John Byrt’s “King Herod and the Cock”, recorded June 10th, 2023 at Church of the Ascension in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
This performance was organised by Jane Banfield Hicks (who now lives in Pittsburgh, but used to live in Devon and sang in this work, conducted by John) around 2007.
The conductor is Kathryn Barnard.
| Saint Stephen was a clerk in King Herod’s Hall, And served him of bread and cloth as every king befall. Stephen out of kitchen came with boar’s head in hand He saw a star was fair and bright o’er Bedlam stand. | He cast down the boar’s head and went into the hall. “I forsake thee, King Herod, and thy workes all, I forsake thee, King Herod and thy workes all, There is a child in Bedlam born is better than us all.” |
| “What ailest thee Stephen, what is thee befall? Lack thee either meat or drink in King Herod’s hall?” “Lacked me neither meat or drink in King Herod’s hall, There is a child in Bedlam born is better than us all.” | “What ailest thee, Stephen, art thou out of thy wits? Lack thee either gold or fee or any rich weeds?” “Lacked me neither gold or fee or any rich weeds, There is a child in Bedlam born shall help us in our need.” |
| “That is all so true, Stephen, all so true iwys, As this capon crow shall that lieth here in my dish.” No sooner was that word said, that word in the hall, Than the capon crew, Christus natus est, Christus natus est, Among the Lordes all. | “Rise up, rise up, my turmentowers; rise up, rise up, as one.” And they led Stephen out of this town, and stoned him with stones, And stoned him with stones. They took Stephen, and stoned him in the way, And therefore is his even, on Christ’s own day. |