A Spotless Rose by Oasis Chorale

15,359 views • Nov 5, 2016

Description

"A Spotless Rose" by Paul  Mealor. Performed at Parkview Mennonite Church, July  2016

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A Spotless Rose

A Spotless Rose is growing, 
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. 

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said, 
Is from its sweet root springing in Mary, 
Through God’s great love and might.
The Blessed Babe she bare us
    in a cold, cold winter and the dark midnight

A Spotless Rose is growing in a cold, cold winter’s night
Now sleeps the crimson petal.  Amen.

The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion

A Spotless Rose by Oasis Chorale

Words by Anonymous German carol text, translated/adapted from Catherine Winkworth; final line from Alfred, Lord TennysonMusic by Paul MealorWritten 2010

A spotless Rose is growing,
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.

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, through God’s great love and might.
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter and the dark midnight.

A spotless Rose is growing
In a cold, cold winter’s night.
Now sleeps the crimson petal.
Amen.

Story Behind the Song

Paul Mealor’s choral work is a modern setting of the traditional Advent and Christmas rose text derived from the German carol “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen.” The English text is related to Catherine Winkworth’s translation often known as “A Spotless Rose,” with a closing allusion to Tennyson’s “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal.” It should be distinguished from the older congregational carol usually sung to the tune ES IST EIN ROS ENTSPRUNGEN and from Herbert Howells’s well-known anthem on the same text.

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