The Cradle in Bethlehem is an original art song based on the Christmas story, composed by Roger Quilter for solo or unison voices. This triple Fullscore Publishing edition includes the song in three transpositions, for Low voice (in D), Medium voice (in E) and High voice (in F). All versions have been re-engraved in modern style and follow the identical musical format to the original publication (ie with the same piano accompaniment). Also included is a facsimile edition of the original Curwen publication (with sol-fa) from 1949.
 
The song has also been arranged for solo piano in two versions: 'Intermediate' and 'Easier' versions (the latter is transposed, with added fingering and more pedalling suggestions). The two, different Fullscore Publishing piano arrangements are available from fullscoremusic.co.uk as a free, single pdf Solo Piano Edition - click here.
 
Biography
British composer Roger Cuthbert Quilter was born on 1 November 1877. He wrote over a hundred songs, many of which are settings of texts by William Shakespeare. He was a younger son of Sir William Quilter, 1st Baronet (a wealthy noted landowner, politician and art collector) and educated at Eton public (private) school. He studied composition at the Hoch Conservatory in Germany, under Professor Iwan Knorr; his fellow composition students there included Percy Grainger, H. Balfour Gardiner and Cyril Scott; he is said to have influenced English composer Peter Warlock (Philip Heseltine, 1894-1930). 
 
Quilter is best known for his many English art songs and band trios. He also wrote piano music and arranged folk songs as part songs for women's voices. He died on 21 September 1953.
 
This short Christmas song is originally a setting of words by Harry Rodney Bennett (1890-1948), published in 1945.
 
Song Lyrics
There was no cradle for Jesus
When He was small,
Only a rough wooden manger
In a poor stall;
Yet the baby who lay there so lowly
Was king of us all.
 
There was no lamp in the stable
That winter night,
Only a shepherd's dim lantern
Gave fitful light;
Yet the star that burn'd o'er the roof tree
Made all Heaven bright.
 
No man made music for Jesus,
Songs they made none;
Only Heav'n's angels were praising
Father and Son
In a song that will ring down the ages
Till ages are done.
 
We sing the glory of Jesus
As they sang then.
Soon may the whole earth re-echo
That song again:
Praise and glory to God in the highest,
Goodwill toward men.
 
Anne Sofie Otter sings (in the low key of D) this lovely carol on her album Noël (Deutsche Grammophon, 2005): YouTube or Spotify
 
Other versions of the original song:
 
Voice & Piano - (Spotify or YouTube) sung (in F - the Fullscore Easier piano version key) by Charlotte de Rothschild, accompanied by Adrian Farmer.
Voice & Piano - (Spotify or YouTube) - sung (in D - the more difficult key of the Intermediate piano edition is actually in E) by baritone Mark Stone, accompanied by Stephen Barlow. 
 
There is no recording of the Fullscore arrangements for piano.
 
Oil painting (above) of Roger Quilter by Wilfred Gabriel de Glehn (1920), held by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG 3904), London.
 
Cover image: Madonna with Child and Angels (1674) by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madonna_with_child_and_angels.jpg
From the collection of Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica di Palazzo Corsini, Rome
 
The following songs are also arranged for solo piano and published by Fullscore Publications:
Morgen! by Richard Strauss - Score preview & download link
A Mirage by Amy Beach - Score preview & download link
Au bord de l'eau by Gabriel Fauré - Score preview & download link