There are a number of hymns where the lyrics preceded the music by being written as a poem. Once in Royal David’s City was written by Cecil Frances Alexander, and a year after its publication Henry John Gauntlett composed the melody IRBY that we know and love.
Historical footnote: Mrs. Alexander wasn’t a one-hit wonder… she also wrote the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful!
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all;
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and meek, and lowly
Lived on earth our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day like us he grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew:
And he feels for all our sadness,
And he shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love,
For that child, so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heaven above:
And he leads his children on
To the place where he has gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable with the oxen standing by
We shall see him, but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high;
There his children gather round,
Bright like stars, with glory crowned.
Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848
HYMN TUNE: IRBY
Find metrically-matched hymn texts
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the Christmas carol Once in Royal David’s City provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells.
The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
Bells used: B5, C6, D6, E6, F6, G6
Key: C major
Church Calendar: Christmas
| Six Handbells with Piano Accompaniment: | ||
| Score Package: | $10.00 US | |
| Piano Accompaniment MP3: | $4.00 US | |
Also available for 8 handbells and handbells (3 octaves, Level 2+).
Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.
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