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About the Composer
Timothy C. Takach
Timothy C. Takach Publications
The North Star Carol
Jesus’ birth brought us teachings and guidance that we can use as a compass for humanity.
SATB, harp
Composer’s Notes
In our lives, we often encounter lessons that ring true yet fail to take root. They make sense, they feel right, and still— because they require effort and persistence—we forget, we falter, and we lose our way.
Christmas is a season of gifts: the gifts we share with one another, and the gift of Jesus, born into the world. But do we also remember the gifts of his teachings? That he calls us not to grand displays of devotion, but to something quieter and more difficult—treating others with respect, practicing kindness, and choosing altruism over selfishness.
Charles Anthony Silvestri’s commissioned poem offers us this gentle reminder. It asks us to look inward, to notice where we have strayed, and to set our course again toward empathy and compassion. In its quiet way, it is both a reflection and a call to action.
The title “The North Star Carol” references Jesus’ gifts of teaching and guidance as a compass. In the tradition of the Wexford and Sussex carols, it also nods to Minnesota, the “North Star State,” where this carol was composed.
– Timothy C. Takach, 2025
Text
Starlight on my mother’s face
Gold and incense on the floor
The universe in this humble space
Men and angels kneel and adore
I came not to receive your gifts
Or worship, though your hearts be true;
I came to teach, to heal, to lift,
To make this broken world anew.
My gifts to you are love and peace
My wish: the hope
That your seeking soul might find release;
That my father’s kingdom might increase,
That poverty and strife will cease
And all the world could know joy.
– Charles Anthony Silvestri
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