Gesu Bambino
by Pietro Yon
    This lovely Christmas piece has been set to so many different instrumental settings that it seemed only natural to me to arrange it for flute choir.  If you've never heard it, it takes an absolutely beautiful, pastoral melody (in 12/8)  and occasionally  overlays it with bits and pieces of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in the lower voices.  The effect is gorgeous.  (Can you tell I love this piece?)

    It is arranged for 4 C flutes, alto flute and bass flute.  Flute 2 switches to piccolo part way through the piece.  The alto and bass flute parts are almost completely in unison, so the piece could be played without a bass flute, although the added depth of the bass will be missed.

    I have been asked for the words to this piece.  I found several websites that have them.  Here are the words from one of those sites:
                          When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows
                          Upon a winter night
                          Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose
                          The King of Love and Light

                          The angels sang, the shepherds sang
                          The grateful earth rejoiced
                          And at His blessed birth, the stars
                          Their exultation voiced

                          O come let us adore Him
                          O come let us adore Him
                          O come let us adore Him
                          Christ, the Lord

                          Again the heart with rapture glows
                          To greet the holy night
                          That gave the world its Christmas Rose
                          Its King of Love and Light

                    Let ev'ry voice acclaim His name
                   The grateful chorus swell
                   From paradise to earth He came
                   That we with Him might dwell

                   O come let us adore Him
                   O come let us adore Him
                   O come let us adore Him
                   Christ, the Lord

                   Ah! O come let us adore Him
                   Ah! O come let us adore Him
                   Ah! Adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

                   O come, O come
                   O come let us adore Him
                   Let us adore Him
                   Christ, the Lord.

A couple of the sites I mentioned above in case you're interested:

All of my flute choir works can be purchased at http://www.fallshousepress.com.  Gesu Bambino can be found under Flute Choir - Holiday and Sacred.

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