Song of the Wise Men

Composer Puerto Rican carol, arr. Walter Ehret
Text Puerto Rican carol, tr. Walter Ehret
Voicing SATB and keyboard
Topics Epiphany
Length Price $1.65 (U.S.) Released 9/01
Catalog no. 405-303 Difficulty Mod. easy

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Review
"Walter Ehret's fetching Puerto Rican Carol is a guileless bauble guaranteed to charm singers and listeners alike. It has the ineluctable grace of true folk music, as well as the gentle expertise of a master arranger. My principal concern is purely editorial; I would add cautionary b-flats to the recurring diminished VII-7 chords. Traditional harmony trains us not to expect augmented intervals (b-flat/c -sharp), and the addition of the cautionaries would make sigh-reading considerably easier. A minor concern is whether the playful effect of the piece is compromised by having the final 'so there!' D Major chord elongated (fermatted half-note); something in me would prefer the more playful effect of an eight-note." --AAM Journal, October 2002

Description
The Puerto Rican carol De Tierra Lejana Venimos is becoming more and more well known in the U.S. Walter Ehret's arrangement for SATB and keyboard has immediate appeal, and is easy to learn and sing. Try adding percussion instruments for added effect. English text.

Text
From a distant home, the Savior we come seeking,
using as our guide the star, so brightly beaming,
lovely Eastern star, that tells us of God's morning,
heaven's wondrous light, O never cease thy shining.
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
and upon the earth be peace and love to all.

Glowing gold I bring to the newborn Babe so holy,
token of his power to reign above in glory.
Bitter myrrh I bring to give the infant Jesus,
token of the pain that he will bear to save us.
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
and upon the earth be peace and love to all.

Frankincense I bring to the child of God's own choosing,
token of our prayers to heaven ever ris-ing;
lovely Eastern star, that tells us of God's morning,
heaven's wondrous light, O never cease thy shining.
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
and upon the earth be peace and love to all.

--Puerto Rican carol, tr. Walter Ehret, © 2001 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.Sign up our

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