When Christ was born of Mary free
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General information
Traditional carol, C15th.
Settings by composers
- Anonymous (Traditional) SATB (minor textual variances)
- Arthur Henry Brown SATB
- Tim Pratt SATB
- Richard R. Terry SATB
Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above
- Steve Draper — When Christ was born of Mary free
- Richard R. Terry — Twelve Christmas Carols
Text and translations
English text
When Christ was born of Mary free,
in Bethlehem that fair city,
Angels sang there with mirth and glee
in excelsis gloria.
Herdsmen beheld these angels bright,
to them appearing with great light,
who said: “God’s Son is born this night,
in excelsis gloria.
This King is come to save mankind
in Scripture promises as we find,
therefore this song have we in mind,
in excelsis gloria.
Grant us, O Lord, for thy great grace
in heaven in bliss to see thy face
where we may sing to thy solace,
in excelsis gloria!