“Word made flesh,” “barn made palace,” and “sky made song” are just a few of the wonderful poetic phrases in this charming Christmas anthem by Carl F. Schalk (1929–2021) with text by David Rogner. This beautiful piece has all the grace and elegance one has come to know from Schalk’s Christmas hymns as it proclaims the birth of Christ with fresh imagery in word and song.
Word made flesh to dwell among us,
Grace and truth in human form;
Barn made palace for a monarch,
Swaddling clothes to keep Him warm;
Hay made bed to hold a Savior,
Manger-cradled, heaven-born.
David Rogner’s text focuses on the many paradoxes of the incarnation of Christ. It begins with the foundational paradox of the nativity: that the Word was made flesh (John 1). The first stanza also includes the paradoxes “barn made palace” and “hay made bed.” The transformations of the lowly barn and hay to a palace and bed made for the Savior illustrate the wondrous mystery of the incarnation.
Dark made light for frightened shepherds,
Hearing of the wond’rous birth;
Pledge made true, the angel tells them:
Promised Child of priceless worth;
Sky made song by angel chorus:
“Praise to God and peace on earth!”
In the second stanza, the narrative turns to the shepherds and the angels. The first paradox is “dark made light,” where the shepherds’ fright was turned to joy by the news of the herald angels. The second phrase isn’t so much a paradox as it is a promise fulfilled: “pledge made true.” The Savior that had been promised for years was finally born. The third phrase is a lovely metaphor: “sky made song.” Oh, that we were there with the shepherds to hear the angels first sing the marvelous news: “Praise to God and peace on earth!”
Strength made weak to know our nature,
Son made Lamb to banish fears;
Life made new by Love Incarnate,
Hope made real in Infant tears;
Star made guide to draw the nations:
See, the promised Christ appears!
The third stanza contains a number of phrases that mark the transformations made by the incarnation: “strength made weak,” “life made new,” and “hope made real.” The phrase “star made guide” hints at the Epiphany, where the Wise Men visit the Christ Child. There is even a foreshadowing of our Savior’s passion in the final stanza: “Son made Lamb.” After all, Christ was born to be the sacrificial Lamb on Calvary.
Carl Schalk’s melody is a lilting lullaby fitting for the contemplation of the many marvels of the nativity of our Lord. The piece is set for SATB voices. The first stanza begins in unison, and the soprano and alto voices divide into two parts on the phrase “Swaddling clothes to keep Him warm.” Then, the tenor and bass voices divide into two parts on the phrase “Hay made bed to hold a Savior” before all four voices return in unison for the final phrase of the stanza.
The second stanza begins in four parts, sung a cappella. The accompaniment part returns when the tenor and bass voices sing in unison “Sky made song by angel chorus,” and the soprano and alto voices respond in unison with the angels’ message: “Praise to God and peace on earth!”
The third stanza begins in two equal parts, with the tenor and bass voices beginning and the soprano and alto voices following. The stanza ends a cappella in three parts for the phrase “Star made guide to draw the nations” and in four parts for the final phrase: “See, the promised Christ appears!”
The accompaniment part provides an introduction before the singing begins and interludes between each stanza. The entire piece is dynamically reserved, marked primarily by piano and pianissimo passages. Subtle crescendos and diminuendos in and out of mezzo piano provide opportunities for some nuanced dynamic variety.
This piece would be lovely for a choir to sing at a candlelight Lessons and Carols service during the Christmas season. It is also appropriate for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Epiphany. The text is versatile enough to befit the Christmas Eve narrative from Luke 2, the Christmas Day text from John 1, and the Epiphany text from Matthew 2.
Play this choral setting at your church this Advent by ordering the score below.