Once in Royal David's City

• Job 19:25-27
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 7:14
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• Isaiah 9:7
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• Daniel 12:3
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• Matthew 11:2-11
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• Acts 10:35-36
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• Romans 8:34
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• 1 Corinthians 2:9
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• 1 Peter 3:22
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• 1 John 3:2
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• Revelation 1:7
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• Revelation 3:4-5
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• Revelation 7:9-17
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Text:

In 1848, Cecil Frances Humphrey published Hymns for Little Children, which contained thirteen hymns written to explain phrases from the Apostles' Creed. One of these was “Once in Royal David's City,” which elaborates on the phrases “who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” Two years later, she married Rev. William Alexander, and was then known as Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander.

Though she likely would have disapproved of any tampering with her texts, many hymnal editors have omitted stanzas or edited phrases throughout the hymn. The first two stanzas are always included. Both have largely escaped editing, except for the fifth line of the second, “with the poor, and mean, and lowly,” where “mean” is usually changed to “meek” to reflect modern language usage. The original third stanza (beginning “And through all His wondrous childhood”) is usually omitted because it extols mildness and quiet obedience in children – qualities which are not emphasized today. The original fourth stanza (“For He is our childhood's pattern”) is only occasionally omitted, and is subject to only a little editing. The line “He was little, weak and helpless” is occasionally altered, as is the third line of the original fifth stanza, “For that Child so dear and gentle. That stanza (“And our eyes at last shall see Him”) is sometimes the closing one, but the sixth stanza (“Not in that poor lowly stable”) is usually retained. Again editors often alter the last two lines of the sixth stanza.

The themes of the hymn divide the original six stanzas into three pairs. The first pair tells what happened – the Lord and King of all creation came down to live as a creature in a humble place. The second pair describes one perspective on the silent years of Jesus' life, when He was a child before He began His earthly ministry. This theme was especially appropriate to the original audience for this hymn – children – but since it is now used more generally, and since perspectives on children have changed, this theme is often subdued in modern hymnals. The third pair looks forward to Jesus' Second Coming, and the contrast it will present to the humble scene in stanzas 1 and 2.

Tune:

IRBY was composed for this text in 1849 by Henry Gauntlett and was first published in an 1850 pamphlet in London with keyboard accompaniment. The tune name comes from a village in Lincolnshire, England. Gauntlett created a four-part setting for the 1868 Appendix of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Arthur Mann composed a four-part setting for the tune while he was organist at King's College, Cambridge. Since 1918, this hymn has been used as the processional in the annual service of Lessons and Carols that is held at King's College on Christmas Eve, so Mann's setting is the one in common use.

When/Why/How:

This hymn is suitable for Christmas, or for a service where the Apostles' Creed is a theme. It could be used as a prelude or special music, as in “Three Christmas Preludes, Set 2” for organ. The setting of IRBY begins with a subdued statement of the melody with a simple countermelody, then grows to a full, rippling statement, but ends quietly, as it began. It also makes an excellent choral selection. Because of the wide popularity of the King's College Christmas Eve service, it is common to imitate that choir's procedure, which is to have a soprano solo sing the first stanza a capella, and the full choir sing the second, both from the rear of the church, and then have the congregation join the singing as the procession begins. Though this is an effective way to emphasize the simplicity of the carol, a lack of variety would make it seem naïve or dull. A quiet, simple, a capella arrangement of “Once in Royal David's City” for four-part choir opens with a treble solo, as in the King's College tradition, but remains quiet, with the second and third stanzas sung by half of the choir at a time. Even in the final stanza, a forte dynamic is not indicated until the final phrase. While this setting begins in tradition, it follows a non-traditional path of remaining hushed, though rich. Other wonderful settings begin with the congregation or the men of the choir. One glorious choral setting of “Once in Royal David's City” is accompanied by piano and organ duet, in which the organ largely supports the choir and the piano provides decoration above the voices. Another choral arrangement of “Once in Royal David's City” intended for congregational singing begins with the full assembly and has organ and string quartet accompaniment.

Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org

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