Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?

Subject: Lyr Req: CHRISTMAS STAR, Aled Jones?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 02:59 PM

Hear it as a pretty .wav:

SANTA SEARCH

I gather there are things to say about Aled Jones, too? New to me...

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: CHRISTMAS STAR, Aled Jones?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 11:57 PM

Yep, there's a lot of information about Aled Jones. Wikipedia is a good place to start, then there's his own web site: http://www.aledjones.co.uk/. Several of his albums are listed at The Boy Choir and Soloist Directory, including one that contains CHRISTMAS STAR.

I haven't found any lyrics or authorship credit about the song, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: CHRISTMAS STAR, Aled Jones?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 08:45 AM

I've never heard it in English before, but have the music (by Mansel Thomas) and words (in Welsh, by T.LLew Jones) in a book published in 1985. Very popular with children's choirs in Wales.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 09:22 PM

Sian - I live in Portland Oregon, and have been learning Welsh songs for our little Welsh Church - Bryn Seion. Could you (or any other Welsh folks) post the Welsh words for this song? I would also like to learn Tudur Morgan's Mor Bell yn ol - might you have words for that?? I did Ganwyd Iesu for our Lessons and Carols - that's a great Christmas song too.
Diolch, Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:00 PM

If we get it posted in Welsh, can we try a translation to English then?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:03 PM

The Aled Jones soundfile linked above is so faint I can't transcribe, but it does sound like English....

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:11 PM

It's not this one:

From Home Alone 2 Soundtrack, John Williams

Distant stars, at home up in the heavens.
Wonder what they see, are they watching me?
Christmas Star, you spin your strands of silver.
What a sight to see, are you there to guide me?

Star light, shine bright.
See me through the dark night.
Light mine, half way;
Guide me home for Christmas Day.

Midnight stars, they sail the sky in silence.
Hearing all they see, are they hearing me?
Christmas Star, you watch the world so wisely;
At my journey's end, will you be my true friend?

Star light, shine bright.
See me through the dark night.
Light mine, half way;
Guide me home for Christmas Day.

Christmas Star light,
See me on my way.
Light mine, half way;
Guide me home for Christmas Day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:13 PM

Nor this one:

Christmas Star
CeCe Winans

On that magic night in Bethlehem
On the birthday of our Lord
The angels sang and the heavens rang
With tidings of great joy
And on that night, an angel's choir had journeyed from afar
The greatest gift that God could give became the Christmas Star

[chorus]
There's a light that shines on everyone
Burning brighter everyday
For the souls who search for peace on earth.
It's the Christmas Star that lights the way

All the wandering flock the shepherds watched
Is still the same today
Returning every child above who's ever gone astray

[chorus]

There's a light (there's a light) everyone can see (everyone can see)
A song for every heart to see (every heart to see)
There's a light (there's a light) shining from above (shining from above)
Giving everlasting love

There's a promise in the prophecy
That wise men will behold
A son for all eternity and so the story's told

[chorus]

Christmas Star (oh, the Christmas Star) ooh, Christmas Star
(Burning brighter), ooh ah (every day)
Ooh Christmas star (Christmas star, ooh light the way) ooh ah
(Christmas Star that lights the way)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CHRISTMAS STAR (Tillotson/Meredith)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:15 PM

Not:

The Christmas Star

Words by: Edith Tillotson
Music by: I.H. Meredith
Adapted By: Terry Kluytmans
Copyright © 2005 KIDiddles.com

Shine, shine, Light so divine,
Christmas Star, light this path of mine;
Blaze, blaze, silvery rays,
Lighting the Heavenly ways;
Glowing on this Christmas morn,
Guiding Wise Men through the dawn.
Telling all that Christ is born,
On this day of days.
Star, Star, Christmas Star,
Shining near, shining far,
Bright, bright, wondrous Light,
Wondrous Christmas Star!

Gleam, gleam, shining beam,
Open the gates of heav'n, you seem;
Bright, bright, silvery light,
Chasing away the night;
Angels sing in harmony,
Telling you, and telling me,
Christ is born, how blest we be!
On this day of days.
Star, Star, Christmas Star,
Shining near, shining far,
Bright, bright, wondrous Light,
Wondrous Christmas Star!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:16 PM

Sorry, the Williams version above should be: Music by John Williams, Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 11:32 PM

The one I am looking for (hoping it's the same one Sian mentioned above) is on "Aled Jones With The BBC Welsh Chorus (1985)" CD as best I can figure.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 11:03 AM

I've Googled using all of the clues above as search terms, with no luck finding an English OR Welsh lyric online. Sian, I hope you can help-- have you listened to the Aled Jones version linked above to be able to say if he's singing in English or Welsh, or both?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 12:15 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 04:43 AM

Haven't been online this weekend, sorry.

Chris, I'm afraid I don't have Mor Bell yn Ol, though I like that one too. You can probably contact Tudur through Sain. I organized a Plygain carol workshop in November and we did a couple of nice ones which might be useful for you. PM an email address and I'll scan them for you - although I must warn you that one is in sol-ffa.

Susan, I have listened to the .wav and it's definitely in English, although 'choir boy' English and hence difficult to discern. I reckon I could work out about 2/3 of it if absolutely crucial ...

Anyway, here are the Welsh words and a non-singable translation. From what I can make out on the .wav the first verse pretty much follows the Welsh but the sound quality on v 2 is too foggy for me ...

Seren Nadolig
T Llew Jones

Fry yn yr awyr fel disglair em,
Gwenai y seren ar Fethlenhem;
Obry'n y preseb Iesu Fab Mair,
T'wysog Tangnefedd ar wely gwair.

Doethion o'r dwyrain a'u rhoddion drud,
Co^r o angylion yn canu 'nghyd;
Gwylaidd fugeiliaid o ben y bryn,
Yn yr ystabl yn syllu'n syn.

Tra gwena'r seren,
Fel disglair em;
Fe aned baban
Ym Methlehem, ym Methlehem.

Christmas Star

High in the sky like a shining jewel
The star of Bethlehem smiles;
Below in a manger Jesus son of Mary,
The Prince of Peace on a bed of straw.

Wisemen from the east with their expensive gifts,
A choir of angels singing together;
Watchful shepherds from the top of the hill
In the stable marvelling.

As the star smiles
Like a shining jewell
A babe is born
In Bethlehem, in Bethlehem.


sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 01:14 PM

Thanks so much, Sian! With those clues, I may be able to transcribe the English text.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 01:43 PM

OK, here's a try. Parts I am pretty unsure about are in italics. I think I would use that last part as a chorus, after each of the two existing verses.

Can some others try a listen?


Christmas Star

Smiling and radiant in ch------ dark
High over Bethle'm the Christmas Star!
There in a manger, Mary's baby lay:
Jesus the King, on a bed of hay.

Gifts from the Orient the Wisemen bring;
Angels in chorus all-gathered sing.
Fondly the shepherds from hillsides creep,
Gaze in the stable on Christ asleep.

So shone the star,
A crystal gem;
A babe was born
In Bethlehem (in Bethlehem).

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 02:09 PM

PS, of course Christmas is over; I'm plowing through music I found the week before Christmas and trying to nail down what I can of the do-able ones before Lenten music takes all my time, so I'll have a running start for next year and maybe stand a chance of making a new songbook in the Fall. So it's not "crucial" exactly, but I would like to nail down a singable lyric for this one ASAP.... if the italicized parts can't be cleared up I'll just write a line or two and then describe it in our songbook as "based" on a Welsh hymn but "adapted" for our use.

Do we know when it originated? Would it likely be older than the 1985 material you have, Sian?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 05:42 PM

Susan, I can't make out the first line, tho' I think it may end in 'far' or 'afar'. I've got a good set of earphones somewhere which might help me hear it better ...

It may have been written sometime between the late '60s and end of the '70s. Mansel Thomas died in 1986 but had a stroke in '79 and didn't compose much after that. T Llew is still writing although he's a pretty good age by now - maybe 90?

It isn't actually a hymn so much as an anthem or Christmas 'song'. It wouldn't be sung here by a congregation,which is not to say it couldn't be although the last little bit might get a bit jumbled.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 07:04 PM

Thanks, Sian. If you get any additional clarity on the text, kewl!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 07:33 PM

Another try, slowing it down to 50%:


Christmas Star

Smiling its radiant enchantment far,
High over Bethle'm-- the Christmas Star!
There in a manger, Mary's baby lay:
Jesus the King, on a bed of hay.

Gifts from the Orient the Wisemen bring;
Angels in chorus all-gathered sing.
Fondly the shepherds from hillsides steep,
Gaze in the stable on Christ asleep.

So shone the star,
A crystal gem;
A babe was born
In Bethlehem (in Bethlehem).

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 07:34 PM

Thanks, Sian - I sent you a pm with my e-mail address. Any Welsh Xmas lyrics that you can send would be appreciated.
Also, let me know if you know of anyone in Wales who might be interested in trading words and guitar chords for Welsh songs with me for US songs such as would interest Mudcat folks - I keep a lot of these as Word Docs.
Blwyddyn newydd dda, Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 07:50 PM

I emailed a help request to Mr. Jones' publisher! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 05:18 AM

Aled Jones is currently broadcasting on BBC Radio 2 in the mornings - you could try contacting him at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:55 AM

Thanks!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 05:31 PM

I thought Aled Jones had been sort of popular in the States in his hey day. The Charlotte Church of his time. He hit big-time with the song for that animated film, The Snowman. ("I'm walking in the aiirrrrr ...")   No?

He's one of the BBC UK "Songs of Praise" presenters now.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:30 PM

He probably was, but my life was so busy in his early career that I missed it entirely. I've really been enjoying the discovery, albeit late in the day, so I am glad the SantaSearch people put his music up even if the sound quality there is pretty low. I've never seen .wav files so tiny, but I am looking forward to getting more of his music if I can. And "Christmas Star" is on for sure for us, next year, thanks entirely to the hauntingly beautiful way he sang it.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:34 PM

PS, he also has a wonderful rendition of another favorite of mine, "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree," which is no mean feat of vocal range even to attempt, much less nail it definitively as he did.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: Scrump
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 06:35 AM

In his "choirboy" days, Aled Jones issued an album of Christmas songs which included "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree", but from memory I don't know whether the album included "Christmas Star" or not - it may well have done though.

As I said, he's currently presenting a show on Radio 2 (probably just this week, standing in for the regular presenter), so I'd email him there soon while you have the chance to get his attention (although I think he also presents a "religious" show on Sunday mornings too, so I guess he will normally pick up his email at the BBC.)

See here for his current BBC contact details.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 09:36 AM

Thanks, Scrump-- I emailed him yesterday.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Christmas Star (Aled Jones)?
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 26 Jul 18 - 06:41 PM

I've just posted Aled Jones' tune to this thread: Tune Req: The Christmas Star (I. H. Meredith).

While doing that I found some errors in the lyrics:

v1 should start:

  Smiling and radiant it shone from afar

v2 should have:

  Angels in chorus together sing

Mick