Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Artists

S.A.T.B. Choir — 4’30”

Premiered Dec. 15, 2019. San Francisco, CA. Magen Solomon, conductor

Cradle Song (Dormi Jesu / A Child’s Blessing) was commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Artists for a Christmas program in December 2019.  Here two old texts come together: one from the Christian tradition and one from the Jewish tradition.  The first, Dormi Jesu, is an anonymous Latin text that presents the scene of mother and child.  The second text, sung in Hebrew, is a blessing said - now sung - over a (male) child.  The texts are set to soft floating thirds (like a lullaby) and music that rocks back and forth.  (You may notice fragments of the hymn “Away in a Manager”).  Some chromatic notes also suggest something more mysterious and haunting while the baby Jesus slumbers.

Latin Text

Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet,

Quae tam dulcem somnum videt,

Dormi, Jesu! blandule!

Si non dormis, Mater plorat,

Inter fila cantans orat,

Blande, veni, somnule.

Sleep, Jesus! Mother smiles

Who sees such sweet sleep,

Sleep, Jesus, gentling!

If you sleep not, Mother weeps,

While she spins, in song she prays,

Come, gentle little sleep

Hebrew Text (transliteration) : Genesis 48:20 and Numbers 24-26 – Blessing of Children (for a boy).

 Y'simcha Elohim

k'Ephraim v'chi Menashe

Yeverechecha adonai ve'yishmereicha.

Ya'er adonai panav eileicha vichuneika.

Yisa adonai panav eileicha ve'yasem lecha shalom.

God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh.​

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;

The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;

The Lord lift up His countenance​ upon thee, and give thee peace.