Virtual accompanist

Play “While Shepherds Watched their Flocks”

Free same-meter accompaniment for While Shepherds Watched their Flocks (Nahum Tate): organ, piano or guitar playing the tune ST. ANNE (William Croft) in four-part harmony, 4 verses, with the words on screen. Choose the key and speed, add an introduction, project the words on a TV, or practice your own choir part. Made for churches and home groups without a musician.

Sung here to ST. ANNE (William Croft), a Common Meter (8.6.8.6) tune — not necessarily the tune usually paired with this text. Any tune in the same meter fits the words.

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  1. 1While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
  2. All seated on the ground,
  3. The angel of the Lord came down
  4. And glory shone around.
  5. Fear not,said he, for mighty dread
  6. Had seized their troubled mind:
  7. Glad tidings of great joy I bring
  8. To you and all mankind.
  9. 2To you, in David's town this day,
  10. Is born of David's line
  11. A Savior, who is Christ, the Lord,
  12. And this shall be the sign:--
  13. The heav'nly Babe you there shall find
  14. To human view displayed,
  15. All meanly wrapped in swathing bands
  16. And in a manger laid.
  17. 3Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
  18. Appeared a shining throng
  19. Of angels, praising God, who thus
  20. Addressed their joyful song:
  21. All glory be to God on high,
  22. And to the earth be peace;
  23. Goodwill henceforth from heav'n to men
  24. Begin, and never cease!
  25. 4Amen.

About this music

ST. ANNE — William Croft. Setting: composite found in "The Lutheran Hymnary", 1913.. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project, copied from 'The Lutheran Hymnary', 1913, Hymn 261. Arrangement is composite, first half from "Hymns Ancient and Modern", 1869, Hymn 231. ed William Henry Monk Second half is from "The Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer", 1890, Hymn 279. ed. Charles Vincent, D.J. Wood, John Stainer; music and setting are in the public domain. The words above are from the hymnal cited on the While Shepherds Watched their Flocks page.

Played in your browser with instrument sounds from the FluidR3 soundfont by Frank Wen (MIT license). No recordings are used.

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