https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1RC34N1TfCQ
Cambridgen kappelin sydämessä on Rubensin Lapsen kumartaminen- alttaritaulu. Rubens tuntuu helposti taiteilijalta, joka on vieras nykyajalle, mutta make no mistake, tämä on mestarin työtä. Katsokaa Joosefin kasvoja - hänen mietteensä voi lukea taulusta. Värit ovat loistavia, ne hehkuvat kuin laava. Lasta tervehtivien hahmot on aseteltu mestarillisesti, jokaisella on oma tarinansa kerrottavana. Ei Rubens ole unohtanut huteraa tallikehikköäkään, se näyttää kaikkien rakennussäännösten vastaiselta. Lapsi on kaunis, mutta äiti ei ole tästä maailmasta - onko kielellä edes mahdollisuutta kuvata tätä ilmestystä?
Sävellys on viktoriaanisen kirkkosäveltäjän John Gauntlettin työtä. Hän inspiroitui irlantilaisen Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexanderin tekstistä, joka on tehnyt takuuvarmat sanat myös virteen All Things Bright and Beautiful - tuttu myös Herriotin kirjan otsikosta. Gauntlettin sävellys tavoittaa juhlallisen riemullisesti runon ytimekkään, valkohehkuiseksi nousevan kerronnan, tässä on händeliaanista loistokkuutta.
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My number 1 Carol for this selection is Once in Royal David's City - a Gauntlett and Alexander (she also made All Things Bright and Beautiful) work is the official Carol for procession since 1918. At best, singing this Carol, is a participatory process of choir and audience, or congregation. That is nice. A real gold medalist, as well as Rubens' Adoration - what a masterpiece for an altarpiece! It is Christmas - Rejoice all ye people!
1. Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
2. He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.
3. And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
4. For he is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
5. And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
6. Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
