• Instrumentation: Unison voices or Mixed voices in up to four parts & Organ. 

• Duration: 3:14

• Text: 15th Century German, tr. Theodore Baker 1851-1934

• Performance ready in one to two rehearsals

 

Program Note

 

This piece is one in a series of familiar hymn tunes set with a contemporary harmonic palette, and presented so as to be performable by choirs of all levels with very little rehearsal time.  

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This setting of the late 15th century German hymn paints the mysticism and imagery of the rose blooming in the deep winter with a lithe and unpredictable chromaticism that makes the resolutions and cadences that much sweeter.