Peter Warlock - Bethlehem Down.

Peter Warlock's affecting setting of Bruce Blunt's poem is beautifully sung here by Siglo de Oro, directed by Patrick Allies. The story goes that Warlock wrote the piece to finance an "immortal carouse", (a heavy bout of drinking), for himself and Blunt, who were both somewhat strapped for cash at the time. The pair submitted the carol to the Daily Telegraph's annual Christmas carol contest and, unsurprisingly, it won. “When He is King we will give him the King’s gifts, Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown, Beautiful robes”, said the young girl to Joseph Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down. Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold, Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold. When He is King they will clothe Him in grave-sheets, Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown, He that lies now in the white arms of Mary Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down. Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming, Close-huddled oxen to keep Him from cold, Mary for love, and for lullaby music Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem