VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers; Dave Hagedorn, vibraphone

One of the earliest carols I remember singing as a young chorister is Adam Lay Ybounden. I have always been fascinated by its poetic beauty. In my composition I have tried to enhance the mystery, warmth, and joy evoked by the Middle English text. In this carol we remember the Garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and Eve. The third verse suggests our subsequent redemption by the birth of Jesus Christ by Mary, who was to become the Queen of Heaven as a result. The text becomes macaronic as we are called to sing “Deo Gratias”!
—Sean Sweeden

Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter, thought he not too long. And all was for an apple, an apple that he took. As clerkès finden, written in their book. Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, ne had never our ladie a been heav’ne queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was, therefore we moun singen, Deo gratias! Traditional English