Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep
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The Story
Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep is a setting of the poem Holy Innocents by Christina Rossetti. I imagine a loving mother singing this lullaby to her infant child in hopes of easing the child to sleep. I use a rocking 6/8 meter and mostly consonant harmonies to create a peaceful and comforting sound world while low tessituras provide a calming resonance when a child is held close to one’s chest.
Text
Holy Innocents
by Christina Rossetti
Sleep, little baby, sleep;
The holy Angels love thee,
And guard thy bed, and keep
A blessed watch above thee.
No spirit can come near?
Nor evil beast to harm thee:
Sleep, Sweet, devoid of fear
Where nothing need alarm thee.
The Love which doth not sleep,
The eternal Arms surround thee:
The Shepherd of the sheep
In perfect love hath found thee.
Sleep through the holy night,
Kept from snare and sorrow,
Until thou wake to light
And love and warmth to-morrow.
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