This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
How far is it to Bethlehem
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 · Ian Haslam
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How far is it to Bethlehem by Geoffrey Shaw — Lyrics
How far is it to Bethlehem?
Not very far.
Shall we find the stableroom
Lit by a star?
Can we see the little Child?
Is He within?
If we lift the wooden latch,
May we go in?
May we stroke the creatures there —
Ox, ass, or sheep?
May we peep like them and see
Jesus asleep?
If we touch His tiny hand,
Will He awake?
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About How far is it to Bethlehem
Christmas carolers often ask how near the destination of their journey might be in Geoffrey Shaw’s anthem How far is it to Bethlehem. This SATB setting in English captures the hopeful, questioning spirit of the lyrics, imagining the journey to the Nativity. The text tenderly explores the simple desires of those who approach the stable, contrasting the gifts of the wise men with the offerings of ‘little smiles and little tears’. The anthem offers a gentle reflection on the vulnerability of the infant Jesus and Mary’s maternal care, concluding with a peaceful image of all weary children finding rest and fulfilment in sleep.
