One of the first pieces of Christmas music heard in our sanctuary during Advent was played on the piano by Ken Kehner during communion. It’s one of my favorites, from one of my favorite Christmas albums—This is Christmas by the Voices of Jimmy Joyce. It’s called “Some Children See Him.”
The album is sixty years old this year, which is the seventieth year since the death of composer Alfred S. Burt Jr., a preacher’s kid from Michigan. His father, Episcopal Bishop Bates Burt, began sending family members and members of his church Christmas cards each year (beginning in 1922) with original Christmas carols—words and music.
When young Alfred got his music degree from the University of Michigan, dad asked him to take over the music-writing for the annual family carol. He wrote his first one in 1942 while in the Army. His last collaboration with his father was in 1947, shortly before his father’s death. After that, he composed the music and the organist at his father’s church, Wihla Hutson, wrote the lyrics.
When Alfred Burt died of lung cancer in 1954 at the age of 33, only one of his songs had been performed in public. But he knew his songs were being recorded by an all-star cast of singers at Columbia records because he was well enough to conduct the choir in the recording session. He finished his last carol two weeks before he died.
The Jimmy Joyce Singers album was the first album that had all fifteen of his carols.
Most of the carols are gentle harmonies. But “Some Children See Him” is my favorite. Here are Wihla’s lyrics:
Some children see Him lily white,
the baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
with tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav’n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
with dark and heavy hair.
Some children see Him almond-eyed,
this Savior whom we kneel beside.
some children see Him almond-eyed,
with skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
and, ah! they love Him, too!
The children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus’ face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
come worship now the infant King.
‘Tis love that’s born tonight!
(38) Some Children See Him by Alfred Burt – The Colorado Choir – YouTube
The Alfred Burt Christmas card tradition was revived in 2001 by his grandniece, composer Abbie Betinis. She introduces her new carol each holiday season on Minnesota Public Radio.
If you are not familiar with the Alfred Burt carols, Youtube has the complete Jimmy Joyce album and various other renditions of his carols. Please consider them my gift to you this year.
Thanks Bob , for sharing your insights via bobpriddy.net.