O sleep now, holy baby

O sleep now, holy baby. Mexican carol, translated by John Donald Robb (1892-1989). This carol, ‘Duérmete, Niño lindo’, was translated by Robb, a lawyer who changed career to become Professor of Music at the University of New Mexico, and printed in Hispanic Songs of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1954). It is one of many ‘lullaby carols’. It was used in a folk play, Los Pastores, sung in villages in New Mexico during the Christmas season. Originally from Mexico, it tells of sorrows to come, especially the ‘Slaughter of the Innocents’ on the orders of King Herod (cf. ‘Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child ('Coventry Carol')’*). The significance of the ‘lullaby’ theme lies in the attempt...