Rosa Mundi (album)

Rosa Mundi is a 2001 album by folk singer June Tabor. It is a concept album that represents Tabor's exploration of the rose as a symbol of love, of beauty and hope.^[1] As a folk singer, Tabor’s primary sources are traditional^[2] but it is her secondary source choices, ranging from Tchaikovsky to a Great War ballad via Robbie Burns and a version of a German traditional piano song "Es Ist ein Rose Ersprungen", that separate this album from being a generalist folk music album.^[1][2] Tabor's singing is understated, reflecting her desire for the songs to be centre stage.^[3]

Rosa Mundi
Studio album by June Tabor
Released	2001
Studio	Great Linford Manor, Buckinghamshire, England Red Bus Studios, London
Genre	Folk
Label	Topic
Producer	John Ravenhall
June Tabor chronology
A Quiet Eye (1999) Rosa Mundi (2001) An Echo of Hooves (2003)

The album was reviewed favourably by a number of British music critics. RootsWorld's Jim Foley described Rosa Mundi in positive terms, stating that close attention to their lyrics renders this pleasant experience moving^[4] In The Guardian Robin Denselow praised Rosa Mundi,^[3] and commented that Tabor's work demonstrated a commitment to the art of song with each song sung with Tabor's distinctive vocals. The article praised Tabor as amongst the finest of contemporary folk singers.^[3] A separate RootsWorld review said that Rosa Mundi was outstanding and that Tabor was a contemporary singer of importance with an ability to express herself with clarity and beauty.^[5] British folk music magazine fRoots reviewed the album at the time of release,^[6] and had championed Tabor for over twenty years, republishing an interview with Tabor in the final issue in 2019.^[7]

Track listing

1. "Roses of Picardy" (words & music: Fred Weatherly)
2. "Belle Rose" (traditional)
3. "Deep in Love" (traditional)
4. "O My Luve's Like a Red Red Rose" (words: Robert Burns/tune: traditional)
5. "Rose in June" (traditional)
6. "Paint Me, Redouté" (words: Les Barker / tune: Tabor & Emmerson)
7. "Rhosyn Wyn / Winterrose aka Es Ist ein Rose Ersprungen" (trad 15th century German /arr. Tabor, Warren, Emerson, Bolton)
8. "The Rose Is White, The Rose Is Red/ Dargason" (traditional) / tune: music in manuscript)
9. "The Crown of Roses (Tchaikovsky's legend)" (words: Plechteev/ tune: Tchaikovsky/ arrangement: Tabor, Warren, Emerson, Bolton)
10. "Barbry Ellen" (trad) (Child 84, Roud 54)
11. "Maybe Then I'll Be a Rose" (words :Les Barker/ tune: Savourna Stevenson)

Personnel

• June Tabor – vocals
• Huw Warren – piano
• Mark Emerson – viola, violin
• Richard Bolton – cello