Monday Music: A Marian Hymn

My former classmate. Samford alum, and Samford music professor, Timothy Banks has set a Marian hymn to the Sacred Harp tune, "Fairfield." The result is a beautiful arrangement that I think sounds more Eastern Orthodox than Roman Catholic. Here is what he said about it:

A challenge: Can a tune from the SACRED HARP be successfully set as a Marian Hymn? My answer is sung here by the fabulous Schola of the Eternal Word Television Network, my arrangement of FAIRFIELD to an anonymous Marian Hymn, celebrating the Nativity of the Virgin Mary today in the Daily Mass.
(The third stanza, with an altered version of the original Sacred Harp harmonization, is my favorite. I learned my "Alice Parker arrangement style" long ago!)

 

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Monday Music: Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming

I learned this carol while singing in the Men's Chorus at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary around 1979. I am amazed sometimes that it takes me so long to learn about some of these treasures. We sang it acapella during that Christmas season, and it became one of my favorites.

Originally known as "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen," this German Marian hymn dates back to the 16th century. The English translation "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" was written by Theodore Baker in 1894. The recording in the video below is by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.






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Songs for Christmas: Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming

I learned this carol while singing in the Men's Chorus at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary around 1979. I am amazed sometimes that it takes me so long to learn about some of these treasures. We sang it acapella during that Christmas season, and it became one of my favorites.

Originally known as "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen," this German Marian hymn dates back to the 16th century. The English translation "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" was written by Theodore Baker in 1894.






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