Home | Contact   

DEJONGDEJONG MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

Transcriptions for Organ Duet Compositions for Organ Duet Arrangements for Vocal Ensembles Compositions by DeJongDeJong Arrangementen op maat Order cd's Index
Folk Songs Christmas Carols Naardense Psalmen Vocal male ensemble

Mary had a Baby

Black spiritual carol, South Carol

The theme of Mary is also found regularly in carols of Afro-American origin. The image of the vulnerable, chosen virgin and the helpless child is particularly popular. Mary had a Baby probably has its roots in 19th century South Carolina (USA), an area known for many carols influenced by negro spirituals. This is one of the better, and better known, carols of this genre, not least because of the element of proverbial wisdom inherent in the text. Each verse contains a fragment of the story and is followed, almost naively, by a slightly challenging commentary: ‘Yes Lord, the people keep a-comin’ and the train done gone’. The arrangement imitates and amplifies the ‘black soul’ of a Negro Spiritual; entirely atypical for the harmonium but, as a consequence, both surprising and entertaining. (arr.: Sybolt de Jong)

S/A/T/Brt/2 harmoniums
S/A/T/Brt/2 piano's
Other combinations? mail to Sybolt de Jong for possibilities and prices.

Black spiritual carol, South Carolina (USA)

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes my Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes Lord,
the people keep a‐comin' and the train done gone.

Where did she lay him? yes, Lord,
where did she lay him? yes my Lord,
laid him in a manger, yes Lord,
the people keep a‐comin' and the train done gone.

What did she name him? yes, Lord,
Named him King Jesus, yes my Lord,
Named him King Jesus, yes Lord,
the people keep a‐comin' and the train done gone.

Who heard the singing? yes, Lord,
Who heard the singing? yes my Lord,
Shepherds heard the singing, yes Lord,
the people keep a‐comin' and the train done gone.

Stars keep a‐shining, yes, Lord,
Stars keep a‐shining, yes my Lord,
Angels went around him, yes Lord,
the people keep a‐comin' and the train done gone.

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes my Lord,
the people keep a‐comin’ and the train done gone.
Mary had a baby, hallelujah, amen!

Lauren Armishaw, soprano - Gerben Bos, tenor
Rienk de Jong, countertenor - Elbert de Jong, baritone
Euwe & Sybolt de Jong, harmonium > order cd

1 - 10: € 5,= per arr. / 11 - 20: € 4,= per arr. / 21 <: € 3,50 per arr.

The arrangement (PDF) and invoice will be sent by mail.
Via mail ontvangt u het arrangement als PDF met een factuur.

name / naam *
E-Mail *
number / aantal *
remarks / opmerkingen