How Far Is It To Bethlehem?
I learned the Christmas hymn “How Far Is It to Bethlehem?” when I was in 4th grade. I remember it because my family moved from Chicago to South Carolina. We began attending a small church in Clemson, SC. That year the children’s choir learned the song “How Far is It To Bethlehem?” for the Christmas program. Recently, I read an article on Frances Chesterton, wife of G. K. Chesterton. She is the author of the poem How Fari Is It To Bethlehem. I still remember most of the words for the hymn. But I didn’t realize it’s beauty and depth until I re-read it now as an adult.
Who was Edith Chesterton?
The Chestertons loved Christmas. They had a stage built right in their house for home productions. And each year they put on a Christmas Eve production. While her husband was very famous and his works well known, Frances’ poems, plays and books are less known, and she liked it that way. She wrote the poem “How Far is It to Bethlehem? to send as their Christmas card in 1917. My interest is piqued in this humble and unique woman. And so I added this book to my Christmas list, The Woman Who Was Chesterton by Nancy Carpentier Brown.
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Violin or Viola Christmas Hymn
If you want to get to know this hymn, here is a setting of “How Far Is It To Bethlehem?” for violin & piano or viola & piano. This text is set to the traditional English carol, STOWEY, and I wove in the Irish tune, THE SOUTH WIND, into the arrangement. The piano and violin/ viola pass the melody for both STOWEY and THE SOUTH WIND back and forth. The arrangement is set in the key of G, and can be played in its entirety in first position. So this makes it accessible even for beginners.
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