My survey of David Haas songs from Gather Comprehensive that I haven’t heard before continues with this Christmas song. The text is by Timothy Dudley Smith and here, set by Haas.
I know we get used to winter symbolism in Christmas songs here in Australia, but I wouldn’t add another English Christmas text here no matter how gorgeous the song. For cold climes in the Northern hemisphere only.
How about:
Heat of the summer, bush fires out of hand.
Letting their light fall hard on the sand …
The proper text is available from the wonderful people at Hope Publishing. They suggest BUNESSAN as a setting and I think that would be lovely too.
The sheet music for the Haas setting can be purchased at GIA.
This is my BIAB backing.
A different setting (BUNESSAN I think):
Another alternate setting (John Horman):