O Little Town of Bethlehem facts for kids

Quick facts for kids O Little Town of Bethlehem
Author's manuscript of first stanza
Genre	Christmas carol
Written	1868
Text	Phillips Brooks
Based on	Micah 5:2
Meter	8.6.8.6.7.6.8.6
Melody	"St. Louis" by Lewis Redner, "Forest Green" by Ralph Vaughan Williams

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a beloved Christmas carol that many people sing during the holiday season. It was written in 1868 by Phillips Brooks, an American priest. This carol is popular in different parts of the world, but people often sing it to different tunes. In North America, it's usually sung to a tune called "St. Louis," created by Brooks' friend, Lewis Redner. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, people often sing it to a tune called "Forest Green," which was collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The Story Behind the Words

The words for "O Little Town of Bethlehem" were written by Phillips Brooks (1835–1893). He was an Episcopal priest from America. Brooks was inspired after visiting the village of Bethlehem in 1865. At that time, Bethlehem was part of the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem.

Three years later, in 1868, he wrote this poem for his church. His church organist, Lewis Redner, then added the music to go with the words.

The Music

The "St. Louis" Tune

Lewis Redner's tune, simply called "St. Louis," is the most common tune for this carol in the United States. Redner shared the story of how he wrote the music.

He said that as Christmas of 1868 got closer, Mr. Brooks told him he had written a simple carol. Brooks asked Redner to write the music for it. Redner wrote the music very quickly and under a lot of pressure. They needed to practice it for the Sunday-school service that coming Sunday.

On Friday, Mr. Brooks asked Redner if he had finished the music. Redner said no, but promised it would be ready by Sunday. On Saturday night, Redner's mind was full of thoughts about his Sunday-school lesson, not the music.

But then, late that night, he woke up. He heard a beautiful "angel-strain" whispering in his ear. He quickly grabbed some music paper and wrote down the main part of the tune. On Sunday morning, before church, he added the rest of the music.

Redner said that neither he nor Mr. Brooks thought the carol would be sung after that first Christmas. But it became very popular! A bookstore printed it on leaflets for sale. Later, a reverend named Dr. Huntington asked to print it in his hymn book. He was the one who named the music "Saint Louis."

<score sound="1"> \transpose c bes, \new Staff << \clef treble \key g \major { \time 4/4 \partial 4 \relative g' { b4 | b b ais b | d c e, a | g fis8 g a4 d, | b'2. \bar"" \break b4 | b b e d | d c e, a | g fis8 g b4 a | g2. \bar"" \break b4 | b b a g | fis2 fis4 fis | e fis g a | b2. \bar"" \break b4 | b b ais b | d c e, e' | d g, b4. a8 | g2. \bar"|." } } %\new Lyrics \lyricmode { %} >> \layout { indent = #0 } \midi { \tempo 4 = 80 } </score>

The "Forest Green" Tune

In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, a different tune called "Forest Green" is often used. Sometimes, it's also used in the U.S., especially in the Episcopal Church.

"Forest Green" was adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams. He took it from an English folk ballad called "The Ploughboy's Dream." Vaughan Williams collected this tune from a man named Mr. Garman in Forest Green, Surrey, in 1903. Mr. Garman was a laborer.

Vaughan Williams changed the folk tune into a hymn tune. He also added harmonies to it. It was first published in a book called The English Hymnal in 1906.

<score sound="1"> << << \new Staff { \clef treble \time 4/2 \partial 2 \key f \major \set Staff.midiInstrument = "church organ" \omit Staff.TimeSignature \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t \relative c' \repeat unfold 2 { << { c2 | f f f g | a4\(( g) a( bes)\) c2 \breathe \bar"||" a | bes a4( f) g2 g f1. \breathe \bar"||" \break } \\ { c2 | c d c d4( e) | f2 f e d | d f f e | f1. } >> } \relative c' { << { f4( a) | c2. d4 c( bes) a( g) | f( g a bes) c2 \breathe \bar"||" c, | f a g f | c1 \breathe \bar"||" \break c1 | f2 f f g | a4( g) a( bes) c2 \breathe \bar"||" a | bes a4( f) g2 g | f1. \bar"|." } \\ { f2 | e2. d4 e2 c | c( f) e c | c c bes a4( bes) | c1 c1 | c2 d c d4( e) | f2 f e d | d f f e | f1. } >> } } %%\new Lyrics \lyricsmode { put lyrics here if you insist } \new Staff { \clef bass \key f \major \set Staff.midiInstrument = "church organ" \omit Staff.TimeSignature \relative c' \repeat unfold 2 { << { g2 | a bes c bes | c f, g f | bes c d c4( bes) | a1. } \\ { e2 | f bes a g | f d c d | g, a bes c | f1. } >> } \relative c' { << { a2 | a2. f4 c'2 c4( bes) | a2( f) g e | f f d4( e) f2 | e1 f2( g) | a bes c bes | c f, g f | bes c4( a) c2 c4( bes) | a1. } \\ { d,2 | a2. bes4 c2 d4( e) | f2( d) c c4( bes) | a2 f bes d | c1 d2( e) | f bes a g | f d c d | g, a4( d) c2 c | <f f,>1. } >> } } >> >> \layout { indent = #0 } \midi { \tempo 2 = 80 } </score>

Other Musical Versions

Other versions of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" also exist. Walford Davies created two versions, called "Wengen" and "Christmas Carol." "Wengen" was published in 1922.

The "Christmas Carol" version is usually performed by choirs, not as a song for everyone to sing. This is because the first two verses are for higher voices with organ music. Only the last verse is for a full choir. This version often starts with a reading from the Gospel of Luke. It is often performed at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College, Cambridge.

Many singers have included this song on their Christmas albums. A popular arrangement called "Little Town" was created by English singer-songwriter Chris Eaton. It was first recorded by English singer Cliff Richard in 1982. In the U.S., a well-known version is by American CCM artist Amy Grant. She released it on her 1983 Christmas album.

A newer tune for the carol, called "Enmore," was composed by Philip Trumble. It was first published in 1987.