W Zlobie Lezy - Westminster Chapel Choir, Westminster Schola Cantorum 

W Zlobie Lezy
arr. Roger Ames
Commissioned by James Jordan and the Westminster Chapel Choir
Westminster Chapel Choir
Westminster Schola Cantorum
James Jordan, conductor
Recorded Live at the Princeton University Chapel, December 11, 2021, as part of the 29th Annual Westminster Choir College "An Evening of Readings and Carols."
The Modern Christmas Carol "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" was made famous by Sir David Willcocks’ arrangement of the traditional Polish Cradle Song in the book "Carols for Choirs." In 1998, I asked composer Roger Ames (RogerAmes.org) to arrange the carol for the Westminster Chapel Choir in the original Polish to precede the singing of "Silent Night," which concludes the Westminster Choir College "An Evening of Readings and Carols" concert each year. The work is dedicated to the memory of Don Hinshaw, founder of Hinshaw Music.
My request for a Polish setting has to do with the fact that my maternal grandmother was a Polish Immigrant from Krakow. My earliest and fondest childhood memories are of her singing this carol and hearing it at the Polish Church in Minersville, Pa., where she would take me to Mass. This beautiful setting by Ames avoids a verse-by-verse setting, but rather introduces beautiful sonic meditations between verses using fragments of the tune. The work ends with a stunning final cadence that is contemplative, calming, deeply tender and personal.
--- James Jordan
The work is published by Hinshaw Music (HMC-1600) and distributed by GIA Publications.
W Zlobie Lezy
Wzlobie lezy ktoz pobiezy
kolodowac malemu?
Jezu sowi Chrystuso Dzis donasze slanemu
Pastuszkowie przybywajcie
jako panu naszemu.
My zas sami zpiosneczemi, Zawami pospieszymy.
Atak Tego Mallenkiego Niechwszyscy zobaczymy.
Jaku bogo narodzony, placze wstajni polozony,
Wiecgo dzis ucieszymy.
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant holy, Infant lowly, For his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, Little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging Angels singing, Nowells ringing, Tidings bringing,
Christ the Babe is Lord of all, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.