NoteWorthy Composer Forum

Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: llucyy on 2004-12-13 09:27 AM

Title: Lo How a Rose
Post by: llucyy on 2004-12-13 09:27 AM
The 15th century carol by Praetorius "Lo How a Rose ere Blooming" has always been a puzzle for me. Where did the "Rose " come from? Was the original German "Es Ist Ein 'Reis' " , meaning "shoot" ie from the stem or "shoot" of Jesse? and was it corrupted to "Ros" ie the Rose we now sing in the English version?
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Dave G on 2004-12-13 10:44 AM
From a Web search:

"The Christmas Rose (helleborus niger) is a perennial herb with lobed leaves and a white five-petal flower (image)it is blooming in midwinter and therefore is called the Christmas Rose. Because it blooms in early Spring in some regions it is often also called the Lenten Rose (Britannica, vol. 11, p. 402, 1960).

"...German decorations use the symbol of the Christmas rose, frequently with an evergreen branch. It can be found on table clothes, napkins, wrapping paper and Christmas cards.

Christ as the rose is a common theme which runs through the whole Bible. Martin Luther adopted it as his coat of arms and insignia."
The source is http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/xmasrose.htm, and it has links to various Christ/Christmas/winter/Lenten roses, even recipes.

Dave G.
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Robert A. on 2004-12-13 05:02 PM
Well, thank you, Dave G.! That's one of the songs our choir sings, and now I understand it better. :)
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Dave G on 2004-12-13 07:20 PM
Thanks for the thanks, but all I did was lean on Google.

I'm willing to bet there are pre-Christian things going on as well -- a plant that blooms in midwinter probably is right up there with mistletoe, holly, evergreens, lights/candles and yule logs as elements of Getting Through Yet Another Winter, elements that go far, far back in time for northern cultures.

Dave G.
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: A. Rosecon Pollo on 2004-12-14 05:59 PM
Christ as the rose is a common theme which runs through the whole Bible.

Yep. For example, there are many hymns and anthems that are titled "Christ, A Rose".
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Stephen Hutcheson on 2004-12-16 09:14 PM
The Song of Solomon includes the expression "Rose of Sharon" (compared to the beloved -- naturally). Medieval commentators allegorized the love songs to refer to the relationship between Christ and the church (or the believer).

The other figures of speech in the song are from Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah, or which were applied to the Messiah. Check any concordance or Bible search program...
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Paul O. Rice on 2004-12-16 11:49 PM
We always sing "Christ, A Rose" at Easter.

 

Once I sat on a flower whose stem was loaded with thorns, and while jumping up I screamed "Christ! A Rose!"
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: James W. Lancaster on 2004-12-26 06:14 PM
I was the 1st bass in a quartet many years ago. One of the songs we sang was Lo how a rose e'er blooming. We also sang songs such as this:  Skeeters am a'hummin on the honeysuckle vine---sleep kentucky babe, etc.
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Lou on 2004-12-27 03:09 AM
Who’s on 1st bass?
Title: Re: Lo How a Rose
Post by: Yahya Abdal-Aziz on 2005-01-06 03:50 AM
Christ as the rose is a common theme which runs through the whole Bible.

Some entertaining pun was had by members in replies 4 & 6.

Still, I'd like someone to quote me chapter and verse for this outlandish claim ... :-)

I'm not really sure that one reference to the Song of Solomon counts as "thru the whole Bible", since the Song, no matter how beautiful, is apocryphal rather than canonical.