"The Rose That Bare Jesu" for soprano soloist, SSA choir, and string orchestra is a setting of the classic 15th-century English carol “There is no rose of such virtue.” This premiere performance was presented by Arcady Ensemble on December 2, 2023, in St. Andrew's United Church in Brantford, ON, Canada and conducted by the composer. The soprano soloist was Sophia Korz, who sang the text in its original, Middle-English pronunciation.

Full list of performers, program notes, and complete texts are included below.

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Arcady Ensemble - Directed by Ronald Beckett

Conductor: Benjamin Gabbay
Soprano solo: Sophia Korz

Violins I: David Rehner (concertmaster), Paul Earle, Kat Mrmak
Violins II: Linda Choi, Alyssa Stevenson, Kelly Larochette
Violas: John Wiebe, Jeff Komar
Cellos: Sonya Nanos, Patrick Theriault
Double bass: Ian Whitman

Sopranos: Regan Bagg, Laurinda Beimers, Lauren Bryant-Monk, Michaela Chiste, Roanna Kitchen, Sophia Korz, Hillary Krutchick, Sarah McQueen, Olivia Maldonado, Sara Paterson, Cristina Pisani, Emily Shipp, Julia Surette, Kelly Wrigglesworth

Altos: Hollie Dunkley, Heather Fleming, Nicole Foley, Gabrielle Heidinger, Bree Horton, Maria Milenic, Terri-Lyn Paterson, Emma Verdonk, Katie Walshaw

Recording: Frank Ch. Eigler

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The well-known text of this work, "There is no rose of such virtue" (aka "Ther is no rose of swych vertu") originates from a 15th-century collection of English carols known as the "Trinity Carol Roll," the earliest known example of English polyphonic music. While this contemporary setting does not explicitly quote any of the musical material of the original carol, its modal harmonies and free-flowing, dance-like rhythms are inspired by the same 15th-century carol style.

Although most contemporary settings of this text utilize a modernized pronunciation of the English, some parts of the rhyming scheme intended in the original text are only retained when a more authentic Middle-English
pronunciation is employed. For this reason, and for general aesthetic preference, the soprano soloist is encouraged (but not obliged) to utilize Middle-English pronunciation in singing her portion of the text. To this effect, a pronunciation guide is included below, based on the authoritative recording of the Trinity Carol Roll by Alamire ("Deo gracias Anglia!" directed by David Skinner, released by Obsidian in 2012). The Latin responses, sung by the choir, should in any case be pronounced as standard ecclesiastical Latin.

There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu.
Allelujah
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.
Pari forma
The angels sungen the shepherds to,
Gloria in excelsis deo.
Gaudeamus
Leave we all this worldly mirth
And follow we this joyful birth.
Transeamus

- Anonymous, c. 15th century (Modern English)


ðɛɾ ɪz no ɾoʊz of suːtʃ viːɾ.tʃy
as ɪz ðɜ ɾoʊz ðat baɾ dʒɛ.suː
ɑl.lɛ.luː.jɑ
fɔɾ ɪn ðɪs ɾoʊz kon.tɑɪn.ɛd wɑs
hɛ.ʋɛn and ɜːθ ɪn lɪ.tɘl spɑs
rɛz miː.ɾɑn.dɑ
biː ðæt ɾoʊz wɛ maɪ wɛl sɛ
ðæt hɛ ɪz gɔd ɪn pɛɾ.sɔnz θɾɛ
pɑ.riː fɔɾ.mɑ
ðɛ an.dʒəlz suːŋ.ɛn ðɛ ʃɛ.pɛɾdz to
ɡlɔː.ria ɪn ɛk.sɛl.siːs dɛ.o
gaʊ.dɛ.a.mus
lɛʋ wɛ ʌl ðɪs wuːɾld.liː miːɾθ
and fɒ.loʊ wɛ ðɪs dʒɔɪ.fuːl biːɾθ
tɾɑns.ɛ.ɑ.mus

- Middle English pronunciation in IPA

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The background of the title screen of the video is taken from the painting "Madonna of the Rose-bush" (c. 1510) by Bernardino Luini (c. 1480-1532)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQjskpujFZY