Product Description
"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" is an important Christmas carol with several notable aspects:
Origins and History.
This carol originated as a Polish Christmas hymn from the 16th century called "W Żłobie Leży." It is believed to have been written by Piotr Powęski, a Polish Jesuit priest and preacher born in 1532. Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed, who discovered it in a Polish hymnal published in 1908, later translated it into English in 1920.
Musical Characteristics
The carol exemplifies some typical features of Polish religious songs:
Strophic form
Monophonic melody
Asymmetrical time signatures
Ambiguous modality that shifts between major, minor, and modal qualities
These musical elements give the carol a distinctive Polish flavor while still accessible to English-speaking audiences.
Lyrical Content
The lyrics poetically describe the nativity scene, contrasting Christ's humble birth circumstances with his divine nature:
First Verse:
"Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all."
This verse emphasizes the paradox of the incarnation - the Lord of all creation born in a lowly stable.
Cultural Significance
As one of the few Polish carols widely known in English, "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" is an essential cultural bridge. It introduces English-speaking audiences to the rich tradition of Polish Christmas music, known as "kolędy." The carol's popularity helps preserve and share an aspect of Polish Christmas traditions internationally. In summary, "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" is important for its historical origins, distinctive musical qualities, poetic lyrics, and role in sharing Polish Christmas culture with a broader audience.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.