Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, most commonly translated to English as Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, is a Christmas carol of German origin. The text is thought to be penned by an anonymous author, and the piece first appeared in print in the late-16th century. The hymn has been used by both Catholics and Protestants, with the focus of the song being Mary or Jesus, respectively. In addition, there have been numerous versions of the hymn, with varying texts and lengths.

The tune most familiar today appears in the Speyer Hymnal (printed in Cologne in 1599), and the familiar harmonization was written by German composer Michael Praetorius in 1609. The tune was used by Johannes Brahms as the basis for a chorale fantasy for organ, later transcribed for orchestra by Erich Leinsdorf, and by Hugo Distler as the basis for his 1933 oratorio Weihnachtsgeschichte ("Christmas story").

The popular English translation "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" was written by Theodore Baker in 1894.

Another Christmas hymn "A Great and Mighty Wonder" is set to the same tune as this carol and may sometimes be confused with it; it is, however, a hymn by St. Germanus, 734 (Μέγα χαί παράδοξον θαυμα), trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, 1862.

Lyrics

German original	Literal translation of the German	Baker's English version
1. Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen, aus einer Wurzel zart. Wie uns die Alten sungen, von Jesse war die Art. Und hat ein Blüm'lein 'bracht; mitten im kalten Winter, wohl zu der halben Nacht.	1. A rose has sprung up, from a tender root. As the old ones sang to us, Its lineage was from Jesse. And it has brought forth a floweret In the middle of the cold winter Right upon midnight.	1. 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 flow'ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When halfspent was the night.
2. Das Röslein, das ich meine, davon Jesaia sagt: Maria ist's, die Reine, die uns das Blüm'lein bracht'. Aus Gottes ew'gem Rat, Hat sie ein Kindlein g'boren, Bleibend ein reine Magd.	2. The rosebud that I mean, Of which Isaiah told Is Mary, the pure, Who brought us the floweret. At God’s immortal word, She has borne a child Remaining a pure maid.	2. 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 Savior, When halfspent was the night.
3. Das Blümelein, so kleine, das duftet uns so süß; mit seinem hellen Scheine vertreibt's die Finsternis. Wahr'r Mensch und wahrer Gott! Hilft uns aus allem Leide, rettet von Sünd' und Tod.	3. The floweret, so small That smells so sweet to us With its clear light Dispels the darkness. True man and true God! He helps us from all trouble, Saves us from sin and death.	3. O Flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, Dispel with glorious splendour The darkness everywhere; True man, yet very God, From Sin and death now save us, And share our every load.

Media File

• Midi file, from The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Cover versions

• 1997 – Jon Schmidt – Jon Schmidt Christmas aka Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming song
• 1997 (reissue of 1981 recording) – John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers – Christmas Star: Carols for the Christmas Season as Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming
• 1998 – Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir – Once, as I remember
• 2001 – Sufjan Stevens on album Noel! Songs for Christmas, Vol. I, as "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming"

External links

• German version sung by an English choir on YouTube
• Historical Notes, and additional English versions, from The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
• Choral sheet music, in German
• List of all verses, from The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
• Free sheet music of Low, How a Rose E'er Blooming for SATB from Cantorion.org