Coventry Carol

SKU: C4.9790902257169

ISBN 9790902257169. 8.27 x 11.7 inches.

Coventry Carol was arranged for the Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne as part of their 2015 carols services on December 4, 5 and 6. It has since been recorded for CD (Beneath the Incense Tree, APL17427) as part of the College's centenary celebrations for the consecration of the Horsfall Chapel in 2017, with current Director of Music Chris Watson conducting.

The well-known text is sourced from mystery plays celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi, for which the traditional melody and harmonisation can be found in a 1591 edition published by Thomas Mawdycke. Here, the source material becomes increasingly unstable as the Massacre of the Innocents approaches, resulting in an apocalyptic climax. A barren and desolate epilogue follows, as foretold by Jeremiah 31:15. (She refuses to be comforted, for they are no more.).