passion for local traditions, ensuring its legacy as a cherished part of the Christmas repertoire. Today, it remains a beloved carol, often performed in church services and choral programs during the festive season.
Enjoy the gift of music this Christmas and Epiphany season!