Det hev ei rose sprunge

"**Det hev ei rose sprunge**" (also titled "**Det hev ei rosa sprunge**") is a traditional Christian hymn based on a bible passage, originally in German entitled "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen". It dates back to a 15th century poem and its exact author(s) are unknown. The choral harmony melodies were composed by Michael Praetorius in 1609. This version in Nynorsk was translated by Peter Hognestad, circa 1920.

AURORA has covered the song twice: solo on radio show Christine for NRK P3 in 2017, and in duet and harmony form with Herborg Kråkevik and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020. The latter was officially released on Herborg's Christmas album *Juleroser*.

## Lyrics

Det hev ei rose sprunge

Ut av ei rot så grann

Som fedrane hev sunge

Av Jesse rot ho rann

Og var ein blome blid

Midt i den kalde vinter

Ved mørke midtnattstid

Om denne rosa eine

Er sagt Jesajas ord

Maria møy den reine

Bar rosa til vår jord

Og Herrens miskunns makt

Det store under gjorde

Som var i spådom sagt

Guds rose ljuvleg angar

Og skin i jordlivsnatt

Når henner ljos oss fangar

Ho vert vår beste skatt

Me syng i englelag:

No er det fødd ein frelsar

Og natta vart til dag

Original lyrics in Nynorsk, English translation here:

Lyrics transcribed by listening.

## Audio

This duet version with Herborg Kråkevik is officially available in Scandinavia only (digital/streaming/CD). If it is unavailable for you, you can listen here.

## Live session

The NRK live session was broadcast on December 18, 2017 and was previously available on NRK Radio and the NRK P3 YouTube channel, but both are now unavailable.

## Trivia

* The hymn is a popular Christmas song in Norway and has been sung by various artists over the years, a recording by Christel Alsos is perhaps the best-known contemporary version.

### Lyrics translation

Det hev ei rose sprunge (A rose has sprung)

Ut av ei rot så grann (From a root so close)

Som fedrane hev sunge (Like the elders sang)

Av Jesse rot ho rann (From Jesse's root it ran)

Og var ein blome blid (Out of which a flower bloomed)

Midt i den kalde vinter (Amid the cold of winter)

Ved mørke midtnattstid (At the dark of midnight hour)

Om denne rosa eine (About this single rose)

Er sagt Jesajas ord (The words of Isaiah said)

Maria møy den reine (Virgin Mary the pure)

Bar rosa til vår jord (Gave birth to roses on our earth)

Og Herrens miskunns makt (Through the power of Lord's mercy)

Det store under gjorde (The big mircale happened)

Som var i spådom sagt (As prophecy foretold)

Guds rose ljuvleg angar (God's rose is lovely)

Og skin i jordlivsnatt (And shines in earthly night)

Når hennar ljos oss fangar (When her light strikes us)

Ho vert vår beste skatt (She holds our best treasure)

Me syng i englelag: (We sing in angel choir:)

No er det fødd ein frelsar (Now a savior has been born)

Og natta vart til dag (And night turned to day)

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es\_ist\_ein\_Ros\_entsprungen
2. ↑ https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Det\_hev\_ei\_rosa\_sprunge
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://grappa.no/no/albums/grappa/juleroser/
4. ↑ https://music.apple.com/no/album/juleroser/1538986966
5. ↑ https://radio.nrk.no/serie/christine/sesong/201712/MYNM55025117#t=1h45m23s (now defunct)
6. ↑ https://p3.no/aurora/