"A Christmas Rose" Now Available
The Seton-Elder Performing Arts Series has released a brand new Christmas album, A Christmas Rose!
This Christmas album, A Christmas Rose, features the Seton Concert Choir, Elder Glee Club, Elder Steel Drums, and The Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra and Singers, performing many of your favorite Christmas songs. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the students involved in the Seton-Elder Performing Arts Series.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONLINE CLICK HERE TO ORDER BY MAIL
For questions, please email Mary Sunderhaus at sunderhausm@setoncincinnati.org
The Story Behind the Song
In 1945, a young Army Master Sergeant serving in World War II, who would later become Elder’s band director, Lee Trauth, sent a poem that he had written as a Christmas letter to his wife, Rita. Years later, after he had returned home from the war and was well into his career as maestro of the Elder Band, Lee set his poem to music and gave it a four-part vocal arrangement.
Then, in the spring of 1977, he brought the song he had written to a Seton-Elder Friday Afternoon Singers rehearsal, and the Lee Trauth song, A Christmas Rose, was first performed at the Seton-Elder Series at Eight Christmas Concert that same year.
Lee was diagnosed with cancer in 1978, and in a handwritten note to his colleagues at Elder, dated February 15, 1980, he included an excerpt from an Edgar Allan Poe poem, titled Hymn - “Now, when storms of Fate o’er cast…Darkly my Present…” He added, in that note, his gratitude to the Elder faculty and staff for their thoughts and prayers during his battle with cancer. Sadly, Lee passed away on July 2, 1980 at age 65.
A Christmas Rose was once again included as a mixed chorus piece in the 1980 Christmas concert…then was again included at the concert in 1983...and at every Seton-Elder Performing Arts Series Christmas Concert thereafter.
For questions, please email Mary Sunderhaus at sunderhausm@setoncincinnati.org
The Story Behind the Song
In 1945, a young Army Master Sergeant serving in World War II, who would later become Elder’s band director, Lee Trauth, sent a poem that he had written as a Christmas letter to his wife, Rita. Years later, after he had returned home from the war and was well into his career as maestro of the Elder Band, Lee set his poem to music and gave it a four-part vocal arrangement.
Then, in the spring of 1977, he brought the song he had written to a Seton-Elder Friday Afternoon Singers rehearsal, and the Lee Trauth song, A Christmas Rose, was first performed at the Seton-Elder Series at Eight Christmas Concert that same year.
Lee was diagnosed with cancer in 1978, and in a handwritten note to his colleagues at Elder, dated February 15, 1980, he included an excerpt from an Edgar Allan Poe poem, titled Hymn - “Now, when storms of Fate o’er cast…Darkly my Present…” He added, in that note, his gratitude to the Elder faculty and staff for their thoughts and prayers during his battle with cancer. Sadly, Lee passed away on July 2, 1980 at age 65.
A Christmas Rose was once again included as a mixed chorus piece in the 1980 Christmas concert…then was again included at the concert in 1983...and at every Seton-Elder Performing Arts Series Christmas Concert thereafter.
Through Lee Trauth’s dedication to music in serving as Elder’s band director from 1956–1978, and to honor his talents in conducting, performing, and composing music, we proudly include his song, A Christmas Rose, on this beautiful compilation album by the Seton Chorus & Vocal Ensemble, Elder Glee Club & Vocal Ensemble, Elder Steel Band, and Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra and Ensemble.
Cincinnati’s First Catholic Diocesan High School
