Christmas Night Arnesen | National Lutheran Choir
CHRISTMAS NIGHT
Written at the age of 24, this is the earliest among Kim's works that has been published. The carol became a favorite in the Nidaros Cathedral in his hometown Trondheim. 12 years laster the moving and beautiful poem by Stig Nilsson was adapted to English by Euan Tait by the piece was finally published.
"Christmas Night" (Julenatt in Norwegian), was written for the choirs in Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim. The SATB version for the boys' choir and the SSAA version for the girls' choir.
SCORES
English version:
SATB & piano (opt. solo instrument*)
Printed scores: Augsburg Fortress, J. W. Pepper
SSAA & piano (opt. solo instrument*)
Printed scores: Augsburg Fortress, J. W. Pepper
Digital scores: Augsburg Fortress
Norwegian version:
SATB & piano
Printed scores: Norsk Musikkforlag
SSAA & piano
Printed scores: Norsk Musikkforlag
Full score: SATB chorus, flute & strings**
Printed scores: Norsk Musikkforlag
Full score: SSAA chorus, flute & strings**
Printed scores: Norsk Musikkforlag
Instrumental parts**
Printed scores: Norsk Musikkforlag
* Recommended instruments: Flute, violin, oboe
** The full score and instrumental parts can also be used for the English version,
however the lyrics in the full score is in Norwegian only.
THE TEXT
English:
We see a light, on Christmas night,
and see, a path now opens wide!
The lost, the stranger calls to us:
the wounded heart so needs us now.
Alive to love, the angels' song,
we'll travel where love leads.
Long locked away, our deepest song
now dances like a child.
We see a light,
this joyful Christmas night.
Then faith awakes, on Christmas night,
and we become love's answering voice!
The water flows, the mountains move,
we see much more than ruined lives.
Alive to love, the angels' song,
we'll travel where love leads.
Long locked away, our deepest song
now dances like a child.
Our faith awakes,
this star-fire Christmas
night!
Let hope arise this Christmas night,
our hearts made great by love's new dawn!
A boundless love, a singing light,
that fills and touches all earth's lives!
Alive to love, the angels' song,
we'll travel where love leads.
Long locked away, our deepest song
now dances like a child.
Let hope arise,
this love-lit Christmas night.
Norwegian:
Du ser et lys i julenatt,
og følger sti som åpner seg.
Du banker på i fremmed hus
og møter folk som trenger deg.
Du fanges inn i englesang,
så tar du veien fatt.
Det synger stilt i hjerterom,
som mørket har forlatt.
Du ser et lys i denne julenatt.
Så våkner tro i julenatt
som svaret på en bønn de ber.
Du runder skjær, du flytter fjell,
fordi du tror, fordi du ser.
Du fanges inn i englesang,
så tar du veien fatt.
Det synger stilt i hjerterom,
som mørket har forlatt.
Du ser et lys i denne julenatt.
Da stiger håp i julenatt
og dagen gryr så ny og stor.
Med kjærlighet så grenseløs
at lyset når alt folk på jord.
De fanges inn i englesang,
så tar de veien fatt.
Det synger stilt i hjerterom,
som mørket har forlatt.
Stig Nilsson (to English by Euan Tait)
SEE ALSO
