SWEETLY SLEEPING (2004)
Christmas carol for SATB choir and melody instrument

Premiere: December 2011 by the Toronto Chamber Choir, Mark Vuorinen, director

Soloists: Amy Dodington, Richard Whittall, Cory Knight, Paul Oros; oboist: Adam Weinmann

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Recording from the premiere performance
(last two verses):

TEXT:

Christmas Carol (poem title)

The kings they came from out the south,
All dressed in ermine fine;
They bore Him gold and chrysoprase,
And gifts of precious wine.

(refrain texts by R. McClellan):
Now softly, now softly come, now softly, softly go
O see Him, see Him sleeping, mighty Monarch, sweetly sleeping.

The shepherds came from out the north,
Their coats were brown and old;
They brought Him little new-born lambs--
They had not any gold.

Now softly, now softly come, now softly, softly go
O see Him, see Him sleeping, faithful Shepherd, sweetly sleeping.

The wise men came from out the east,
And they were wrapped in white;
The star that led them all the way
Did glorify the night.

Now softly, now softly come, now softly, softly go
O see Him, see Him sleeping, Seat of wisdom, sweetly sleeping.

The angels came from heaven high,
And they were clad with wings;
And lo, they brought a joyful song
The host of heaven sings.

Now softly, now softly come, now softly, softly go
O see Him, see Him sleeping, Lord of angels, sweetly sleeping.

The kings they knocked upon the door,
The wise men entered in,
The shepherds followed after them
To hear the song begin.

Now softly, now softly come, now softly, softly go
O see Him, see Him sleeping, Lord of all, sweetly sleeping.

The angels sang through all the night
Until the rising sun,
But little Jesus fell asleep
Before the song was done.

Now softly, now softly come, now softly, softly go
O see Him, see Him sleeping, little baby, sweetly sleeping.

~ Sara Teasdale

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