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SKU: S0.717371
Composed by P. Tchaikowsky (1840-1893). Arranged by B. Lupton (1948-). Romantic Period,Christian,Sacred,Lent. Score,Set of Parts. 6 pages. Published by Brock Lupton (S0.717371).Crown ofRoses
Richard H. Stoddard (1825-1903) wrote theoriginal of this poem (“Roses and Thorns”) in 1858. Aleksey Pletcheevtranslated the poem into Russian in 1877. Apparently not knowing the identityof the American poet nor having access to the poem, Geoffrey Dearmer(1893-1996) translated Pletcheev’s Russian back into English. This is the textusually sung by English-speaking choirs when performing Tchaikowsky’s music: itis this text which appears in the Oxford Book of Carols (1928). The choir partshave been adjusted to create variety in the repetition for the 3 verses.
I have modified the text of verse 2 and verse3, aiming at increased clarity of meaning.
The arrangement is best sung unaccompanied.An optional piano accompaniment may be used for rehearsal and (if needed) inperformance. The arranger’s string quartet version of the accompaniment can bepurchased separately and may be used to support the choral performance orplayed separately by a string quartet or a small string orchestra (in thelatter case a few string basses, as well of course as the cellos, may play thecello part if desired).
The text used in the arrangement is asfollows.
When Jesus Christ was still a child
He had a garden small and wild
In which he cherished roses fair
And wove them into garlands there.
Now once as summertime drew nigh
A group of children came walking by
And, seeing roses growing there
Picked them and twined them in their hair.
“We took your roses for our hair.”
They laughed with scorn at Jesus there.
Jesus said humbly, “Take them now,
But leave the thorns there on the bough.”
Then of the thorns they made a crown,
And with rough fingers pressed it down
‘Til on his forehead fair and young,
Red drops of blood like roses sprung.*
*Thebasses sing the words “like roses sprung” twice.
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