Sing we the praises of the great forerunner

Representative Text

1 Sing we the praises of the great forerunner,
tell forth the mighty wonders of his story:
so may his Master cleanse our lips and make them
fit to extol him.

2 Lo, God's high herald, swift from heaven descending,
gives to thy father tidings of thy coming,
telling thy name and all the tale of marvels
that shall befall thee.

3 Oft had the prophets in the time before thee
spoken in vision of the Daystar's coming;
but when he came, 'twas thou that didst proclaim him
Saviour of all men.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #778

Author: Paul, the Deacon

Paul the Deacon [Paulus Diaconus], son of Warnefrid or Winefrid, was born at Frinli, in Italy, circa 730. He studied at Pavia. For some time he was tutor to Adelperga, daughter of Desiderius, the last of the Lombard kings, and then lived at the court of her husband, Arichisius of Beneveuto. Eventually he became a monk at Monte Cassino, where he died circa 799. He was the author of several works, including Be Gest. Langobardorum. His hymn, “Ut queant laxis resonare fibris," is in three parts. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)  Go to person page >

Translator: Charles Stanley Phillips

(no biographical information available about Charles Stanley Phillips.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Sing we the praises of the great forerunner
Author: Paul, the Deacon
Translator: Charles Stanley Phillips
Meter: 11.11.11.5
Language: English
Copyright: © Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd.

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Ancient and Modern #319

Common Praise #234

TextPage Scan

CPWI Hymnal #778

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #315

Include 1 pre-1979 instance
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