"GREENSLEEVES"《綠 袖 子》
1602年, William Shakespeare 莎士比亞舞台劇 "The Merry Wives of Windsor" 把一曲 "Green-Sleeves" 在英格蘭本土開始流傳; 至1865年, 有一首讚美詩篇, 譜上相同樂曲, 以聖誕頌歌在當地流傳, 把基督耶教的傳統文化改變過來。
William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)
任職蘇格蘭, 格拉斯高 Glasgow 一間保險公司的經理。二十九歲, 不幸患上惡疾, 經歴了意志低沉至痊癒重生的日子; 在臥床至康復期間, 由閱讀聖經而被感召和啟發, 寫了幾首讚美詩, 如 "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!" 和 "As with Gladness Men of Old"。他的讚美詩作品被認為是多愁善感、真摯虔誠、富想像力、詞彙簡單, 使人們容易理解; 作品大多數刊印在現代讚美詩的書藉當中。
聖 誕 頌 歌 Christmas Hymn
聖 誕 頌 歌 Christmas Hymn
十九世紀中葉, 聖誕節在英國並不像今天的慶祝, 由於保守的基督教教會, 認為這不是基督誕生的節日, 除了禁止信眾互贈禮物, 亦不允許在任何宗教聚會, 加上粉飾和慶祝; 亦有一些 "Puritan 清教徒" 團體認為, 如果給異教徒視為一個慶祝的節日之後, 會令致人們對此不作嚴肅崇拜。在這情況下, 引起社會不少討論, 而關心家庭生活的 Dix 認為聖誕節日, 各人應留在家中與家人團聚, 一起歌頌和感恩耶穌基督降臨。
"The Manger Throne 馬槽王座", 一篇 William Chatterton Dix 1865年的作品, 當年是一首非常受歡迎的詩篇; Dix 從這篇作品而觸發起要寫另一首耶穌基督降臨的敘事式詩篇, 在聖誕節日給家庭團聚時, 一首頌讀和祝禱的讚美詩歌 "What Child Is This?"
"The Manger Throne 馬槽王座", 一篇 William Chatterton Dix 1865年的作品, 當年是一首非常受歡迎的詩篇; Dix 從這篇作品而觸發起要寫另一首耶穌基督降臨的敘事式詩篇, 在聖誕節日給家庭團聚時, 一首頌讀和祝禱的讚美詩歌 "What Child Is This?"
"What Child Is This?"
讚美詩完成後, 由作曲家 Charles H. Steggall 譜上曾在莎士比亞舞台劇 "The Merry Wives of Windsor" 出現的 "Green-Sleeves" 樂譜, 與及把 "The Manger Throne" 亦撰上樂譜, 兩首讚美詩頌歌同於1871年的聖誕前夕面世, 令保守的基督耶教帶來一番新氣象。
讚美詩共有三節, 第一節的上半部分是一些問題, 答案在下半部分出現。 第二節是另一問題, 耶穌在簡陋的馬槽誕生, 牧羊人在守候着, 東方三博士帶給耶穌的禮品 Gold 黃金, Frankincense 乳香, Myrrh 沒藥; 而最後一節是呼籲人們齊來迎接基督降臨。這首頌歌的旋律充滿靈性、曲調温馨感人。
William Chatterton Dix 於1898年離世, 並安葬在英格蘭, 森麻實 Somerset, Chedder 他的教區教堂墓園。
及後, "What Child Is This?" 這頌歌作品在美國樂壇, 相對與原創地英國, 更受歡迎和普及。
"What Child Is This" - Christmas Carol
Songwriters: William Chatterton Dix
What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the son of Mary
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading
Nails, spears shall pierce him through
the cross he bore for me, for you
Hail, hail the Word made flesh
the Babe, the Son of Mary
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come, peasant, king, to own him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him
Raise, raise a song on high
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The babe, the Son of Mary
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the son of Mary
"WHAT CHILD IS THIS?" - Vanessa Williams - 1996
What child is this who laid to rest
on Mary's lap is sleeping
whom angels breed with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch our keeping
This, this is Christ the King
whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him lord
the babe the son of Mary
So bring him incense, bring him gold
come pleasant king to him
the King of kings salvation brings
let loving hearts enthrone him
Raise, raise the son on high
the virgin sings a lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
the babe was son of Mary
What child is this who laid to rest
on Mary's lap is sleeping
whom angels breed with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch our keeping
Raise, raise the son on high
the virgin sings a lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
the babe was son of Mary
Merry Christmas to you, and you, and you, and you, ooh
WHAT CHILD IS THIS ANYWAY? - Sufjan Stevens - 2006
NEXT .... GREENSLEEVES《綠 袖 子》- 4 : "Stay Away" Elvis Presley