Dec 4: Candlelight Carol | Anna Timothy, Texas

Today’s posting comes from my sister, Anna Timothy. She is the oldest of the 10 kids. I have no recollection of ever living under the same roof as Anna. She was 17 years old when I was born. Despite no memory of living with her, I have felt close to her. Anna was my second mother. She loved me like my Mom. She took care of me like my Mom. She looks like my Mom (sorry Anna). She did a lot of things that resembled my Mom. A lot of my formative years were spent with her and her children. Anna’s kids have always felt like pseudo-siblings to me. :)

Anna says, “Trying to pick a ‘favorite’ Christmas song has been as difficult as choosing that best piece of candy in a box of chocolates. They are all SO good! So while I love all Christmas music and various performers, I chose Candlelight Carol which is a carol with music and lyrics by the English choral composer and conductor, John Rutter. The carol was written in 1984, and was first recorded by Rutter's own group, the Cambridge Singers, on their 1987 album Christmas Night. The carol has since been recorded by many artists, including Neil Diamond (on his 1994 album The Christmas Album, Volume 2), Joseph McManners (on his 2005 album In Dreams), Aled Jones (including a version in Welsh), and several important choirs including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It has also become a fairly popular carol for choirs at Christmas concerts in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries. Candlelight Carol focuses on describing the Nativity of Jesus and the love of Mary (mother of Jesus) for her son.”

Anna continues, “I first heard this carol more than 27 years ago at a concert done at BYU. The room was darkened and the choir entered from both sides of the auditorium carrying lit candlesticks as they made their way to the stage singing this song. Off to the side was a live nativity scene with Joseph and Mary holding the baby Jesus. I have never had trouble believing the events of that day. I can easily imagine the simplicity of the moment and the significance of his birth, so much that angels actually sang praises from heaven at this world changing event. It was very touching to me that night, sung reverently yet with conviction, and I’ve always remembered this song because of the impression I felt.”

Candlelight Carol

Music & Lyrics by: John Rutter

Performed by: The Cambridge Singers & The City of London Sinfonia

How do you capture the wind on the water?

How do you count all the stars in the sky?

How can you measure the love of a mother?

Or how can you write down a baby’s first cry?

CHORUS

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow

Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.

Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing: The Christ child is born.

Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him,

Seraphim round him their vigil will keep;

Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Savior,

But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.

CHORUS

Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger;

Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay.

Godhead incarnate and hope for salvation:

A child with his Mother that first Christmas day.

CHORUS