"Love Came Down at Christmas" [David Rasbach]

"Love Came Down at Christmas" [David Rasbach]

First line of lyrics: Love came down at Christmas

Rasbach, David; music (American)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

2021 [copyright]

Brookfield Press, a division of Hal Leonard

genre: choral music|Christmas music|song|sacred music|anthem

chorus: SATB voices with divisi

instrumentation: piano|flute

initial sharps/flats: two sharps

initial time signature: 3/4

origin: United States

male composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "Christmastide"

Notes about the text: At the end of each stanza of the poem, its last line is repeated, followed by "Gloria, gloria" for the first, "Gloria, gloria, in excelsis?" for the second, and "Gloria, gloria, in excelsis, gloria in excelcis. De gloria, de gloria. De gloria" for the third, and ending with the third line of the first stanza "Love was born at Christmas."

Tempo markings: quarter note = ca. 92

Performance instructions: "Warmly, worshipfully"

Performance history: Performed virtually on 6 December 2020 by the Los Banos Evangelical Baptist Church Virtual Choir. ("LBEBC Virtual Choir | Love Came Down on Christmas")

Recordings: "LBEBC Virtual Choir | Love Came Down on Christmas." Performance by the Los Banos Evangelical Baptist Church Virtual Choir. Facebook, uploaded by LBEBC Worship, 6 Dec. 2020, https://www.facebook.com/lbebc.worship/videos/lbebc-virtual-choir-love-came-down-on-christmas/193501975656004/.
"LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS (SATB Choir) - Christina Rossetti/David Rasbach." YouTube, uploaded by Hal Leonard and Shawnee Press Church Choral, 1 June 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-ze1T2f6sQ.

Dedication: "For Rushingbrook Singers"

Notes: The composition is described on the publishers website as, "An expressive piano part flows easily through the fabric of this choral tapestry. The sparkling flute obbligato is a shimmering addition to the anthem's possibilities. Capturing a classic Christmas sound, this piece is ideal for concert or sanctuary use." ("Love Came Down at Christmas")

Format 1: musical score

16 pages; performance time 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

Other data reference(s): "Love Came Down at Christmas." Shawnee Press, https://www.halleonard.com/product-family/PC24076/love-came-down-at-christmas. Accessed 9 March 2021.

Cataloguer: Rosie Lawless, University of Ottawa

This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Love Came Down at Christmas." Shawnee Press, https://www.halleonard.com/product-family/PC24076/love-came-down-at-christmas. Accessed 9 March. 2021.

Record: CRM-christmastide-rasbach

"Copyright © 2020 by HAL LEONARD LLC | International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved"

The Christina Rossetti in Music project website is hosted in Canada at the University of Ottawa Library, and we aim to comply with Canadian copyright laws. If you believe we have violated Canadian copyright law, please contact us at christinarossettimusic@uottawa.ca. The Christina Rossetti in Music project is strictly not for profit and intended for research and educational purposes only.