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The Rocking Carol

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The Rocking Carol
by Percy Dearmer
GenreChristmas carol
LanguageEnglish, based on Czech
Based onTraditional Czech carol
Published1928

"The Rocking Carol",[1] also known as "Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep"[2] and "Rocking",[3] is an English Christmas carol by Percy Dearmer. It was translated from Czech (Hajej, nynej")[4] in 1928 and is performed as a lullaby to the baby Jesus. The carol has also been known in English as "The Rocking Carol" since an American edition in 1963. The carol has been recorded by Julie Andrews, Roger Whittaker and other artists.

History

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Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst

The carol was first published in an anthology in 1920 in Czechoslovakia, where it was described as a traditional Czech carol.[1] It was loosely translated into English by Percy Dearmer,[1] as part of his effort of resurrecting hymns that had fallen into disuse and introducing European hymns into the Church of England.[1][self-published source] The carol is sung in the form of a lullaby to Jesus while rocking the manger as if it were a more modern cradle,[5] as noted by the repetitive chorus of "We will rock you".[6][7] It was first published in The Oxford Book of Carols, which Dearmer had edited alongside Martin Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams, in 1928.[1]

After initial publication, the carol gradually decreased in popularity until the 1960s when the English actress Julie Andrews performed a commercially released version of it.[8] Following this, it was published in Carols for Choirs by Reginald Jacques and David Willcocks.[9]

Description

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"The Rocking Carol" consists of two verses with eight lines each.[10] It is performed with a 10.7.8.8.7.7 metre.[2] The hymn continues to be published within Church of England and Anglican hymnals.[7] The hymn has been described as the quintessential lullaby carol compared with similar wording lullaby Christmas carols of "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" as hymnologists opine that the lyrics and melody both strongly suggest the rocking of a cradle.[5][needs copy edit]

Melody and words

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The original Czech word are:

1. Hajej, nynej, Ježíšku,
Ježíšku, pučíme ti kožíšku.
Budeme té kolíbati,
Abys moh' libě pospati,
Hajej, nynej, Ježíšku,
Pučíme ti kožíšku.

2. Hajej, nynej, miláčku,
Miláčku, mariánský synáčku.
Budeme té kolíbati,
Abys moh' libě pospati,
Hajej, nynej, miláčku,
Mariánský synáčku.[11]

The English words are a poetic translation.

\header { tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } \context { \Voice \remove "Dynamic_engraver" } } global = { \key f \major \time 2/4 \autoBeamOff } soprano = \relative c' { \global \set Staff.midiPanPosition = -0.5 \set midiInstrument = "recorder" f8\mf a c c | d d16 ([b]) c4 | d8\pp d16 ([b]) c4 | bes8\mf bes16 ([g]) a8 a16 ([f]) | g8 g16 ([e]) f4 | a8 c bes a | g a g c, | a'\pp c bes a | g a g c, | f8\mf a c c | d d16 ([b]) c4 | bes!8\pp bes16 ([g]) a8 \tempo 4 = 36 a16 ([f]) | g8 g16 ([e]) f4 \bar "|." } alto = \relative c' { \global \set Staff.midiPanPosition = 0.5 \set midiInstrument = "flute" f8\mf a f a | g g g4 | g8\pp g g4 | f8\mf d e c | d c c4 | f8 f f f | e d e c | f\pp f f f | f f e c | f8\mf a f a | g g g4 | f8\pp d e c | d c c4 \bar "|." } tenor = \relative c' { \global \set Staff.midiPanPosition = -1 \set midiInstrument = "oboe" a8\mf c a c | b b16 ([d]) c4 | b!8\pp b16 ([d]) c4 | d8\mf bes c a | bes g a4 | c8 a bes c | c a c c | c\pp a bes c | d d g, c | a8\mf c a c | b b16 ([d]) c4 | d8\pp bes c e | bes g a4 \bar "|." } bass = \relative c { \global \set Staff.midiPanPosition = 1 \set midiInstrument = "bassoon" f8 f f f | f g e4 | f8 g e4 | d8 g c, f | bes, c f,4 | f'8 f d f | c f c c | es f d c | b b c c | f8 f f f | f g e4 | d8 g c, f | bes, c f,4 \bar "|." } verseOne = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "1." Lit -- tle Je -- sus, sweet -- ly sleep, do not stir; we will lend a coat of fur. We will rock you, rock you, rock you, we will rock you, rock you, rock you. See the fur to keep you warm, snug -- ly round your ti -- ny form. } verseTwo = \lyricmode { \set stanza = "2." Ma -- ry's lit -- tle ba -- by, sleep, sweet -- ly sleep, Sleep in com -- fort, slum -- ber deep. \repeat unfold 16 { \skip 1 } We will serve you all we can, dar -- ling, dar -- ling lit -- tle man. } \score { \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \soprano } \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \alto } >> \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \verseOne \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \verseTwo \new Staff << \clef bass \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \tenor } \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \bass } >> >> \layout { } } \score { << \soprano \\ \alto \\ \tenor \\ \bass >> \midi { \tempo 4=42 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } }
Source[3]

Criticism

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After publication, the final line of the carol met with dissatisfaction, with a number of hymnal editors altering it from "Darling, darling little man" to "Son of God and Son of Man".[1] Barry Cooper has argued that it has only minor biblical references and is written without theological content and "painting a wholly imaginary scene".[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Garden, John (2002). The Christmas Carol Dance Book. Lulu.com. p. 51. ISBN 1445264447.
  2. ^ a b "Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  3. ^ a b Percy Dearmer; Ralph Vaughan Williams; Martin Shaw, eds. (1964) [1928]. "87. Rocking". The Oxford Book of Carols. Oxford University Press. p. 189.
  4. ^ Studwell, William (2006). An Easy Guide to Christmas Carols. Lyre of Orpheus Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780964163140. Christmas song from the area formerly known as Czechoslovakia. Originally 'Hajej nynjej', this gentle folk cradle piece is from the 14th, 15th, or 16th century. If from the 14th century, 'Rocking' would be one of the oldest of still-performed carols ...
  5. ^ a b Studwell, William (2012). The Christmas Carol Reader. Routledge. p. 30. ISBN 978-1136591457.
  6. ^ Crump, William (2013). The Christmas Carol Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). McFarland. p. 346. ISBN 978-1476605739.
  7. ^ a b Day, David V. (2003). Christ Our Life: Colossians. Emmaus Bible Resources. Church House Publishing. pp. 19–20, 98. ISBN 0-7151-4987-3.
  8. ^ Jones, Aled (2010). Aled Jones' Favourite Christmas Carols. Random House. p. 133. ISBN 978-1409051107.
  9. ^ Reginald Jacques; David Willcocks (eds.). "21. Rocking". Carols for Choirs 1. Oxford University Press. pp. 70–71.
  10. ^ "Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep music". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  11. ^ "Hajej, nynjej", Czech and English, bethsnotesplus.com
  12. ^ Barry Cooper (2008). "5. Christmas Carols". In Whiteley, Sheila (ed.). Christmas, Ideology and Culture. Edinburgh University Press. p. 95 (88–97). ISBN 978-0748631872.
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