SATB a cappella. Text by the composer.

Notes: A gentle setting to be sung with warmth and poise. The two quavers at the start of many of the phrases should not be rushed but given slightly more weight to keep the rhythm even. Pitching of some intervals should be given priority otherwise the overall pitch could suffer. Take time to practice the tenor line at bars 14-16 and the soprano line at 7-13 and 28-34 and the corresponding passages in the later verses.

The word ‘lullaby’ is harder to sing than it looks. Firstly everyone should agree on its pronunciation (ideally the conductor will tell the singers his/her preference) and then practice it together on one note to achieve uniformity. The last syllable should always be sung to an ‘Ah’ vowel which will help maintain the pitch. Don’t be afraid to take time at the commas between the verses. A moment of silence helps define the structure of the music and creates a sense of calm. Silence couldn’t be more appropriate than in a lullaby.