_MUSIC._ GREYSTONE. The first stanza, which serves as a “refrain,” is to be sung after each verse. The hymn is an interesting study in metre. In the refrain, the first line is trochaic (— -), but the second changes to the more common iambic (- —). The tune is written to take care of this. It owes its unique effect to this refrain, which keeps coming in with this change of metre accompanied by a change of key from C to G. No information is at hand concerning the composer. CHRISTMAS 411. The happy Christmas comes once more _Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig_, 1783-1872 A charmingly fresh Christmas hymn written by the greatest of Danish hymn writers. An omitted stanza reads: O let us go with quiet mind, The gentle Babe with shepherds find, To gaze on him who gladdens them, The loveliest flower of Jesse’s stem. Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig was born in Udby, Denmark, 1783, the son of a Lutheran pastor. He lived in a day when rationalistic “new theology” had dried up the stream of spirituality in the church. The church worship had lost its evangelical glow, and the sermons had deteriorated into lectures on science and domestic economy. Young Grundtvig, in the course of his studies for the ministry, had come under the influence of this rationalism and for a time lost all interest in religion. Various influences opened his eyes to the spiritual poverty existing in the church, and he became an indefatigable worker for the dawn of a new day in the life of the people. His zeal sometimes led him into extravagances which put him at odds with his fellow ministers, but his preaching and writings, nevertheless, became a powerful influence in Denmark and resulted in fresh stirring of the Spirit in the church. His poems and hymns, entitled _Hymns and Spiritual Songs_, were published in five volumes. _MUSIC._ The melody is found in a book, _Children’s Voices_, published by the Augsburg Press (Lutheran). No information is at hand regarding the composer, C. Belle. The arrangement was made by E. Shippen Barnes for the _Hymnary_. For comments on Barnes see Hymn 48. 412. Once in royal David’s city _Cecil Frances Alexander_, 1823-95 One of a series of children’s songs written by Mrs. Alexander to illustrate the Apostles’ Creed, this being a comment on the second clause, “And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.” Others in the series are “There is a green hill far away” (No. 104) and “All things bright and beautiful” (No. 410). _MUSIC._ IRBY was written for this hymn to be sung by voices in unison, with harmonized accompaniment. It has become one of the best-known hymn tunes for children, and is always associated with these words.