This edition was prepared by Claude Buchanan — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Fair Maiden
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
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Fair Maiden by Claude Buchanan — Lyrics
Fair Maiden
Who is this bairn,
thou holdest in thine arms?
close in thy mother's breast.
This bairn you see in manger bare
Three wise men came to see
following a star to worship
at this child's feet.
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About Fair Maiden
Claude Buchanan's motet, Fair Maiden, is written for SSAA voices and sets a poignant English text. The lyrics explore the Nativity story from the perspective of Mary, questioning the identity of the child she holds, and reflecting on the prophecy of his kingship and ultimate sacrifice. The text vividly describes the arrival of the three wise men, their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh, and the significance of each. Buchanan's setting aims to capture the tender intimacy of the mother and child, alongside the profound theological implications of his birth and destiny.
