Coventry Carol

from Epic Carols by Milocraft

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about

This song is a dark, gothic melody about the infamous “massacre of the innocents” where King Herod commanded his armies to kill all male infants of 2 years or less. The forlorn mothers of the slain children sing a mournful lullaby to their missing babes. The song hails from the 1500s and has been passed down through the centuries. I picture veiled women singing it in an ancient cathedral. I treated it as a dark lullaby with an aggressive and slightly angry bass and beat combination. The contrast of Stephanie Mason's beautiful voice with the hard hitting instruments creates a fitting result for such an awful massacre. In case you are not familiar with it you can read it in Matthew 2:16-18.

"16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

lyrics

Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
By-bye lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
By-bye lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day,
This poor Youngling for whom we sing
By-bye lully, lullay.

Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day;
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young, to slay.

Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
And ever mourn and say;
For Thy parting nor say nor sing,
By-bye lully, lullay.

credits

from Epic Carols, released October 1, 2012
Vocals by Stephanie Mason
1500s w. m. English Traditional Carol

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all rights reserved

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about

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Milocraft Seattle, Washington

Milocraft is a musician, a singer-songwriter, and a visual artist. Miles currently lives in the Seattle, Washington area with his wife and three children where he makes video games as a real time camera and experience designer. Miles Germer writes, composes, records, and produces all of Milocraft’s music. ... more

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