Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging

Maria durch ein? Dornwald ging (Blest Mary Wanders Through the Thorn) is a traditional German Christmas song. The earliest known version is recorded in the Andernacher Gesangbuch from 1608. Halfway through the nineteenth century it was a regional pilgrimage song in Thüringen, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, the current version was registered in the songbook Zupfgeigenhansl of the German youth movement. Michael Bilkes used the well-known melody to create this attractive arrangement for concert band.