Sample played by London Brass

10017 – Coventry Carol

15th Century English

Arranged by Roger Harvey

Difficulty: Easy

Price: £22.50

Programme notes:

The carol genre dates back to the 12th century when it originated as a dance-song, usually with a moral or religious text, but often pertaining to secular festivals and sung to popular melodies. By the 15th century the style began to develop into an angular polyphonic form in 2 or 3 parts. The song we know as the Coventry carol, however, retains the older chordal style with a refrain. It can be dated precisely to 1591 when it appeared in the mediaeval Pageant of the Shearman and Tailors. It is a lullaby and lament sung by the women of Bethlehem as Herod’s soldiers are about to enter and slay their children.

Lully, lully thou little tiny child, By by, lully, lullay. O sisters too, how may we do for to preserve this day

This poor youngling, for whom we do sing, By by, lully lullay,

Herod, the King, In his raging, Charged he hath this day

His men f 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 no sing by by lully lullay!

Performance notes:

This instrumental arrangement attempts to portray the feeling of the text. The mood of the performance should have a slightly distant and rather melancholy feel. At E the atmosphere should become more violent and the fanfares, while remaining rhythmically controlled, should yell. From G let it sigh, becoming almost expressionless at H. The coda at J can once again have a feeling of yearning.