VOCES8: Lully, Lulla, Lullay - Philip Stopford

VOCES8 sings Philip Stopford's setting of 'Lully, Lulla, Lullay' in St Stephen's Walbrook Church, London.

Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by, lully lullay
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
By by, lully lullay

O sisters too,
How may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling,
For whom we sing,
By by, lully lullay?

Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by, lully lullay
Lully, lulla thou little tiny child
By by, lully lullay

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

Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by, lully lullay
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
By by, lully lullay

That woe is me,
Poor child for thee!
And ever morn and day,
For thy parting
Neither say nor sing
By by, lully lullay!

Lully, lulla, lully lulla
By by, lully lullay
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
By by, lully lullay
By by, lully lullay

[r.benjaminbarkow]

This song got me through a recent miscarriage. I listened at least 20 times a day and grieved. This song spoke to me. I felt connected to the process of saying goodbye to a child that would never grow up. You all sang it beautifully. You captured the nuance of sounding strong in the midst of a horrible ordeal, yet overcome with grief. Thank you so much. It may not sound like much, but your gift really helped me in a very dark time.

[ClintK.]

Being a male growing up in the culture I was raised in, I struggle to let out my emotions through crying. Reading the lyrics and listening to this song gives me the ability to cry that otherwise I wouldn't be able to do. Thank you for the spiritual and emotional release. Your choir is a gift!

[mariealyssa]

Mass of the ages got me here. How hauntingly beautiful

[haileyvick]

I've never heard a soprano with such control and clarity. The men are steady throughout and it's difficult to detect any breathing. Beautiful work.

[andrewscollick]

LYRICS & EXPLANATION:
An ancient Carol from Coventry, reworked in the 21st century.
British composer Philip Stopford composed this version of the Coventry Carol in 2008.
The original Coventry Carol dates from the 16th century and was traditionally performed in Coventry as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors.
The rocking lullaby tells the story of the Massacre of the Innocents — when, after the birth of Jesus, King Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two to be killed.
It's sung though from a mother's perspective, as a beautiful lament for her doomed child.
The words are:

Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his owne sight,
All young children to slay.
That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

[michaelvalencia]

There is no musical instrument more compelling and profound than the tactfully constructed human voices in harmonic unison!

[elleseraphina]

The most beautiful, moving, emotional song I have ever heard. Brings tears and gives me goosebumps everytime. Praying for all the innocent children all around the world. May our beloved Lord and the Holy Mary protect them all.

[thenickelplatedcondor]

Something about this choir. They're just something else. Absolutely breathtaking.

[elleryseadust]

I just realized at the end those really long high notes are almost like screaming. Like anguished screaming as a mothers child is killed

[philolson]

I vote this the best performed/recorded version of this song in existence. The acoustics are exquisite and the balance between men and women is perfect. World class voices on display here.

[emncaity]

Get this: I had been listening for a few months, increasing in fascination with them to the point of near-obsession with the absolutely insane level of what they're doing, and then I looked at the schedule for a local privately sponsored concert series at a huge Methodist cathedral downtown where I live, a city of about a quarter million in the middle of farm and ranch country (but with a major university with a well-regarded school of music, so we _do_ get some seriously good artists here), and...they were on the schedule for a Christmas concert. Not until the point when they walked out and took their places last Sunday evening did I think it was actually going to happen.

If you're wondering (like a lot of people have) whether they could possibly be this good live, they are. It was pure indescribable beauty. I still can't believe they were here.

The selection was the best for any Christmas concert I've ever been at. And yes, they did this Stopford piece (and another one too) -- this haunting, pure, transforming thing.

Got to meet them afterward, even. I'm still wondering how it happened.

[gerardorivera]

I love all their voices especially the soprano. Her voice is soft, gentle, clean, and clear.

[serbancentea]

We should all support these musicians. Through their artistry and craft - in normal times or pandemic terror - they give us light and beauty. They make us better, so we owe them.

[kevinbrennen]

Diction, Vowels, Balance, Rhythm, Intonation, etc

[animewaifulover]

Hauntingly beautiful piece and rendition, and the soprano solo is otherworldly.

[ThePhil]

This sweet yet somber lullaby played in my head while seeing the Pieta in Rome last year. Very powerful. Jesus’ entire life pointed to the Cross and the Blessed Mother knew that her heart would be pierced yet still beautifully and joyfully ponders. This song portrays this paradox so perfectly.

[michaeljungen]

Unbelievable - Lets pray for peace as long as we are living - How could it be done better than through such a wonderful soulful vocal performance

[skybluepete]

It’s just stunning
How can something like this exist and people not know about it?
Stroke of luck to find it on Spotify

[directionofease]

@ 3:40 final soprano descant captured perfectly in passing by cameraman — props to the crew for a beautiful production.

[G-Cutti]

I return and listen to this on a weekly basis. This is the best rendition I have ever heard. Hauntingly beautiful! Well done!