Buelow: O, Blessed Night

William Buelow and Maria Bacon MacDonald had few direct conversations, but spoke to each other through their respective arts. After seeing Ms. MacDonald's poem in a Christmas card, Mr. Buelow contacted Ms. MacDonald, who gladly agreed to allow him to set the words to music and sent him many more poems to work on. 

With text taken from Luke 2:8-11, O, Blessed Night is a beautiful addition to the music of the Christmas season and is well paired on a concert program with the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah. Buelow dedicated the work to the First United Methodist Church of Parkersburg, West Virginia.

This work can be performed with keyboard accompaniment or an optional orchestral accompaniment, which is available via rental.

O, blessed night, when shepherds kept
Their faithful watch o’er peaceful sheep,
And purple darkness’ cloak was swept
Round Bethlehem, plunged in tranquil sleep.

When lo, the angel of the Lord
Came on these poor and humble men,
Shekinah light had pierced the cord
Of gloom, and shone with brilliance then.

See how they quaked with fear and dread
Trembling before the strange unknown;
Triumphantly the angel said,
“Fear not, great joy to all is shown”

“For unto you is born this day
A Saviour, Christ the Lord is He.”
All Heaven sang forth the wondrous lay -
“Glory to God, peace to mankind be.”