As Christmas season performances of “Messiah” begin and shopping mall music is heard far and wide, we invite you to take a short pause and listen to our own Barbara Kilduff perform a rare and beautiful setting of the Coventry Carol. This 16th century medieval text relates the story of King Herod’s reaction to the news of the birth of the Messiah. (Matthew 2: 16-18). The text appears below; click here for audio from this live performance.
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.
That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Spacious Vision 