Benedictus Blessing

orchidee



Tune: Es Ist Ein Ros

('A great and mighty wonder')

Luke 1 v.67 - 79

From a reading set for Christmas Eve

***********

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

 

 

  • Author: orchidee (Offline 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
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Comments +

Comments4

  • Robert Southwick Richmond

    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.

    • orchidee

      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.

      • Robert Southwick Richmond

        It's not a song I like to sing. I always trip over its lurching meter.

        • orchidee

          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.

          • Robert Southwick Richmond

            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.)

            • orchidee

              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'!

              • Robert Southwick Richmond

                The equivalent in shape note singing is singing the repeat of the fuguing tune after every verse.

              • Jerry Reynolds

                Have a Happy Holiday and Stay Safe.

                • orchidee

                  Thanks Jerry. Happy Holidays and safety to you too.

                • FineB

                  Merry Xmas Orchidee.

                  A beautiful Xmas write.

                  Keep writing ✍ and safe during these challenging times.
                  FineB

                  • orchidee

                    Thanks Fine. Seasons Greetings and keep safe too!

                  • Goldfinch60

                    Good one Orchi.

                    • orchidee

                      Thanks Gold. Seasons Greetings! We're older than the hymn-writer of course, though he lived to about 100.



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