Slumber now

Today’s song is another in the lullaby style that we find throughout Christmas music. It’s based on the folk song “Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mild”, but was written in 1912 by Max Reger as an art song.

I learned it as “Maria Wiegenlied” in a German class; in English it’s known as “Mary’s Lullaby” or “The Slumber Song”. Regardless of the language, you get a strong sense of a rocking cradle from the beat and the melody. And in honor of Saint Lucia’s Day, today, let’s have it in Swedish, where it’s known as “Marias vaggsång”, and sung by Swedish mezzo Katharina Fallholm.

There’s also a beautiful duet version with Kathleen Battle and Frederica von Stade, which you can enjoy here.