Cradle Song (based on 'Come, rock the cradle for Him')

Henry George Ley MA DMus FRCO FRCM HonRAM (30 December 1887 – 24 August 1962) was an English organist, composer and music teacher.

He was born in Chagford in Devon on 30 December 1887, and was a chorister at St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle, Music Scholar at Uppingham School, Organ Scholar of Keble College Oxford (1906) where he was President of the University Musical Club in 1908, and an Exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music where he was a pupil of Sir Walter Parratt and Marmaduke Barton. He was organist at St Mary’s, Farnham Royal, from 1905–1906, and at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (1909–1926), Professor of organ at the Royal College of Music in London from 1919, and Precentor at Radley College and at Eton College (that is, in charge of the music in College Chapel) from 1926 to 1945. He was an Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford, from 1926 to 1945 and died on 24 August 1962.

He was a composer of some organ works, but mainly choral works, including a celebrated setting of the Founder’s Prayer of King Henry VI. This piece, written for King's College, Cambridge, is a true classic.

"Cradle Song" is based on the Christmas Carol, "Come, rock the cradle for Him", (Köln 1619). It was published by Oxford University Press in 1949, and is dedicated "To H. T. Y."

It is classic English cathedral in style, and sets the well-know melody sensitively, but very rhythmically. In fact, at the MM mark of 120 to the quarter, this is definitely not too slow in the rocking... ;-)

One side note - whenever I'm playing the Salisbury set, if a "solo stop" is called for, I virtually always use the Solo Clarinet.

Well, THIS time, I used the Solo Cor Anglais, with tremulant, "up" the octave... ;-)

The score is attached.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All! :-)