Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Sandström) facts for kids

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (which means Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming in English) is a special piece of music. It's a version of the old Christmas carol Es ist ein Ros entsprungen.

The Swedish composer Jan Sandström wrote it in 1990. He made it for two choirs to sing without any instruments, which is called a cappella music. Sandström used parts of an older version of the carol by Michael Praetorius. This piece is one of Sandström's most famous works, like his Motorbike Concerto.

Creating the Music

Jan Sandström created this musical piece in 1990. This was just one year after his Motorbike Concerto became very popular.

How Sandström Used an Old Carol

Sandström started with a four-part version of the Christmas carol Es ist ein Ros entsprungen. This older version was made by Michael Praetorius in 1609. Sandström then slowed down Praetorius's music, line by line. He placed it within a new eight-part a cappella setting.

Two Choirs, One Song

The music uses two different choirs. Choir I sings Praetorius's original four-part harmony. This part can even be sung by just four solo singers.

Choir II has eight parts and hums throughout the entire piece. This humming creates a soft, background sound. Combining an old melody (the carol) with new musical ideas is like a chorale prelude. But here, a full harmony is used, not just the melody. The humming makes the music easy for people all over the world to enjoy.

Music Details

The piece is written in the key of F major. It uses a common time signature. The music is played at a very slow tempo, like 56 quarter notes per minute. Sandström made the notes longer, so it sounds even slower than Praetorius's original.

The voices in Choir II join in one after another. They start very quietly (called ppp) and slowly get a bit louder (to piano). Most voices move upwards from their first note. They then hold a second note, building a chord. Choir I then joins in with the words "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen". The chords in Choir II change softly, supporting the harmonies of Praetorius.

Famous Performances

This composition is a favorite for choirs and singing groups during Christmas. Many famous choirs have performed it.

Notable Concerts and Broadcasts

In 2007, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge performed it. This was broadcast from King's College Chapel, Cambridge on Christmas Eve. The group Chanticleer also performed it in 2007. They liked it so much that they asked Sandström to write another piece for them.

In 2010, the BBC broadcast the piece twice. It was part of a Choral Evensong from Winchester College. The New England Conservatory of Music's choirs included it in their 2011 Christmas program. The NDR Chor also performed it in 2011.

Recordings to Listen To

The chamber choir Dresdner Kammerchor recorded the piece in 2002. It was on their CD Weihnachten. One reviewer said it was an "absolutely otherworldly setting."

The Dale Warland Singers included it on their 2005 CD Noel – A Music Feast. In 2009, a CD called Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen featured several versions of the carol. It included Sandström's setting, along with older ones by Praetorius and Johannes Brahms. A reviewer called Sandström's work "an extraordinary fusion of old and new." They said it was a "minor masterpiece."

In 2011, TOWER Voices New Zealand recorded it for their CD A Voices Christmas. The Crypt Choir of The King's School, Canterbury also included it on their program A Spotless Rose.

See also

In Spanish: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Sandström) para niños