Lullay, my liking

Lullay, my liking was commissioned by BBC Music Magazine for the publication’s December 2014 issue. The brief was to compose a carol with simplicity of form, and this Middle English 15th century carol text lends itself to an expressive yet succinct setting. Hewitt Jones, who is receiving ever increasing attention as a choral composer, says the following about this setting: “My score is influenced by the revival in Christmas carols at the beginning of the 20th century that led many writers to compose in a quasi-medieval style. I decided the best way to respond to the text would be to draw on a variety of techniques from different periods that define many of today’s finest carols. As a result, you’ll find neo-medieval textures, a folk-song feel and harmonic movement inspired by one of my composing heroes, Peter Warlock”.
For unaccompanied mixed voices with no divisi, the carol works just as well with four solo voices as it does with a larger SATB choir.