This edition was prepared by Andrew Sims — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Gabriel’s message does away
Staff Notation • Sacred, Christmas
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Andrew Sims
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Gabriel’s message does away by Anonymous — Lyrics
Gabriel’s message does away
Satan’s curse and Satan’s sway,
out of darkness brings our Day:
(Refrain:) so, behold, all the gates of heaven unfold.
He that comes despised shall reign;
he that cannot die, be slain;
death by death its death shall gain: (Refrain)
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About Gabriel’s message does away
This anonymous carol for SATB voices sets a profound English text that explores the paradoxes of the Christmas event. The lyrics juxtapose Christ's humble arrival with his ultimate reign, and his seeming defeat with his victory over death. Each verse emphasizes a miraculous inversion of worldly power and expectation, culminating in the image of heaven's gates unfolding. The music, though unattributed, would have served to elevate this theological narrative, making it a powerful and reflective addition to a Christmas service or concert program. The piece draws on the rich tradition of English sacred carols, offering a familiar yet deeply meaningful musical expression of the Christmas mystery.
