There Is No Rose

Wright's carol tune for this traditional, macaronic Christmas hymn text (English and Latin) is scored for SA choir and keyboard. The refrain is lilting and tuneful, with judicious use of expressive leaps. The four verses are more stepwise in nature and have performance directives included. In keeping with the scope of the piece (about the purity of Mary for youth or treble choirs) it is almost entirely diatonic (both melody and accompaniment); only the last four measures introduce some chromaticism for the final cadence.