“It’s not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.”  Johannes Brahms

Several years ago the choir director and I decided to use “Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming” attributed to Michael Praetorius as the finale of our Winter Concert.  We did not have any arrangement in the library so I arranged a setting for Men’s Choir with full orchestra.  In the middle, there was this gem of a section where the Choir went A Cappella.  Then the orchestra returned to close the piece.  The concert went fine and all was right with the world.

A year or two later, the choir director lifted the A Cappella section and added another verse making the arrangement that you hear today.    I liked this so much I scrapped the orchestra parts and cleaned up a few things for publication.  This arrangement has been purchased more times than any other arrangement of mine due to it’s simplicity and where it sits in the vocal range for men.   Enjoy.

look inside

Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming Composed by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621). Arranged by Tyler Merideth. Christian, Christmas. Octavo. 3 pages. Published by Tyler Merideth (S0.139511).