Tune: Es Ist Ein Ros
('A great and mighty wonder')
Luke 1 v.67 - 79
From a reading set for Christmas Eve
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Zacharias, John's father
Prophecy did confer
At his son's birth, the Spirit
Did speak words that befit
Chorus
His name is John, sure be
John the Baptist the same be
A wondrous ministry
Blessed be the God of Israel
Has visited, now tell
And has redeemed His people
Strong salvation to all - Chorus
Was as He spoke by holy
Prophets, since the world be (began)
That we should be saved from those
Who hate us, us oppose - Chorus
Save us from enemies too
His promise we do view
His holy covenant, oath
He shall fulfil them both - Chorus
He shall show us His mercy
To Abraham first it be
That He would grant, deliver
Us from enemies sure - Chorus
That we might serve unafraid
Way ahead He has made
Serve Him in holiness, song
Righteousness all life long - Chorus
You, child, shall be called prophet
Blessings we can expect
You shall before the Lord go
His ways prepare and show - Chorus
Give knowledge of salvation
Forgiveness, each nation
Through God's tender mercies nigh
He Dayspring (Christ) from on high - Chorus
Light to them sat in darkness
And shadow of death, this
He shall show, and guide our feet
In way of peace complete - Chorus
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Author:
orchidee (
Offline) - Published: December 24th, 2020 03:10
- Comment from author about the poem: A hymn-poem. Verses in 7.6.7.6. Chorus in 6.7.6. Hymn is by St Germanus, c.634-734AD, living to age 100. Some sources say age 104.
- Category: Spiritual
- Views: 53
Offline)
Comments4
I've always found this tune with its irregular rhythm very difficult to sing, but I can sing your words to it.
"Es ist ein Ross" means "There is a horse". The name of the tune is ES IST EIN ROS, often written Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen, literally 'there is a rose arisen'. The two apostrophes indicate that a final -e has been omitted (eine Rose), for metrical reasons.
Thanks Robert. Oops yes, Ros - amended. The tune seems to stop then start again mid-lines, especially in the second and fourth lines of each verse.
It's not a song I like to sing. I always trip over its lurching meter.
I seem to like it! It can slow us down though, if we sing it too fast, and 'puts the brakes' on in those mid-lines almost. Tune dating from 1599, I read. Hymn very ancient, from circa end 7th Century AD. We'll be worn out if we sing that lot in my poem! Folk moan about hymns being too long with FOUR verses even.
In my Episcopal church, the very able music director always has us sing all the verses. In shape-note singing often only the first verse is sung, depending on how big the singing is, how many people are signed up to read. Fortunately there isn't a shape note version of ES IST EIN ROS.
(The reason for the capital letters - to designate that the words are the name of a tune - common in shape-note musicology, but it does look like shouting online.)
One moaned at a hymn with 'Alleluia' after every line. Doh! That's how it's meant to be, It was a bit English upper-class': 'I say, old chap, that's a rather long hymn; do we have to have the dashed Alleluias after every line; it would be spiffing if we could cut down; it does so extend the Service - by 2 mins - singing all of them'!
The equivalent in shape note singing is singing the repeat of the fuguing tune after every verse.
Have a Happy Holiday and Stay Safe.
Thanks Jerry. Happy Holidays and safety to you too.
Merry Xmas Orchidee.
A beautiful Xmas write.
Keep writing ✍ and safe during these challenging times.
FineB
Thanks Fine. Seasons Greetings and keep safe too!
Good one Orchi.
Thanks Gold. Seasons Greetings! We're older than the hymn-writer of course, though he lived to about 100.
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