A Great and Mighty Wonder
SATB - We all know the chorale Lo, How A Rose E'er Blo,Oming. Here it is with the alternate words and the beautiful 3 or 4 part canon on the second stanza written by Praetorius' contemporary Melchior Vulpius. Might even be done with a quartet and doubled by instruments as was the custom during the Renaissance. A nice twist to the well know tune. Words by John Mason Neale.
A great and mighty wonder,
a full and holy cure:
The virgin bears the Infant
with virgin honor pure!
Repeat the hymn again:
“to God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men (shall reign)!”
Since all He comes to ransom,
by all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethlehem,
the Savior and the Lord.
The Word becomes incarnate
and yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems
to shepherds from the sky.
Repeat the hymn again:
“to God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men (shall reign)!”