Description

 

Voicing - SSAATTBB Chorus and SSA Trio, a cappella

Level - Intermediate

Language - English

Duration - 3:00

Category - Secular, Traditional American Folk Melody, African American History, Lullabye, Dreams, Horses

 

Hush-a-bye was written for Middletown High School Chorus for their Fall 2012 Concert. The piece was comissioned and premiered by their choral director, Tyler Tejada. Both the author of the text and the composer of the original American folk melody are unknown. The tune has been set by several different artists. One of the most common being the recording by Peter, Paul, and Mary for their 1963 album, In The Wind. The text can be found in several different versions - adding and omitting various verses, but today, the most common cut was what I used to write this piece. No one is quite sure what the story is behind this mysterious lullabye, but many believe it is of African American origin. It has even been rumored to be a melody slaves would sing to their master's babies as they prepare them for bed, perhaps thinking of their own children whom they cannot cradle or sing to sleep.

 

Text

 

Hush-a-bye, Don't you cry

Go to sleep a little baby

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses

 

Blacks and bays, dapples and grays

Coach and six a little horses

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses

 

Hush-a-bye, Don't you cry

Go to sleep a little baby

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses