Top Catholic Songs – share, learn, promote

NOTE: We submitted this song to Oregon Catholic Press (ocp.org) but it was not accepted. 

Our World So Beautiful is a new Christmas song co-written by Dan vi Nguyen, Richard Schletty and André van Haren. Dan posted her lyrics here and asked if anyone could make a song out of her words. Richard Schletty rewrote the lyrics to give them a consistent rhyme, line length, metrical pattern and overall poetic structure. Then Richard came up with a melody. Next, André van Haren wrote a beautiful piano arrangement based on an a cappella recording of the melody by Richard. Using Sibelius, André engraved the sheet music not only for piano and voice, but developed the song fully by adding guitar chords and two additional instruments: flute and cello. He also engraved a version of the song with optional SATB harmonies in the refrain.

About the composers

Dan Vi Nguyen was born in BaoThi, Vietnam, in 1980 into a Catholic family. As a young child, she studied the Bible and attended mass at church every day. In her youth, Dan learned to sing Catholic songs through the sisters/nuns, priests and others at church. She and her family immigrated to America in 1993 and settled in Oregon. Her family belongs to Our Lady of LaVang Parish, Portland, Oregon, USA. Website: nguyendanvi.wixsite.com/vinguyen

Richard Schletty is a voiceover artist and performing songwriter who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He is an experienced cantor, songleader and choral singer, singing at Masses, funerals, weddings and pro-life prayer services. He a board member of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters and does post production for the MAS SongCasters cable TV show. Richard has done many song collaborations via the Internet. He is owner and editor of TopCatholicSongs.com. Music website: schlettysound.com

André van Haren was born in 1963 in Holland. In 1990 he received a Bachelor Degree in Music in Classical Piano and Composition from the Conservatory in Utrecht, The Netherlands. His main instrument is the piano. He has written and arranged music for various ensembles including piano, choir, chamber ensembles and orchestra. Music website: andrevanharen.net

Free downloads

At the end of this story is a link to a complete demo of the song with voice and instruments. We have also made available a PDF preview of the sheet music for solo voice and piano. Sheet music arrangements for instruments and choral parts are available upon request. We have submitted this song to Oregon Catholic Press (ocp.org) and are hopeful it will be accepted for publication. Addendum: The song was not accepted by OCP.

Original lyrics by Dan Vi:

CHORUS
Jesus Christ, your world so beautiful
The moment you conceive through Mary by an angel
The wait for the whole world of mankind
The joy is overwhelm for generations await for you.

VERSE
Mother gave birth to a child
In the manger with loves for humanity
So humble out in the cold nigh
Only surround by warmth of sheeps and animals.

VERSE
The star of Bethlehem direct the three kings
On their journey to find Jesus Christ
The night on Christmas day
The coldest night of the year

BRIDGE
The three kings came to wordship you
With his kingdom treasure Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

VERSE
Angels sing in heaven for Christ's birth
A child born into the world for mankind
Plan for mankind salvation begin
From a child the Father in heaven always desire.

Revised lyrics by Richard:

Note that with recent changes I have put everything into the present tense. I like this idea because the song could be presented as a Christmas tableau. – RS

Our World So Beautiful

VERSE 1
A child is born to Mary through the Spirit,
Surrounded by the warmth of sheep and oxen.
In this humble manger, on this joyful night,
Is the promised one for all generations!

CHORUS
Jesus is the way to peace and joy.
He shows us how to be merciful.
He's the bright star we all need in our lives.
Jesus makes our world so beautiful.

VERSE 2
Three kings see the star of Bethlehem.
They journey to pay homage to the infant.
On this night, when earth is cold and dreary,
Sing praises to a son so radiant!

CHORUS
Jesus is the way to peace and joy.
He shows us how to be merciful.
He's the bright star we all need in our lives.
Jesus makes our world so beautiful.

VERSE 3
Angels and shepherds praise the Lord.
God's plan for our salvation is in motion.
A light illuminates what once was darkness:
This child is the keystone of creation!

CHORUS
Jesus is the way to peace and joy.
He shows us how to be merciful.
He's the bright star we all need in our lives.
Jesus makes our world so beautiful.
So beautiful, so beautiful!
Jesus makes our world so beautiful!