Composer

:

Kenneth Leighton

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

3:15

"The Christ-Child lay on Mary's lap" is a choral work composed by Kenneth Leighton in 1952. The piece was premiered on December 16, 1952, by the choir of King's College, Cambridge, under the direction of Boris Ord. The work is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different text. The first movement, "The Christ-Child lay on Mary's lap," is a setting of a traditional English carol. The second movement, "The Coventry Carol," is a setting of a medieval English carol. The third movement, "Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child," is a setting of a lullaby from the Coventry Mystery Plays. Leighton's setting of "The Christ-Child lay on Mary's lap" is characterized by its simple, yet effective use of harmony and melody. The piece begins with a unison melody sung by the choir, which is then joined by a simple, yet effective, organ accompaniment. As the piece progresses, Leighton introduces more complex harmonies and counterpoint, building to a powerful climax before returning to the simple unison melody with which the piece began. In "The Coventry Carol," Leighton uses a more complex harmonic language, with dissonant chords and unexpected modulations. The choir sings the melody in unison, with the organ providing a rich, chromatic accompaniment. The piece builds to a powerful climax before returning to a more subdued, reflective mood. The final movement, "Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child," is a gentle lullaby, with a simple, flowing melody and a gentle, rocking accompaniment. The choir sings the melody in unison, with occasional harmonies and counterpoint adding depth and richness to the texture. The piece ends with a gentle, peaceful cadence, bringing the work to a serene and contemplative close. Overall, "The Christ-Child lay on Mary's lap" is a beautiful and evocative choral work, characterized by its simple yet effective use of melody, harmony, and counterpoint. Leighton's setting of these traditional carols is both respectful of the original texts and innovative in its use of harmony and texture, making it a timeless classic of the choral repertoire.

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