7408. While Their Flocks the Shepherds Tended

1. While their flocks the shepherds tended,
Heavenly hosts to earth descended,
Singing, with all voices blended,
Fear not, Christ is born today.

2. Eastern seers rich gifts had wrought Him,
Gold, frankincense, myrrh they brought Him;
Guided by a star they sought Him,
Prince of Life and Victory.

3. On that Child with Mary gazing,
Join ye Christians all in raising
Songs to Him whom Heaven is praising,
God incarnate come to men.

4. From this day’s first dawn to even,
Praise to Christ our King be given
By all earth, and all in Heaven,
In our sweetest, loftiest praise.

Text Information
First Line: While their flocks the shepherds tended
Title: While Their Flocks the Shepherds Tended
Latin Title: Quem pastores laudavere
Translator (from Latin): John Fulton
Meter: 88.87
Language: English
Source: Medieval German, sometime between the 13th & 17th Centuries; Appeared in Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young, edited by John H. Hopkins, (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), number 53
Copyright: Public Domain
Tune Information
Name: QUEM PASTORES
Meter: 88.87
Incipit: 13345 65234 54321
Key: F Major
Source: Mel­o­dy from Hoh­en­furth man­u­script, 1410
Copyright: Public Domain



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