''The Fairest of Roses'' (Danish: ''Den yndigste rose'') is a fanfare for two trumpets and organ written in 2017 by

Frederik Magle Frederik Reesen Magle (; born 17 April 1977) is a Danish composer, concert organist, and pianist. He writes contemporary classical music as well as fusion of classical music and other genres. His compositions include orchestral works, cantatas, ...

and published by

Edition Wilhelm Hansen Edition Wilhelm Hansen is a Danish music publishing company founded in 1857 by Wilhelm Hansen. It publishes score and recordings. It was founded as Christiani & Grisson in 1811, and bought by printer and engraver Wilhelm Hansen in 1857, who sold ...

. The work was premiered in Saint Paul's church in Copenhagen on 3 December 2017, on the occasion of the church's 140-year jubilee as well as the rededication of the church tower. It is also a tribute to Frederik Magle's mother

Mimi Heinrich Mimi Heinrich (1 November 1936 – 31 May 2017) was a Danish actress and writer. Outside Denmark she was mostly known for her roles in the cult movies ''Reptilicus'' and ''Journey to the Seventh Planet''. She had her debut at the Det Ny Teater ...

who died in May the same year. ''The Fairest of Roses'' is based on the melody for the Danish Christmas hymn ''Den yndigste rose er funden'' (1732) by

Hans Adolph Brorson Hans Adolph Brorson (20 June 1694 – 3 June 1764) was a Danish pietist clergyman, hymn write and translator of German language hymns. He served as Bishop of the Diocese of Ribe. Biography Brorson was born at the vicarage at Randerup in T� ...

. Though the composer of the melody is unknown, it likely originates in the

Wittenberg Wittenberg ( , ; Low Saxon language, Low Saxon: ''Wittenbarg''; meaning ''White Mountain''; officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg (''Luther City Wittenberg'')), is the fourth largest town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Wittenberg is situated on the Ri ...

-area and was first published by Joseph Klug in 1542 used for the Latin burial-hymn 'Iam moesta quiesce'. For concert performances the two trumpeters are to be placed 'antiphonally' with a distance between them, and the audience in-between, creating a spatial effect which is effective especially in larger rooms. Though entitled a ''fanfare'' the character of the work is, for the most part, reflective and has been described as meditative and lucid with a 'touch of Celtic mistiness', containing both soft and lyrical passages but also majestic and powerful moments.

References

External links

''The Fairest of Roses'' , Frederik Magle – Wise Music Classical
(Edition Wilhelm Hansen)
''Christmas fanfare for two trumpets and organ'' – Den yndigste rose
(magle.dk) {{DEFAULTSORT:Fairest of Roses 2017 compositions Spatial music Compositions by Frederik Magle Compositions for trumpet Compositions for organ Contemporary classical compositions