Item Number: EC.6414
Text: Sabine Baring-Gould.
Sing Lullaby was commissioned by music director Michael Batcho for the Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee and composed in California during the summer of 2000. Originally scored for tenor solo, mixed chorus, oboe, French horn and violoncello obbligato and organ, an independent fabric for string orchestra was composed for a performance by the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Christmas of the same year. The setting was further developed for the debut performance of The Catholic University of America Chamber Choir and Chamber Players at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in December of 2002. In the 2008 revision, the composer decided that the obbligato trio of clarinet, French horn and bassoon most clearly evoked the ethos of shepherds, offering optimal timbral contrast to string orchestra and chorus. Substantial emendations of the entire score were made for the present edition of Sing Lullaby, first performed by The Catholic University of America Chamber Choir, University Singers, University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra at the Annual Christmas Concert for Charity at Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on 7 December 2012 with tenor Rick Christman, the composer conducting.
Variation form, long favored by composers in settings of strophic music, imparts a perception of improvisation as singers and players alter harmonies, melody and rhythm to forward the unfolding narrative. Sensitive performance will caress the natural undulation of the largely ternary meter, tapering unstressed beats at the ends of phrases while maintaining the steady flow of the accompaniment.
Two editions of the work are published: (I) for mixed chorus, solo, obbligato trio and organ and (II) for mixed chorus, solo, obbligato trio, string orchestra, harp and organ. The edition for chorus and obbligato instruments adds timbral variety to a Christmas concert while employing modest instrumental means which are easily available. Although in Version II both harp and organ are scored ad libitum, the harp adds significantly to the counterpoint of the obbligato instruments, providing further rhythmic impetus and textural variety. Conceived for lyric tenor, the solo may also be sung by soprano.
