For Christmas
Version 5: A Spotless Rose Is Blowing
Alternate Title: The Rose of Sharon
Words: Es ist ein Reis entsprungen, 15th Century German carol,
Translator Catherine Winkworth, 1869
See Notes
Music: Es Ist Ein Ros, Anonymous, 16th Century
(Arr. by Michael Praetorius, 1609)
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
Meter: 76 76 676
1. A spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.
2. The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For, through our God’s great love and might,
The blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold winter’s night.Alternate:
Through God's great love and might
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter's night.
Note:
Another musical setting for these lyrics was composed and arranged by Herbert Howells (1892-1983), A Spotless Rose, 1919 (SATB, with piano accompaniment for practice only). The score can be obtained from Stainer & Bell Ltd., London.
Howells was a pupil of Dr. Alfred Herbert Brewer (1865-1928), conductor, composer, and the organist of Gloucester Cathedral. Howells later studied at the Royal College of Music, and succeeded Holst in 1934 as director of music at St. Paul's Girls' School.
