Setting the standard for choral excellence for… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Miller, conductor
Setting the standard for choral excellence for 90 years, the Westminster Choir is composed of students at Westminster Choir College, a division of Rider University’s Westminster College of the Arts, in Princeton, N.J. It has been the chorus-in-residence for the Spoleto Festival USA since 1977, performing both in concert and as the opera chorus.
The ensemble’s 2010-2011 season includes a concert tour of Florida, performances at its home in Princeton, a broadcast of Westminster’s annual An Evening of Readings and Carols holiday concert and its annual residency at the Spoleto Festival USA.
Its second recording with Maestro Miller, Noël, was released in September. A collection of French Christmas music and sacred works, the recording also features Westminster alumna Jennifer Larmore, the most recorded mezzo-soprano of our era, and organist Ken Cowan, a member of Westminster’s faculty. The recording is also the centerpiece of the PRI Radio broadcast Noël – A Christmas from Paris, hosted by Bill McGlaughlin.
The choir’s debut recording with Maestro Miller, Flower of Beauty, received four stars from Choir and Organ magazine and earned critical praise from American Record Guide, which described the Westminster Choir as “the gold standard for academic choirs in America.”
O Come All Ye Faithful
Westminster Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh come ye, come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him born the King of angels
O come let us adore him Christ the Lord
God of God light of light
Lo he abhors not the virgin's womb
Very God begotten not created
Sing choirs of angels sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God in the highest
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord
See how the sheperds summoned to his cradle
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear
We too will thither hend our joyful footsteps
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to thee be glory given
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord
The lyrics of Westminster Choir's "O Come All Ye Faithful" open with an invitation for all faithful people to come rejoice and be triumphant in their worship of Christ, who was born in Bethlehem. The chorus encourages everyone to come together and adore him as the King of angels and the Lord. The second verse delves into the nature of Christ, describing him as the "light of light" and the "very God begotten not created." This is a reminder that Christ is not just an ordinary man, but rather the divine son of God.
The third verse is a plea for the choirs of angels and the citizens of heaven to join in singing praises to God, giving glory to him in the highest. The final verse references the story of the shepherds who were summoned to Christ's cradle and left behind their flocks. The song finishes by affirming the belief that Christ is the Word of the Father made flesh, and we should all come and adore him.
Overall, this song is a joyous celebration of Christ's birth and a call to worship him, recognizing his divine nature.
Line by Line Meaning
O come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant
Come, all faithful people, with joy and triumph.
Oh come ye, come ye to Bethlehem
Come to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him born the King of angels
See the King of angels, born before your eyes.
O come let us adore him Christ the Lord
Let us all worship Christ the Lord.
God of God light of light
God who is Himself God and the light of light.
Lo he abhors not the virgin's womb
He does not reject the virgin's womb.
Very God begotten not created
He is truly God, begotten, not created.
O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.
Let us all worship Christ the Lord.
Sing choirs of angels sing in exultation
Sing, choirs of angels, sing with great joy.
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above
Sing all you citizens of heaven above.
Glory to God in the highest
Give glory to God in the highest.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Let us all worship Christ the Lord.
See how the sheperds summoned to his cradle
Look at how the shepherds were summoned to his cradle.
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear
Leaving their flocks, they draw near humbly, with fear.
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps
We too will go there joyfully.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Let us all worship Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning
We greet you, Lord, born on this happy morning.
Jesus, to thee be glory given
Glory is given to Jesus.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
The Word of the Father is now appearing in flesh.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord
Let us all worship Christ the Lord.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Rajko1978
I wish all Christians around the world a Merry and Blessed Christmas.Greetings from Croatia.
@MySchoolProject15
Merry Christmas from the United States! God bless you!
@wbl5649
Merry Christmas...Lord bless you and yours
@felipebarrosdearaujo7403
Merry Christmas to you and everyone in your family, from here in Brazil. 🇧🇷
@ianboard544
Sometimes, the old ways really are the best.
@ma.caresavargas7871
It's true.
@andrewlau8707
Ian I agree more than you know with that statement,I LOVE this ,this is soooo beautiful
@darryl286
Yep
@gargiverma6537
💯
@audreykennedy8891
That is why they are still around. They stand the test of time.