Monday, December 31, 2012

Coventry Carol (Lullaby) - Sung on the Feast of the Innocents


"In England, the Franciscans played an important role in the early development of Christmas carols.  A British manuscript compiled in 1372 by the Franciscan friar Johan de Grimestone contains the haunting carol, “Lullay, lullay, as I lay on Yoolis Night.” 

The carol tells of a dreamlike Christmas Eve vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary rocking her infant Son as she, at the invitation of her Son, relates the events leading up to His birth.  The format of this carol imitates the lullabies that medieval women sang to their children. 

The most famous of medieval English Christmas carol, the Coventry Carol, is taken from a 15th century play and tells of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents by Harod . . ."


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