Shine for Me Again Star of Bethlehem Cantata What Child Is This

Daniel is an laurels-winning composer/author/publisher and public speaker. He speaks about life's difficulties in an inspiring way.

Shine for Me Again, Star of Bethlehem

Purchase canvass music for SATB Mixed Chorus and Pianoforte here.

Additional Data for Ordering Sheet Music

Sheet music for this vocal is available through Jackman Music Corporation, in diverse versions. Arrangements for vocal solo, choir, guitar, and even a Christmas cantata, complete with narrative storyline and other favorite pieces. Yous can even listen to the entire cantata here (ordering info included).

For information and ordering the solo and choir versions, click hither.

For the guitar version, click here.

How the Song Came to Be

In 1981, David and Sherri Bird were neighbors of ours. Nosotros all lived in university student housing at the time. As we got to know the Birds, I showed Sherri a tune I wrote, that had been used in a stage musical called Can't Stand Still! The song was never included in the live production. There were some reservations about it, so I took information technology out of the bear witness. The evidence seemed to have its run (45 performances at Robert Redford'southward Sundance Outdoor Theater—at present defunct), with no other future prospects, so it reinforced my idea of removing from the show and remaking information technology as a Christmas song.

Sherri took the photocopy of my mitt-fatigued manuscript with the crossed out original lyrics and said, "Let me think about information technology. If it'due south going to be a Christmas song, it needs to exist something dissimilar."

Several months went by. I wondered if anything would come of information technology, but I received an unexpected telephone call around 10 pm on a Sun evening.

Dan: "Howdy."

David: "Are you in your PJs yet?"

Dan:(quite perplexed) "No, (pause, contemplating hanging upwardly) are you?"

David: "You mean I didn't take hold of yous in bed? Well, what are you doing then?"

Dan: "Who is this?"

David: "How before long tin you be over here?"

Dan: "I don't think I want to be over there."

David: "Sherri finished the song. How soon can yous exist here?!"

Dan: "Oh! This is Bird! We'll exist at that place in 10 minutes!"

Nosotros all sat downwardly and Sherri sat at the piano and played and sang. She choked up a little when she sang "practice non despair, your star is yet there." In fact, we were all unexpectedly emotional most the message of this vocal. Little did I know how my life would modify in the coming years. I had no idea of the catastrophic losses of loved ones, homes, holding and income ahead of me. I couldn't have ever predicted that I would be shunned by people and organizations I thought would e'er love and accept me. I had no thought that I would one day, myself, await in the sky in anger and wonder why such things happened non only to me merely to those I loved.

But the years have changed me. For the better. I have learned that my star is still there. I have learned that vocal wasn't written every bit a gift for everyone else, it was written equally a gift to me, too. No one escapes the awful stuff in life. But it is how nosotros choose to allow it affect us that defines our path. We tin swallow our own bitterness and hate and thus poison ourselves and everyone around us, or nosotros can learn the lessons life has handed usa and observe our peace. Notice that connectedness with that star that never stops shining, the Presence in the universe that keeps united states from ever being lone, those "smile eyes, shining upwardly at me."

"Newborn King" past Dan Freed

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Words past Sherri Otteson Bird

The night was long, nosotros traveled far.
At times I looked, but could not see the star,
Yet still, it shone unveiling and then
The way to Bethlehem.

My heart held fear 'mid puzzled joy,
For I was only a pocket-size shepherd male child,
And on a hillside soft and green,
I heard an angel sing.

I saw the midnight sky aflame with
Radiant angels bathed in light, holy light,
Bringing discussion that Christ was built-in and
Beckoning to find Him, go and find Him.

A sweeter face I ne'er will see
Than of those loving eyes smiling up at me.
I found a Male monarch, I found a Friend,
That night in Bethlehem.

But life goes on, years beyond 1 brief night of my youth—
Fourth dimension clouds my vision of truth.
And though I stumble and autumn I can hear someone call,
"Practise not despair, your star is still in that location."

That Christmas night so long ago
Has filled my life with light considering I know
That He lives at present as He did then
A King in Bethlehem,
Whose dear never ends.
Shine for me again,
Star of Bethlehem.

Listen to Shine for Me Once again, Star of Bethlehem Cantata, Office 1

Shine for Me Over again, Star of Bethlehem, Function ii

Polish for Me Once more, Star of Bethlehem, Office iii

For more information almost this cantata, sheet music, accompanying flute obbligato, and more, see the companion commodity nearly it, here.

"They Called His Name Jesus" by Dan Freed

More about Artist, Dan Freed

My friend, Dan Freed is a fine creative person. He has many cracking works and paintings, and two of his paintings are included in the music video.

You tin find out more about Dan'south works here.

© 2010 Daniel Carter

remyvdp8@gmail.com on October 17, 2020:

How-do-you-do Dan,

Loved reading about the background of this beautiful song. I accept high-strung upwardly many a fourth dimension singing that phrase "practise non despair, your star is still in that location" when I felt beyond hope and in deep despair. Cheers for this song that has fed my soul and helped heal my heart.

Eda Ashby on March 02, 2020:

I high-strung up when I first heard this song years ago. I still dear it and feel it, and have performed it with many choirs. This one is a timeless gem!

Daniel Carter (author) from Salt Lake Urban center, Utah on Nov 17, 2015:

Margie Miller, I cherish every message that I receive like yours. This song has as well given me hope in seemingly hopeless times. Peculiarly when I get to the words, "But life goes on, years beyond, i brief night of youth. Time clouds my vision of truth. And though I stumble and fall, I can hear someone phone call, 'do not despair, your star is still in that location.'" I'1000 glad to know that it has given others as much promise and happiness and me. Cheers and so much for commenting.

Margie Miller on November 17, 2015:

When I was a teenager in the belatedly fourscore's and early xc's, my stake used to hold a Christmas Cantata every year, and I would participate. This vocal was chosen one year by our manager. I used to memorize the music considering I hated belongings it. My sis (also a part of the choir) and I would sing this song in harmony together for years. We forgot the later parts, and the name of the song, simply it ever had special meaning for me, and during hard times throughout my life, I would sing as much as I could retrieve. Today, I googled the offset like "the nighttime was long, we traveled far" and found this website. I cannot access youtube here from work, but even subsequently twenty+ years, I could sing every note equally I finally had all the words in front of me. Tears are streaming down my face up as I sing it again and over again in total at present. I merely wanted you to know that your song has been close to my heart for more than two decades. Thank you.

Daniel Carter (author) from Salt Lake City, Utah on Dec 05, 2012:

Thank you, Juan Pablo Olivera! I'1000 very glad that you enjoy singing it.

Juan Pablo Olivera on December 05, 2012:

fue united nations placer cantar esta canción en español... me encantaría tener solo la música... es exquisita !!!

Lanell Huntsman on March 13, 2012:

P.S. We all have our "life-changing" events (we'd rather not choose)... the line, "Do non despair, your star is still there," is a line that always evokes emotions in me, as well. Thanks for sharing something and then deep and personal.

Besides, just had to say... LOVE the beautiful paintings! LOVELY!

Thanks, once again!

Lanell Huntsman on March xiii, 2012:

I've been looking for this song! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Our high schoolhouse choir (directed past a David Bird!) has our students sing information technology, frequently! Makes me cry, every time! It gives me chills, and brings tears to my optics, each and every time, as well! I sister, for our sis'south church building social Christmas dinner, sang this every bit a solo, and I STILL recollect how beautifully she sang information technology! THANK Y'all for posting this! Sure enjoyed hearing it, once again!

Sam Payne on Dec 26, 2011:

Robert Redford'due south theater at Sundance, though not hosting quite as robust a summertime theater season as it one time did, is far from defunct. There are still concerts there every year in the summertime past regional and national acts. It'southward a lovely, lovey infinite in which to run into a testify, and in which to perform one. And people still have opportunity for both.

Lani on September 28, 2010:

My goodness . . . what a lovely song and the words are beautiful. I got chills when listening!

Gayle Carter Blanc on September 27, 2010:

This is beautiful! I dearest that y'all are doing videos for some of your pieces. And yous know I have always loved Daniel's paintings. The comments of how this slice transformed from a discarded piece from a musical, into this wonderfulk Christmas piece is amazing and inspiring. Proceed up the good work! Heart heart ewe. :-)

Hello, hello, from London, UK on September 27, 2010:

Thank you lot for a wonderful song and the story.

Aya Katz from The Ozarks on September 26, 2010:

It'southward a beautiful song, and the story of how it came to be written is also moving. And on top of that, the paintings are gorgeous!

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Source: https://discover.hubpages.com/entertainment/Shine-for-Me-Again-Star-of-Bethlehem-Music-Video-by-Daniel-Carter

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