MUSIC. SILENT was composed for this carol by James W. Bixel, who was born at Bluffton, Ohio, November 7, 1913. After graduating from Bluffton College, Bixel studied music in Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he received his Master of Music degree in composition. He taught music in the public schools of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and then spent nearly four years in Civilian Public Service. In the fall of 1947 he became a teacher of harmony and piano in the music department of Bethel College. The tune, begun and completed in one evening, has the distinction of being the only one in the Hymnary composed by a Mennonite. Which leads one to observe that our hymns and tunes, like many other elements in our culture, are “ours” by appreciation and use rather than by invention or creation. It may be the future will find us less “practical” minded than heretofore and that poetic and musical gifts will yet come to fruition to make our contribution to the stream of hymns and tunes that have enriched the worship of the Visible Church of all places and ages.
78. What child is this
William C. Dix, 1837-98
One of numerous carols written by William Dix about 1865.
William Chatterton Dix was the son of a Bristol surgeon. He was educated for a business career and became the manager of a marine insurance company in Glasgow. He maintained, however, his literary interests and wrote the Life of Chatterton, the poet; a book of Pen Pictures of Popular English Preachers; and other works, including several volumes of devotional poetry. He had been ill in bed on Epiphany Day, and after reading the Gospel for the day, he wrote this hymn, finishing it by evening. It became very popular and is found in nearly all English hymnals. The accuracy of the second verse may be questioned—“To that lowly manger bed.” For it is not likely that the babe Jesus was still in the manger when the wise men appeared.
MUSIC. CHRIST THE KING, known in many hymnals as “Greensleeves,” is an old English melody of the 17th century, mentioned somewhere by Shakespeare. It is a joyous tune which may be sung as a solo, or with the sopranos singing the words of the stanzas, while the other parts hum the accompaniment, then all parts singing the refrain in harmony or in unison.
79. Come, all ye shepherds
Traditional
A shepherd carol from Bohemia.
The words and music are traditional.