Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey

Subject: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: Surreysinger
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 02:11 PM

I was in conversation with a choral singing friend this afternoon, who asked if I had any knowledge of a couple of carols (details below). It seems that another singing friend of hers was recalling two Christmas carols that she could recall from schooldays, but had been unable to track down (she has Googled for them, and so, now, have I, but to no avail). I just wondered if anyone here might be able to come up with some information. The two were as follows:

The Virgin's lullaby
This had the line in it "The cloak of sleep now wraps us round:

The other was

The Magi's Journey
with the line "On desert ships so stately the Magi swing along"

Googling doesn't throw anything up that is immediately obvious...

does anybody know anything of these two please?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WISE MEN (G. K. Chesterton)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jan 08 - 02:39 PM

This won't help find it, but it keeps the thread alive.

It's a poem about the Magi by Chesterton:

THE WISE MEN

Step softly, under snow or rain,
    To find the place where men can pray;
The way is all so very plain
    That we may lose the way.

Oh, we have learnt to peer and pore
    On tortured puzzles from our youth,
We know all labyrinthine lore,
We are the three wise men of yore,
    And we know all things but the truth.

We have gone round and round the hill
    And lost the wood among the trees,
And learnt long names for every ill,
And serve the mad gods, naming still
    The furies the Eumenides.

The gods of violence took the veil
    Of vision and philosophy,
The Serpent that brought all men bale,
He bites his own accursed tail,
    And calls himself Eternity.

Go humbly ... it has hailed and snowed...
    With voices low and lanterns lit;
So very simple is the road,
    That we may stray from it.

The world grows terrible and white,
    And blinding white the breaking day;
We walk bewildered in the light,
For something is too large for sight,
    And something much too plain to say.

The Child that was ere worlds begun
    (... We need but walk a little way,
We need but see a latch undone...)
The Child that played with moon and sun
    Is playing with a little hay.

The house from which the heavens are fed,
    The old strange house that is our own,
Where trick of words are never said,
And Mercy is as plain as bread,
    And Honour is as hard as stone.

Go humbly, humble are the skies,
    And low and large and fierce the Star;
So very near the Manger lies
    That we may travel far.

Hark! Laughter like a lion wakes
    To roar to the resounding plain.
And the whole heaven shouts and shakes,
For God Himself is born again,
And we are little children walking
    Through the snow and rain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: Surreysinger
Date: 02 Jan 08 - 04:40 PM

Thanks for that McGrath ... that's one I've never seen before. As to the other two, my friend and I did wonder whether her friend's music teacher might have been into their own writing of numbers, which, of course, would make the hunt more difficult. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, though....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 04:23 PM

Aha!! Somebody else looking for the same piece. I wonder whether you ever found it.
http://sheilajoynes.wordpress.com/

Please get in touch.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:12 PM

Sheila Joynes posted one whole verse in her own blog:

The cloak of sleep now wraps us round
Each small bird has sought its nest
Beasts lie still upon the ground
In my arms come take thy rest
By, by, my son, lulay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 11 - 06:54 PM

in gods garden
non can see
than thyself a fairer child
sacred bud on heavenly tree
blooming now in wintry style???
bye bye my son lulay
angels watch thee from above
gaurdians of a babe divine
non can break the chord of love
binding thy great heart to mine
bye bye my son lulay

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 09:39 AM

Thanks, Guest and Jim. It sounds like a fine song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby/The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,guest kim
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 03:33 AM

im sorry i got the line wrong with the ??? the words should be
Blooming now in wintry hour

In gods garden non can see
Than thyself a fairer flower
Sacred bud on heavenly tree
blooming now
in wintry hour
bye bye my son lulay

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,jean arch bolton
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 07:42 PM

We sang the carol The Magi's Journey at school in the 1950's
Someone somwhere must have a copy of the sheet music.
Is there a list of the first lines of carols anywhere?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,school
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 06:08 PM

I was also looking for the Magi's journey.

I remember..
On desert ships so stately the magi swing along the camel bells are ringing the driver sings his song
With music and with laughter these kings their homage pay for they a king would honour in a kingly way

Their knowledge much has taught them of Christ's new glowing star desire to see the... has brought them from afar
That's it

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,Guest 2
Date: 25 Dec 11 - 02:57 PM

The rest of it goes (if I remember)

Their knowledge much has taught them of Christs new glowing star
Desire to see the monarch has brought them from afar
But low what is the picture, they see within the shed
A stable for his palace a manger for his bed.

But in their hearts they know him
The Lord of all the earth, on bended knee they worship
With gifts of riches worth
And there they join with shepherds whose gifts are poor and small
For round the Christ child's manger is room for one and all...

There were only 3 verses so you now have the lyrics...however I'd really like to find the music for this so we can sing at our church carol service as a change from the usuals but can I find it anywhere...?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,Pauline Sloan, Rockhampton, Australia
Date: 26 Dec 13 - 07:25 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,Sheila Joynes
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 12:01 PM

I have found out that The Virgin's Lullaby by Eric H Thiman, words by Irene Gass is the one with the words "The cloak of sleep now wraps us round".

I have yet to locate a copy but am working on it.

Sheila Joynes
www.sheilajoynes.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Aug 15 - 12:03 AM

I just googled "Thiman Virgins Lullaby" and found several sources that are selling it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 04:37 PM

SUCCESSSSSSSS!!! We went to Allegro Music today.
(http://allegro.co.uk)

They had done some searching but had not found anything although they were able to tell me that the original publisher was Curwen, whose music list was taken over by Musicroom.

Having reminded them on our arrival what it was I had been looking for, (as well as what I bought today) they decided to have a look at their previous website. And they FOUND it! An email or two or a phone call or two to Musicroom and they had been able to order a copy for me – from Germany!!

Can't wait for it to arrive. Thank you so much Richard and Barbara at Allegro Music for your tenacity and expertise.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,Sheila Joynes
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 04:53 PM

leeneia, you are right. There are several available, having put into Google the words "Thiman Virgins Lullaby" in that order. Google didn't come up with those links with other combinations of the known information.

Anyway - all is well now. Mystery solved, music on the way!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,Ruth
Date: 11 Sep 18 - 11:48 AM

Has anyone found The Magi's Journey yet? S ang it at school in 1958 but can't find any trace of it now..
Hopefully!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 May 21 - 09:00 AM

I just located the OP's initial request.

On desert ships so stately, the magi swing along
The camel bells are ringing, the drivers sing their song
With music and with grandeur, (laughter?) these kings their visit pay
For they a king would honour and in a kingly way

Their knowledge much has taught them, of Christ's new glowing star
Desire to see the monarch has brought them from afar
But lo what is the picture they see within the shed
A stable for his palace, a manger for his bed

But in their hearts they know him, the Lord of all the earth
On bended knee they worship with gifts of richest worth
And there they join with shepherds who's gifts are poor and small
For round the Christ child's manger is room for one and all


That is from

https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/XX/Unknown/77430539650/Pontypridd-Intermediate-Girls-Grammar-School

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 May 21 - 09:14 AM

PS The post of 12 May 21 - 09:00 AM s/b a LYRIC ADD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Virgin's Lullaby + The Magi's Journey
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Dec 22 - 04:59 AM

The first two verses of The Magi’s journey are sung in a major key, the last in minor! I loved this carol so much as a child singing in the School choir in the ‘70s..