“The Last Rose of Summer”, written by Irish national poet Thomas Moore and composed by John Stevenson, has been sung all over the world, and Beethoven and other world-famous composers also incorporated it into the song. Mendelssohn composed the piano fantasy “The Last Rose of Summer” with the quite same name. Even in Japan, the rose was changed to a chrysanthemum and then to “Chigusa in the garden”, and it became an elementary school song, which was popular with many people.

This is the beginning of the original poem.

“Tis the last rose of Summer, Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flower of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh! “

アイルランドの国民的詩人トマス・ムーアの「夏の名残りのバラ」に、ジョン・スティーブンソンが曲を付けた歌は世界中で歌われ、ベートーベンを初め、世界の名だたる作曲家も楽曲に組み入れました。メンデルスゾーンはその名もずばり、ピアノ幻想曲「夏の名残りのバラ」を作曲しています。日本でも、バラを菊に、さらに「庭の千草」に変えて、小学唱歌になり、多くの人々に親しまれました。

「夏の名残のバラ　一人寂しく咲いている　愛しき仲間たちはみな枯れ果てた　赤いバラ色を照らし返す　近しき花も芽も消え失せた　ただため息をつくばかり」—原詩の出だしです。