Child Jesus Comes from Heavenly Height, 1907. Peter C. Lutkin, 1858-1931. Music Division, Library of Congress. Call number: M2085.L87 C45 1907

For much of his life, Lutkin composed original carols as Christmas card greetings. Child Jesus Comes from Heavenly Height was one of two such greetings later published by H. W. Gray. It is a simple, strophic a cappella setting—in two verses with refrains—of a translated poem by Hans Christian Anderson. The verse begins with a unison descending line that separates into four parts almost immediately. Its harmony is homophonic and uncomplicated. A soft dynamic scheme for the opening phrases gives way to a forte "Alleluia," swelling to ff at "Alleluia, Christ the Lord." The second verse of the carol concludes with a lovely short choral amen.