Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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Coventry Carol is a lament for the children decreed to be massacred by Herod the Great during the time of the birth of Christ. The Massacre of the Innocents is referred to in Matthew's Gospel, 2:16-18 is is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15. There is a scholarly debate on this subject of if this decree were actually carried out, with conservative sources maintaining that Matthew's gospel is literal and Herod did murder the children out of paranoia for the protection of his own throne. Herod also murdered members of his own family to protect his throne. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream warning him to flee with Jesus to Egypt for protection away from Herod until he died. While this is a sad and morbid text, one cannot imagine the fear, terror and sadness the mothers of these innocent children would have felt as the decree were read and presumably carried out. Musically, the melody and harmonic structure reflects the lament and alternates between minor and picardy third major cadences at the end of the verses, possibly indicative of the peace and healing Christ would bring to the world and to the hearts of the grieving mothers through his birth, life, death, and resurrection. This Christmas, may the light, love, hope, peace, joy, and healing of Christ touch the hearts of all those who grieve.
I play soprano, a maple alto recorder, and a Yamaha tenor recorder in this arrangement.
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