O Little Town of Bethlehem

This is another lullaby in my favorite meter of 7/4. The melody floats along as though on a peaceful river of eighth-notes supplied by the left hand. In the first verse, the melody is played in octaves with the occasional addition of an alto voice at the ends of phrases, which seems to comment upon the music..to reinforce what was just said. In the second verse, there is the addition of harmony in the right hand in either sixths or thirds. Soon the texture grows thicker as the chords become three-part and finally arriving at five-part chords as the piece reaches its climax. There is a dream-like quality to this arrangement which is never disturbed throughout. The music feels like a gentle balm for the weary soul... a soul which is accosted by trials every day, but that can take solace in the promise of the babe born this night.