Welcome to Anthem 51 in my attempt to write a new choir anthem every week for a year. I’m Kevin Mulryne and I hope you will enjoy listening to my progress throughout 2024. Please do visit the website Anthem52.com, follow along on x.com - @realanthem52 or Instagram - @realanthem52 and send me a message to show@anthem52.com.

This week, I was still on the search for more unusual Christmas carol words. After quite a bit of unsuccessful browsing, I found an order of service for King's College Chapel way back in 1918. It's fascinating to see what has changed and what hasn't since then. One of the most interesting sets of words was for a carol I had never come across before - 'Childing of a maiden bright'. From the 15th Century, the words are suitably archaic in places and each verse ends with a different Latin phrase, as we know, not a unique characteristic, but one I like.

The words are a little unusual in that they mention 'flocks of fiends' rather then sheep and a few other odd ideas. Again, I found these words intriguing and fun to set.

Here are the words I chose:

Words for Anthem 51:

Childing of a maiden bright
Life to-day hath brought to light;
And hath put that prince of might
With his flock of fiends to flight:
Christus natus hodie.

Whoso aught hath done amiss,
An it rue him sore for this,
Mary's Babe will shrive i-wis,
Gentle as a lamb He is:
Miserere, Domine.

He at Bethlehem was born,
Salem gave him crown of thorn,
Life of want and death of scorn -
All for love of man forlorn.
Ergo benedicite.

On this Infant may we call,
Born for man in oxen-stall:
He vouchsafe us bliss withal
In His everlasting hall.
Cum Maria Virgine.