'TWAS MIDNIGHT IN THE STABLE

Music: French Carol
Text: David Warner
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

Mack Wilberg based the melody of the new Christmas processional “’Twas Midnight in the Stable” on an old French Christmas carol. The tune is in 6/8 meter, sometimes referred to historically as “pastoral” meter since it is commonly found in songs, tunes, and carols that are more rustic or pastoral in character, appropriate for a shepherd’s carol such as this. The lyrics for this arrangement were written by Wilberg’s longtime friend and frequent collaborator, David Warner, and employ the imagery of traditional French noëls, with references to shepherds visiting the stable to worship the Christ Child. The words also make a parallel allusion to the anticipation of Christ’s Second Coming, with imagery similar to that used in traditional Nativity carols. This processional overlays the French carol with musical quota- tions from the “Veni, veni, Emmanuel” tune.