Description
Gesù Bambino (The Infant Jesus) is a 1917 Christmas carol by the Italian/American composer and organist Pietro Yon (1886-1943). In the original version Yon’s lyrics are in Italian but there is also an English version (by the American music journalist and writer, Frederick H. Martens) entitled ‘When Blossoms Flowered ‘mid the Snows’. Martens’ lyrics, whilst lovely (and more than a little ‘flowery’), depart quite considerably from Yon’s original text (and sentiment), as evidenced in this comparison of the opening verse:
| Yon’s original (translated)
In the humble hut, in cold and poverty the Holy infant is born, who the world will adore.
|
Marten’s English text
When blossoms flowered ‘mid the snows upon a winter night, was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light. |
The carol begins with an attractive and gentle pastoral melody, which is followed (and then intertwined with) the melody from the traditional English Christmas carol O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles). It is a very popular carol and has been recorded by numerous artists over the years such as Domingo, Pavarotti and Battle.
