The Babies Are Sleeping (Holy Innocents Carol)

Apart from "Coventry Carol" (my arrangement of which may also be found on this site), the Western tradition offers a surprising paucity of hymns connected with the Holy Innocents. Perhaps that reflects the difficulty of combining the theme of tragic lamentation for the slaughter of children with their heavenly victory as member of Christ, a paradox well expressed in the (pre-55) Roman rite when it celebrates Mass in violet on December 28, without a Gloria or Alleluia, but in red on the octave day, with a Gloria and an Alleluia. Be that as it may, I wrote the following lyrics and music (for SATB chorus) based on the story narrated in Matthew 2:1-18.