Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Voicing: SSA and piano with optional soprano solo; also SATB, TTBB, SAB versions
Text: Joseph Simpson Cook (1859 - 1933)
Published by: Canadian International Music, (Lorenz Corp.)
CIM 1015 (1997);
Retail: Sheetmusicplus; Cadenza One; J.W. Pepper; Amazon.com; Northwest Musical Services; Stanton's Music; Musical Resources Online; Musicmart;

Notes: This Christmas choral work is suitable for concert and/or church use and is published in four different voicings. In addition to the SSA, there are also settings for SATB (CIM 1004), SAB (CIM 1068) and TTBB (CIM 1069). Each piece begins with a mid-range solo (or section) followed by an a cappella verse two in four parts and a final verse in unison with a descant and powerful piano accompaniment. The first of the four pieces to be composed was the SATB in about1994 with the SSA version following soon afterwards. The SAB and TTBB settings were added in 2001. All of these can be obtained in North America thru the retailers J.W. Pepper and Sheetmusicplus.com. There are printed versions and instant downloads available thru both of these web-sites.
In 2005, Gentle Mary was translated into German and Dutch.  These are available thru the European Choral Club.

Gentle Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger;
There he lay, the undefiled,
To the world a stranger,
Such a babe in such a place,
Can he be the Saviour?
Ask the saved of all the race
Who have found his favour.

Angels sang about his birth,
Wise men sought and found him;
Heaven's star shone brightly forth,
Glory all around him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night,
All the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger,
He is still the undefiled,
But no more a stranger.
Son of God of humble birth,
Beautiful the story;
Praise his name in all the earth,
Hail the King of Glory.

Performed by: Ariose Women's Choir, Marilyn Kerley, conductor;

Performed by: The Bach Children's Chorus Chamber Youth Choir  (Toronto) (TTBB), Linda Beaupre, conductor

Performed by: The Connecticut Choral Artists (SATB), Richard Coffey, conductor