Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.
Audio is from the outstanding Compline Choir, from a service two nights ago at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle.
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging – German folksong, from Eichsfeld nach Haxthausen, 1850; arr. Philip Lawson (b. 1957)
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging,
Kyrie eleison.
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging,
der hat in sieben Jahrn kein Laub getragen.
Jesus und Maria.
Was trug Maria unter ihrem Herzen?
Kyrie eleison.
Ein kleines Kindlein ohne Schmerzen,
das trug Maria unter ihrem Herzen.
Jesus und Maria.
Da haben die Dornen Rosen getragen,
Kyrie eleison.
Als das Kindlein durch den Wald getragen,
da haben die Dornen Rosen getragen.
Jesus und Maria.
[English translation]
Mary wandered through a wood of thorns
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Mary wandered through a wood of thorns,
Which was leafless for seven years.
Jesus and Mary.
Who did Mary bear beneath her bosom?
Lord, have mercy.
A little babe without pain,
Whom Mary bore beneath her bosom.
Jesus and Mary.
The thorns had roses there,
Lord, have mercy.
As the babe was carried through the woods,
There were roses with thorns on them.
Jesus and Mary.