Hark! 2012
December 4
Es Ist Ein' Ros' (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming)
Performed by Emilie Heidel, Amanda Bistolfo, and Lindsay Pope
Words: 15th century German carol; trans. Theodore Baker, 1894.
Music: ES IST EIN' ROS', 16th century German
This German carol was recorded by Emilie Heidel, Amanda Bistolfo, and Lindsay Pope. The harmony is adapted to SSAA from an SATB composition by Michael Praetorious, with Emilie on S1 & S2, Amanda on A1, and Lindsay on A2. This recording continues the strong Mount Holyoke College connection started by Liddy Barlow '02 that has led to songs from Vaughn Barry '02 and Mark Gionfriddo (Director, Jazz Ensembles of MHC). Emilie Heidel '10 recorded two songs for Hark! last year, and this year she is joined by Lindsay Pope '07 (Director of Choral Ensembles at MHC) and Amanda Bistolfo '11 (choral assistant at MHC).
Lyrics
English
Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung,
From Jesse's lineage coming,
By faithful prophets 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 for us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
German
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen,
Aus einer Wurzel zart,
Wie uns die Alten sungen,
Von Jesse kam die Art,
Und hat ein Blümlein bracht
Mitten im kalten Winter
Wohl zu der halben Nacht.
Das Röslein, das ich meine,
Davon Jesaias sagt,
Ist Maria die Reine uns
Das Blümlein bracht.
Aus Gottes ew'gen Rat hat
Sie ein Kind geboren
Und blieb ein' reine Magd.
Sources and more information
- Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990.
- Oxford Book of Carols, 1964.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas - English
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas - German
