Lullay My Liking – Gerda Blok Wilson

In this Cantala Choir blog series, we are taking a closer look at each of the pieces we will be presenting at our Winter Concert on December 12 at 7:00 p.m. In this edition, we explore the beautiful Lullay My Liking by Canadian composer Gerda Blok Wilson, who lives in Vancouver. What is it about this centuries-old text that has inspired so many composers to set it to music? Let's dive in.

Lullay My Liking is a gentle and deeply expressive setting based on one of England's most beloved medieval Christmas lullaby texts. Dating from the 15th century, the poem imagines the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus, combining maternal warmth with quiet wonder. The repeated word lullay—an early form of "lullaby"—captures the soothing rhythm of a mother singing her child to sleep.

Why has this text inspired so many composers over the centuries? Perhaps it is because it captures more than the joy of Christ's birth. Like any lullaby sung to a newborn, it is filled with tenderness and hope, yet listeners who know the Christmas story cannot help but hear an undercurrent of foreshadowing. Blok-Wilson's warm, luminous harmonies effortlessly play with these emotional layers.

In Canada and abroad, Gerda Blok Wilson is admired for her sensitive choral writing and her ability to breathe new life into traditional texts and melodies. Her compositions are marked by graceful vocal lines, rich harmonies, and an instinctive understanding of the human voice. In this setting, she allows the intimacy of the medieval text to shine through while creating music that feels both timeless and contemporary.

For Cantala, Lullay My Liking offers an opportunity to explore expressive phrasing, refined ensemble singing, and beautifully blended tone. For our audience, it provides a moment of peace and reflection. It is a beautiful example of how a contemporary composer can honour a centuries-old text while enriching it with harmonies that speak to today's listeners.