Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all who celebrate!

Here's one of my most favourite carols

for this special day --

Under the medieval Octagon of Ely Cathedral in England,

the Gesualdo Six sing the beautiful German carol

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

(Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming)

composed by Michael Praetorius in 1609.

English translation:

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 us a Saviour,

When half spent was the night.

O Saviour, Child of Mary,

Who felt our human woe,

O Saviour, 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.