Tu scendi dalle stelle

The melody and original lyrics for the hymn were written by Alphonsus Liguori, a prominent Neapolitan priest and scholastic philosopher (later canonized) who founded the Redemptorist missionary order.

This version with Italian lyrics actually came after the original song written in Neapolitan entitled "For Jesus' birth" and that begins Quanno nascette Ninno (When the child was born) and sometimes referred to as the "Carol of the Bagpipers" (Canzone d'i zampognari).

That version credits the music composition to Tommaso Capocci and the words to Pope Pius IX and does not mention the earlier work.

From starry skies descending, Thou comest, glorious King, A manger low Thy bed, In winter's icy sting;

[6] Anthony Velona and Remo Capra arranged English lyrics upon the original musical composition for a version entitled "O Bambino" (also known as "One Cold and Blessed Winter").

He also recorded a slightly updated arrangement of this song on his 1965 RCA Victor Billboard Top 40 album The Heart of Christmas (Cuor' Di Natale).

[8] Contemporary Italian composer Piero Niro has produced a composition entitled Three Variations on "Tu scendi dalle stelle" for a large orchestra (2000).