King Herod and the cock

carol for mixed chorus

General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Composition:
Completed by June 1977. Walton initially composed three settings of the same text.  Later that year, John Rutter joined the three versions into one, with Walton's approval.

First Performance:
24 December 1977. Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Philip Ledger conductor. Service of Lessons and Carols.

Duration:
About 2 minutes

Text:
Traditional
Click here for complete text.

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C95

Performing Forces:

Mixed chorus (SATB)

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 621. Autograph scores of three separate settings. 2 pages.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Included in the volume Carols for Choirs 3, 1978, 019 353570X.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Carols for Choirs 3]

Oxford University Press. Edited by Timothy Brown. William Walton Edition, Volume 6, "Shorter Choral Works without Orchestra", 1999, 019 3594323.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: William Walton Edition, Volume 6]

Recordings:

Chorus Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1987 Nimbus NI 7021 2'04"
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Richard Marlow 1988 Conifer CDCF 164 1'47"
The Bach Choir Sir David Willcocks 1991 Chandos CHAN 8998 1'40"
The Finzi Singers Paul Spicer 1992 Chandos CHAN 9222 1'50"
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1992 Nimbus NI 5364 1'49"
Polyphony Stephen Layton 2002 Hyperion CDA67330 1'46"

 

Text:

There was a star in David's land,
In David's land appeared,
And in King Herod's chamber
So bright it did shine there.

The wise men they soon spied it
And told the king anigh,
That a Prince's Babe was born that night
No king shall e'er destroy.

If this be the truth, King Herod said,
That thou hast told to me,
The roasted cock that lies in the dish
Shall crow full senses three.

Oh, the cock soon thrusten'd and feather'd well
By the works of God's own hand,
And he did crow full senses three
In the dish where he did stand.

                        — Traditional

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