Christopher Dearnley (1930–2000) was the organist at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, between 1968 and 1990. A talented composer in his own write he set 'The growing limbs of God the Son' to the tune known as 'St. Chad'. It's a warm and affectionate piece of music, with a wonderfully fluid melodic line. It's sung below by the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, conducted by John Scott. Enjoy :-).
markfromireland
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Byrd's four-part anthem Senex puerum portabat was published in 1607 in the second book of Gradualia. It's a beautifully expressive piece of music in which Byrd manipulates the vocal lines to convey the joy felt both by Simeon and by the Virgin Mary. Thus at the end of the first line – "Senex puerum portabat", he sets the word 'portabat' to a rising interval holding the melodic line high. Similarly in the last line culminating in the word 'adoravit' where Byrd uses the vocal lines to portray both the Virgin's adoration of the Messiah and her joy as the mother of a new-born child. It's performed here by the St Paul's Cathedral Choir conducted by John Scott. The lyrics and a translation are below the fold. Enjoy :-)
markfromireland
Video Source: Byrd - Senex puerum portabat – YouTube Uploaded by markfromireland on Jan 4, 2012
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[16] Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
[16] tunc Herodes videns quoniam inlusus esset a magis iratus est valde et mittens occidit omnes pueros qui erant in Bethleem et in omnibus finibus eius a bimatu et infra secundum tempus quod exquisierat a magis
Source: Douay-Rheims Bible, Gospel According to Saint Matthew Chapter 2
We don't know who wrote the Coventry Carol what we do know is that it was part of the scene depicting the massacre of the innocents during the mystery plays performed by the Shearmen and Tailors guild. The text (which survives only as a facsimile of an anonymous manuscript) dates from 1534 and is known to be by Robert Croo, the melody is of later origin – probably from the 1580s. In the carol the mother's of Bethlehem sing this lullabies to their babies "Be still, be still, my little child," in the hope that Herod's soldiers who have come to Bethlehem to slaughter the infants of the town won't be drawn to the noise of their crying. In the liturgical calendar the children murdered by Herod's soldiers are commemorated on December 28th – the Feast Of The Holy Innocents. This performances of it is one of my favourites on YouTube. It's performed by the Flemish vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale Gent, conducted by Peter Dijkstra and was recorded at the Begijnhofkerk, Sint-Truiden (Flanders, Belgium).
I've included both the original Early Modern English text and a Modern English translation below the fold. Enjoy :-)
markfromireland
Video Source: The Coventry Carol (Collegium Vocale Gent) j – YouTube
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