This year I will celebrate my 37th Christmas in service to the Church of Pittsburgh as an organist and choir director. I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of learning Christmas music from many different cultural backgrounds depending on the church in which I was working at the time. I’ve learned Christmas carols from Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Ireland. So many treasured songs have been passed down from generation to generation. One such song is “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle.” I’ve decided to include the Italian lyrics and a general translation this week.
Tu scendi dalle stelle,
O Re del Cielo,
e vieni in una grotta,
al freddo al gelo.
O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato
Oh! Quanto ti costò
l’avermi amato!
From starry skies descending,
O King of heaven,
To a lowly cave you come
in the cold.
O my Divine Child,
I see you tremble here.
Oh blessed God,
to love you comes
with great cost!
As a child I remember this song playing in my home as my grandmother, mother and aunt baked cookies for the many relatives that would come to visit. It brings to mind the smells of lemon, orange and anise. May it bring pleasant memories to you, as well! May you have a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!
