Blessed Be that Maid Mary

Description

The text for Blessed be that Maid Mary comes to us from an anonymous 15th century English author. It makes liberal use of a common literacy device of the time: mixing English and Latin phrases together. Also typical for nativity texts of this era is an allusion to the future fate that would befall the Holy Child. The power and simplicity of these words led me to write a straightfoward, gentle melody, almost a lullaby. The piece should be sung without much vibrato, with warmth and a sense of quiet wonder.