Tolkien Noel

Words: J. R. R. Tolkien
Music: Robert Loretz
In 2013, a lost Christmas poem of J.R.R.Tolkien written in 1936 was recovered from the annual magazine of Our Lady’s School, Abingdon. “Noel” paints the transformation of the world from chaos and darkness to light and glory. The catalyst is a song that rises from the heart of Mary to the heavens, as she first beholds her Son. Heaven joins the maiden’s song, prompting the whole earth to join the heavenly song, as Christendom is born. This original musical setting by Robert Loretz captures the medieval folk feel evoked in the words.

Glad is the world and fair this night with stars about its head. And the hall is filled with laughter and light, and fires are burning red. The bells of Paradise now ring with bells of Christendom, and Gloria we will sing that God on earth is come that God on earth is come!

Grim was the world and grey last night, the moon and stars were fled. The hall was dark without song or light, the fires were fallen dead. The wind in the trees was like to the sea and over the mountain's teeth it whistled bitter cold and free, as a sword leapt from its sheath as a sword leapt from its sheath. The Lord of snows upreared his head his mantle long and pale, upon the bitter blast was spread and hung o'er hill and dale. The world was blind, the boughs were bent, all ways and paths were wild: Then the veil of cloud apart was rent, and here was born a Child and here was born a Child. The ancient dome of heaven sheer was pricked with distant light; a star came shining white and clear alone above the night. In the dale of dark, in that hour of birth, one voice on a sudden sang: Then all the bells in Heav'n and Earth together at midnight rang together at midnight rang. Mary sang in this world below; they heard her song arise, o'er mist and over mountain snow to the walls of Paradise, and the tongue of many bells was stirred in Heaven's tow'rs to ring when the voice of mortal maid was heard, that was mother of Heaven's King that was mother of Heaven's King. Glad is the world and fair this night with stars about its head. And the hall is filled with laughter and light, and fires are burning red. The bells of Paradise now ring with bells of Christendom, and Gloria, Gloria we will sing that God on earth is come that God on earth is come!

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