This is clever. Patrica Smith has written a new setting for the Christina Rossetti’s text that can sung simultaneously with “Away in a Manger”, which opens up all sorts of options for both performance and participation.
It is from her new collection for Advent and Christmas called And the Angels Sang.
The sheet music is available in three versions at Willow.
My backing has the counter melody over the fourth verse.
1 Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.
2 Worship we the Godhead, love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus: but wherewith the sacred sign?
3 Love shall be our token, love be yours and love be mine;
Love to God and all men, love for plea, and gift, and sign.
4 Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine.
Love was born at Christmas. Star and angels gave the sign.