A Fragments Favorite Carol
Take three minutes of quiet time over this Christmas weekend and listen: Lo How a Rose ere Blooming (Michael Praetorious 1609) is taken from Isaiah chapter 11 which refers to the Messiah's lineage out of the 'root of Jesse, who was father of psalmist and king, David.
This is one of my Christmas favorites. Nate and I sang this acapella at the Christmas eve church service last year. This particular version has nice, close harmonies, if a bit too Barbershop-close for those who know and love the original version unembellished.
May this Rose spring up in your deserts in 2006.
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.
O Savior, Child of Mary, Who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, Who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!
Comments
I also love this. Am the soprano in a quartet singing the version from the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 tonight. And pianist or organist on 13 carols as well!
But this is such a beautiful hymn -- glad it's also one of your favorites. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: lauragayle | December 24, 2005 7:32 AM
Beautiful. I wish Brian Wilson had gotten hold of this in his hey day...
Posted by: Carl | December 24, 2005 8:36 AM
I will be singing this tonight, as well.
Merry Christmas, Fred.
Posted by: Melanie | December 24, 2005 11:28 AM
We sang it (my husband and I, in the choir, that is) at our Nine Lessons & Carols - but not your arrangement. I hadn't seen all those verses. Wonderful Christmas Eve service at our Methodist church ... not to be obnoxious, I hope, but I do feel so sorry for those who aren't in church of some kind on Christmas. (Non-Christians can feel sorry for me when I miss your best holidays.)
Merry Christmas, Fred!
Posted by: Lin B | December 24, 2005 9:55 PM
A very merry Christmas to you and your family.
Posted by: Dave | December 24, 2005 11:59 PM
Merry Christmas, Fred. I haven't stopped in for quite a while, I need to change that.
There's a certain satisfaction in seeing a hymn like this and being able to say, "I know the tune!" Later this morning, we may well sing it ourselves with our church family, and remember the goodness of God.
All our love to you, Ann, and all the rest of your lovely family.
Posted by: Curt | December 25, 2005 7:24 AM
This is one of my favorites, too. It's perfect for a capella voices.
I can recall the first year I learned this carol. My choir director sang the first line, to make the point that there was an arc of melody not to be interrupted by a breath following the word "blooming." He not only brought the melody into focus, but the message as well.
Our family sends you a belated wish for a lovely Christmas, and our hope for the best in the coming year.
Posted by: buffy | December 27, 2005 4:14 PM