Choralist members:

I have received many responses to my posting regarding Christmas music that
refers to plants. Here is a compilation.

The most commonly mentioned piece (which I had thought of, but forgot to
write down) was:

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (the standard Oxford arrangement)

Other suggestions were:

A Spotless Rose (H. Howells)
Jesu Bambino (P. Yon) -specifically mentions the "Christmas Rose"
There is No Rose of Such Virtue (Britten- Ceremony of Carols)
There is a Flower (from the Oxford 100 Carols for Choirs-- Rutter)
What is This Lovely Fragrance?
The Twelve Days of Christmas (keeps mentioning pear trees!)
King Jesus Hath a Garden (published in the green Carols for Choirs, ed.
David Willcocks and in 100 Carols, arr. by Wood.)
The Crown of Roses by Tchaikovsky,
Maria Wiegenlied by Max Reger
The Sans Day Carol (arr. Rutter)
Mistletoe and Holly (popular song)
Winds Through the Olive Trees
Bright, Bright the Holly Berries by Alfred Burt
Jessye's Carol (Jessye Norman) or otherwise called This Christmastide
Jesus Christ The Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston
Evergreen Fragrance, Candlelight Glow by Richard Smith
Hinshaw HMC-1426
The Holly and the Ivy arr. John Rutter Oxford 84.271
O, Green and Shimmering Tree, Good Day! by Mack Wilberg
Hinshaw HMC-926 (Instrumental parts available.)
One Perfect Flower by Garry A. Cornell
Celebrations Unlimited CU-158 (with C instrument, oboe
is especially effecive.)
What Is This Fragrance? arr. Dwight Gustafson (SSA)
Hinshaw HMC-797

Slow Rockin Christmas by Jay Althouse published by Alfred.

>From down under:

I'm not sure if you are looking for an international flavour to this one
- but this must be a great opportunity. And in which case, "Pohutukawa
Carol" from New Zealand. The pohutukawa is a Myrtle, latin name
_Metrosideros_excelsa_, flowers around Christmas time , and is often
referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree. It has dark green leaves
and red flowers and groups of them along our coastline make a marvelous
show. Composer is Douglas Mews and the words are those of a poem by Fr
E A Forsman. Mews's original setting is SATB.

Many of the pieces suggested are found in 100 Carols for Choirs, ed. John
Rutter.

Thank you for your collective input.


Steve Hopkins
Director of Choral Activities
School of Music
Appalachian State Univ.
Boone, NC 28608
email: HOPKINSSM(a)appstate.edu