This edition was prepared by J. G. Stalnaker — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hush! My Dear (Cradle Song)
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems
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Hush! My Dear (Cradle Song) by J. G. Stalnaker — Lyrics
Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber
Holy angels guard your bed,
Heav'nly blessings without number
Gently falling on your head.
How much better you are attended
Than the Son of God would be,
When from heaven he descended
And became the child we see.
Soft and easy is your cradle;
Course and hard in a manger he lay,
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About Hush! My Dear (Cradle Song)
This SATB anthem sets an English text in a devotional style. The music opens with gentle homophony, suggesting the tender lullaby of the title. The text draws a poignant comparison between the humble circumstances of the infant Jesus and those of the child being sung to, reflecting on the divine presence even in lowly settings. It moves from the pastoral scene of the shepherds to the intimate reassurance of a mother's care. The musical setting mirrors this by creating moments of hushed intimacy alongside broader, more expansive passages, all contributing to a feeling of sacred peace and maternal love.
