My two favorite hymns happen to be hymns about Christ’s birth and therefore tend only to be sung during the Christmas season. Â It’s quite unfortunate, especially since they are extremely beautiful compositions with wonderful lyrics, but this time of year is a special musical treat for me. Â The first hymn I’d like to share is Es Ist Ein’ Ros’ Entsprungen, often known as Lo’ How a Rose E’re Blooming in English. Â This is perhaps my favorite hymn, musically speaking.
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret 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 to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!
The lyrics are different, though thematically related, in the Trinity Blue Hymnal (#153) where it goes by the name Behold, a Branch is growing. Â I imagine they are simply different poetic translations of the same German. Â Sufjan Stevens, Feist, and Derek Webb each have recorded modern renditions of the song. Â But to get a sense of the classical performance, listen to The Cambridge Singers, even though I prefer it to be sung a bit slower.
The second is Of the Father’s Love Begotten. Â This is no doubt my favorite lyric and musical combination in a hymn. Â It is also found in the Trinity Blue Hymnal (#122), but to my consternation has been set to the tune of Praise, My Soul instead of its traditional plainsong. Â Consequently, it excludes the “evermore” refrains.
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!Thee let age and thee let manhood, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
You can listen to The Cathedral Singers (a little gallopy for me) and the beautiful performance by The University of Montevallo/U. of North Dakota. Â I encourage you to listen and perhaps sing these hymns at home if you have opportunity. Â But most importantly, consider the theological truths contained therein and praise the Lord for His gospel!
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. (Romans 16:17-18)