Performed by the University of Pretoria Camerata, conducted by Dr. Michael Barrett.
The piece “The Crown of Roses” is a hauntingly beautiful retelling of the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The words are based on the poem "Roses and Thorns" by American poet Richard Henry Stoddard, originally published in Graham's Magazine of May 1856. The poem was included in Pleshcheyev's anthology Snowdrop (Подснeжник; 1878), where it was found by Tchaikovsky. The words read:
When Jesus Christ was yet a child
He had a garden small and wild
Where-in he cherished roses fair
And wove them into garlands there
Now as the summertime drew nigh
There came a troop of children by
And seeing roses on the tree
With shouts they plucked them merrily
"Do you bind roses in your hair?"
They cried in scorn to Jesus there
The boy said humbly "Take I pray
All but the na-ked thorns away"
Then of the thorns they made a crown
And with rough fingers pressed it down
Till on his forehead fair and young
Red drops of blood like roses sprung
Music video by Samantha Dolman and Ruben Uitenweerde from Open Window Insitute: School of Film Arts. Contact them:
Samantha Dolman: sam@folkloreproductions.co.za
Ruben Uitenweerde: Rubenfolkloreproductions.co.za