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Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. Written in key of F. Should be in the key of D! Too high for my baritone voice. I will sing this on Christmas at the Church of Saint Mary in downtown Saint Paul.

Text: German, 15th century. Verses 1,2: Translated by Theodore Baker, 1851-1934. Vs. 3: Friedrich Layritz, 1808-1859. Translated by Harriet R. Krauth Spaeth, 1845-1925.

Music: German, 16th century. Speierischen Gesangbuch, Cologne, 1599. Harmony by Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621.

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming as prophets long have sung.
It came, a flow'ret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

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 the world a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

O Flow'r, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispel with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
And lighten every load.