Once In Royal David's City Soprano Solo

"Once in Royal David's City" is a cherished Christmas carol that was originally written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. The carol was first published in 1848 in her hymnbook "Hymns for Little Children". A year later, the English organist Henry Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music. The carol tells the story of the nativity of Jesus, illuminating the phrase "born of the Virgin Mary" from the Apostles' Creed. It begins with a scene in Bethlehem, where Mary lays her baby, Jesus, in a manger. The carol then describes Jesus' humble beginnings and His life on earth, emphasizing His humanity and His shared experiences with all people. Since 1919, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the King's College Chapel, Cambridge, has begun its Christmas Eve service with this carol as the Processional hymn. The first verse is traditionally sung by a boy chorister of the college's choir as a solo. The second verse is sung by the choir, and the congregation joins in the third verse. In essence, "Once in Royal David's City" offers profound insights into the significance of Christmas, capturing essential themes that enrich our understanding of the birth of Jesus Christ.