Coventry Carol for for wind trio (flute, clarinet, bassoon)

Description

Instrumental arrangement of a song from the 15th Century Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors, sung by the women of Bethlehem mourning the imminent death of their babies after Herod heard of the birth of the Messiah in their town and sent his soldiers there to kill all the potential claimants to his crown (ie children of Jesus’ age).
I have given each instrument an opportunity to play the main melody as the variations progress and there is also a running countermelody of the mothers’ tears at various points.

Video: