Dec 18: Come to Bethlehem | David Chamberlain, Bountiful, Utah

Today's posting comes from my wife's paternal grandpa, David Chamberlain. From the moment I met him, I knew we'd be best friends. This guy gets me. In fact, he and I are very similar. We both play the piano and organ. We both love music, gardening (we like a well-mowed lawn), vacuuming the house (we're both a little OCD that the lines need to look right when vacuuming) and we both love butter (well so does Grandma too).

"One of my favorite Christmas melodies is a little-known composition by Michael F Moody titled Come to Bethlehem. This piece is one of a series of short compositions created yearly by Brother Moody as a Christmas tradition. He also composed the music for the familiar LDS hymn, "This is the Christ" set to text by President James E. Faust."

"As a ward organist, I was particularly impressed with the relatively simple style of his compositions. By avoiding the use of extraneous notes and complex arrangements, he has been able to focus attention to the beautifully harmonized melodies. For this recording (which I am playing myself), a simplified short arrangement of Mack Wilberg's "Away in a Manager" was added as an introduction."

"It is interesting to me that some of the most inspiring and uplifting music unique to the LDS Church is not complicated or difficult to play. I enjoyed using these arrangements as prelude music for our church meetings at Christmas time."

Come to Bethlehem

Performed by: David Chamberlain

Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott

Music: Michael F Moody

1. O let us go, the shepherds said, to Bethlehem, to Bethlehem.

The Child is born, the Christ is come; O let us go and worship Him.

Chorus

To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem,

The Child is born, the Christ is come,

To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem,

Now let us come and worship Him.

2. O let us come all men today to worship Jesus, Lord and King,

To bring the Babe of Bethlehem our faith, our love, our songs to sing.

Chorus

3. O let us come, let each one come to Jesus Christ to worship Him.

For then will heaven come to earth and crown the Babe of Bethlehem.

Chorus