Mine Liking

SATB, 3'20" (2019)

All of the best Christmas carols have a bit of darkness to them, appropriate to the time of year and the darker elements of the Christmas story. Likewise, all of the best lullabies are just a little bit spooky. “Lullay, Mine Liking” is a carol from the 15th century recorded in the Sloane Manuscript alongside “As Dewe in Aprille” and “Adam Lay Ybounden,” clearly imitating a lullaby. In my setting of this text, I wanted the sweetness of a lullaby tune tinged with the darkness or fear a new mother might experience. The chromatic tune and rising pentatonic scales that shift between major and minor throughout the piece create this looming darkness.

Click here for perusal score.