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The Sleeping Child (Chilcott)

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The Sleeping Child
Motet by Bob Chilcott
LanguageEnglish
Composed2021 (2021)
Scoringsoprano and SATB ensemble (divisi)

The Sleeping Child is a 2021 motet by Bob Chilcott for soprano and a vocal ensemble. He set a poem in English by Charles Bennet to music, commissioned by the ensemble Voces8. It was published by Oxford University Press.[1]

Text and music

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The poet Charles Bennet has been a frequent collaborator of composer Bob Chilcott. His English text begins: "Sleeping child I wonder, have you a dream to share?"[1]

Chilcott set the music in 2021[2] like a lullaby.[1] The ensemble opens and closes the music, while the arching melodies of the soprano are at its centre.[1] The child is not named but could by baby Jesus.[1]

The Sleeping Child was recorded by Voces8 as part of their 2023 album A Choral Christnmas that they introduced by concerts in Europe,[2] such as a concert of the Rheingau Musik Festival at the Ringkirche in Wiesbaden on 6 December 2023.[3] The Sleeping Child was chosen Video of the Day by Gramophone on 19 December 2023.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "En natus est Emanuel". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Whiting, Jonathan (December 2023). "Video of the Day: Chilcott's 'The Sleeping Child'". Gramophone. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ "A-cappella-Ensemble Voces8 in der Wiesbadener Ringkirche". Oberhessische Zeitung [de] (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2023.
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