Patrick Comerford
There are just nine days away from Christmas. At noon each day this Advent, I am offering one image as part of my ‘Advent Calendar’ for 2025, and one Advent or Christmas carol, hymn or song.
My image for my Advent Calendar today is of Christmas stars on a plate of mince pies in Stony Stratford, and my choice of an Advent carol today is ‘Star Carol’ (1972) by Sir John Rutter.
Rutter wrote both ‘Christmas Lullaby’ (1989) and ‘Star Carol’ (1972) for the Bach Choir and its then conductor, Sir David Willcocks, for performance at the choir’s popular Christmas concerts in the Royal Albert Hall, London.
These events had been part of Rutter’s life since his childhood, when he attended as a member of the audience. He later became involved in making last-minute musical arrangements backstage. ‘Star Carol’ answered the brief to write a piece with a refrain that could be learnt and sung by children during the concert – they were to enter at the point ‘See his star shining bright’.
‘Star Carol’ was later published in Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs.
Star Carol by John Rutter:
Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem,
Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies;
Bring your gifts, come and worship at his cradle,
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
See his star shining bright
In the sky this Christmas night!
Follow me joyfully;
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
Angels bright, come from heaven’s highest glory,
Bear the news with its message of good cheer:
‘Sing, rejoice, for a King is come to save us,
Hurry to Bethlehem to see the son of Mary!’
See his star etc …
See, he lies in his mother's tender keeping;
Jesus Christ in her loving arms asleep.
Shepherds poor, come to worship and adore him,
Offer their humble gifts before the son of Mary.
See his star etc …
Let us all pay our homage at the manger,
Sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night;
Christ is come, bringing promise of salvation;
Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
See his star etc …
Star Carol lyrics © Oxford University Press
