Bring flowers of the rarest (Mary E. Walsh)
Music files
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- (Posted 2025-05-03) CPDL #84748:
- Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2025-05-03). Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 70 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: SATB setting found in the St. Basil's Hymnal of 1918, which also indicates a slower tempo of Andante dotted quarter equals 40
- (Posted 2025-05-03) CPDL #84747:
- Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2025-05-03). Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 75 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Original by composer
General Information
Title: Bring flowers of the rarest
Composer: Mary E. Walsh
Lyricist: Mary E. Walsh
Number of voices: 2vv Voicing: SA
Genre: Sacred, Hymn
Language: English
Instruments: Piano
First published: 1883
2nd published: 1918
Description: This hymn, sometimes referred to as the Crowning Hymn because of its chorus, O Mary, We Crown Thee with Blossoms Today, is the most widely used and well-loved of all Marian hymns for May Crowning.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
1. Bring flowers of the fairest, bring flowers of the rarest,
From garden and woodland and hillside and vale;
Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest Rose of the vale.
Refrain
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms to day,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.
2. Our voices ascending, in harmony blending,
Oh! thus may our hearts turn, dear Mother to thee;
Oh! thus shall we prove thee how truly we love thee,
How dark without Mary life's journey would be. Refrain
3. O Virgin most tender, our homage we render,
Thy love and protection, sweet Mother, to win;
In danger defend us, in sorrow befriend us,
And shield our poor hearts from contagion and sin. Refrain
4. Of Mothers the dearest, oh, wilt thou be nearest,
When life with temptation is darkly replete?
Forsake us, O never! our hearts be they ever
As pure as the lilies we lay at thy feet. Refrain