There Is No Rose Text
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu;
Alleluia.
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space;
Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three,
Pares forma.
The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis deo:
Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth;
Alleluia, res miranda,
Pares forma, gaudeamus,
Transeamus.
About the Source for There Is No Rose
The Trinity Carol Roll is a 15th-century manuscript of thirteen English carols held by the Wren Library at Trinity College, Cambridge (MS O.3.58). It is the earliest surviving example of polyphonic music written in English.[1] Compiled after 1415, it contains the earliest of two manuscript sources for the Agincourt Carol which tells of Henry V‘s victory at the Battle of Agincourt, as well as several early Christmas carols. The majority of texts are in Middle English (in a Norfolk dialect) with some of the carols alternating between Latin and Middle English, a common form for carols of the period known as macaronic.
Search for other music for SATB, unaccompanied choir
Program notes for There Is No Rose
“There Is No Rose” is one of the most famous Christmas songs from the late Middle Ages. It was written around the year 1420. The song is found in a famous book of music called the Trinity Carol Roll. This roll is a long piece of parchment kept at Trinity College in Cambridge, England. It contains thirteen early English carols.
The poem is a “macaronic” piece of writing. This means it mixes two different languages. Most of the poem is written in Middle English, which was the everyday language of the common people. However, the end of each stanza finishes with a phrase in Latin, which was the formal language used in churches. This clever mix allowed everyday people and church leaders to connect over the same story.
The song is a peaceful meditation on the birth of Jesus. It uses a rose as a beautiful symbol for Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the medieval world, a rose did not just mean beauty. It also stood for a special healing power. The words marvel at how Mary’s womb could hold something as vast as heaven and earth in a tiny space.
In its earliest form, the song was sung in simple, meandering vocal harmonies. Unlike modern music, it used older musical modes that gave it an airy, ghostly quality. The melody was passed between different voice parts, and there were no instruments playing along.
Over the centuries, this text has inspired many famous musicians. In the 20th century, a famous British composer named Benjamin Britten used the words in his holiday masterpiece, A Ceremony of Carols. John Joubert also wrote a highly celebrated version. Today, the song is still sung all over the world during the holiday season. It bridges a gap across six hundred years of musical history.
Michael John Trotta’s new setting breathes fresh life into this ancient text. Written for a four-part SATB choir without instruments, this a cappella piece creates a lush tapestry of sound. It begins with a single, haunting soprano voice that echoes the mystery of the past. Soon, the rest of the choir enters with rich, warm chords. Trotta uses modern musical suspensions to build and release tension, adding great emotion to the words. The piece is highly approachable for school, church, and community choirs who want to bring a peaceful sense of wonder to their winter concerts.
