Choral ~ Holiday ~ with Keyboard
“Sweet Baby, Sleep”
(An original setting of the George Wither poem of 1641)
SOUND CLIP / WATCH VIDEO ON VIMEO (of the chamber orchestra version)
SCORING: Soprano solo (or full soprano section), acc. by piano
DURATION: ca. 5:00 — DIFFICULTY: 2/5 — PAGES IN PDF SCORE: 7
DEDICATION: For my mother, Ethel Bloesch, who used to sing to me the Vaughan Williams setting of this text.
HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER — PDF: $45 (for all the copies you need)
NOTE: This piece also exists in a lovely chamber-orchestra version.
DESCRIPTION
This is not your typical “lullaby”!
Rather than being a lullaby designed to soothe a child to sleep, my original setting of the George Wither poem seeks to portray the inner feelings of Mary, and thus is fervent and emotionally intense.
This piece features a gently flowing melody, and can be sung by a soprano soloist or by the entire soprano section of a chorus.
TEXT INFO
Sweet Baby, Sleep
Words by George Wither, 1641
Complete text:
Sweet baby, sleep! What ails my dear?
What ails my darling thus to cry?
Be still, my child, and lend thine ear,
To hear me sing thy lullaby.
My pretty lamb, forbear to weep!
Be still, my dear. Sweet baby, sleep!
When with us God was dwelling here,
In little babes He took delight:
Such innocents as thou, my dear,
Are ever precious in His sight!
My pretty lamb, forbear to weep!
Be still, my dear. Sweet baby, sleep!
REVIEWS
Dr. Margaret Mueller, music professor:
“What a beautiful Christmas lullaby Peter wrote! The haunting melody, the perfect accompaniment with its moody joy, the sincerity of expression — superb! The piece has simple but beautiful dissonances throughout, and then a peaceful, affecting conclusion.”
— Dr. Margaret Mueller, former Professor of Organ at Salem College
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Audience comments:
“It was a great pleasure to hear your composition, 'Sweet Baby, Sleep.' What an enchanting lullaby you’ve written — so gentle and tuneful!”
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“I enjoyed performing this piece on my recital. It was simple but moving and made a nice contrast to the other pieces on the program.”
— Comment from a soprano who performed the piece (as a solo)
