Overview

While I was busy researching my commission for Gaithersburg Community Chorus to create a new setting of an American Christmas carol (which resulted in Let Us Be Merry), I came across this charming piece, which I arranged for SATB choir.

Horatio and Isabella Parker’s original Cradle Hymn is movement five from The Holy Child, A Cantata for Christmastide, Op. 37, published in 1893 by G. Schirmer, NY. The original is a soprano/tenor duet, to which I added alto and bass (and made other adjustments), resulting in a piece for SATB choir. The published piano part was a piano reduction, so I also rewrote sections to both take better advantage of the piano and to add more interest.

Cradle Hymn

In softest slumber rest;
Thy mother’s faithful arms
Shall shield Thee, Infant blest,
From all alarms!

How gentle Thy repose!
Thy brow no shadow wears;
Fairer than fairest rose
Thy face appears!

The tender, sheltering ward
Of many a seraph bright,
Thy slumber deep shall guard,
Blest Babe, to-night.

My soul doth magnify
The Lord, whose wondrous power
Hath given from on high
Such priceless dower!

So sleep, Thou sinless One,
In human form enshrined,
Thy earthly life begun,
Heaven left behind!

To rest, with blessed dreams,
Cradled in lowliness,
Till morning’s radiant beams
The earth shall bless!

—Isabella Parker (1839-1904)