Wow LISTEN to the Beautiful 16th Century "Coventry Carol" that Recalls the History of the Holy Innocents - Sung by King's College Choir

 

A centuries old carol named  "Coventry Carol" is an English Christmas song dating from the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry in England as part of a

mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play recalls the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew: the carol itself refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed, and takes the form of a lullaby sung by mothers of their children.  Lyrics below the video and Free Print music of this song can be found at the link: 
http://www.cantatedomino.org/cd/lullay,-lulla-thou-little-tiny-child--coventry-carol--orginal---walford-davies---mather.php
 
LYRICS: Lully, lullah, thou little tiny child
Bye bye, lully, lully O sisters too, how may we do For to preserve this day? This poor youngling for whom we do sing "Bye bye, lully, lully"? Herod the king, in his raging Charged he hath this day His men of might in his own sight All young children to slay That woe is me, poor child, for thee And ever morn' and day For thy parting neither say nor sing "Bye bye, lully, lully" Lully, lullah, thou little tiny child Bye bye, lully, lully
Source: Musixmatch
Image : Detail from Francois Joseph Navez (1787-1869). The Massacre of the Innocents, 1824. Oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art. NY. USA.

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