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What star is this, with beams so bright

Author: Charles Coffin, 1676-1749; John Chandler, 1807-1876 Meter: 8.8.8.8 Appears in 91 hymnals Lyrics: 1. What star is this, with beams so bright, more beauteous than the noonday light? It shines to herald forth the King, and Gentiles to his crib to bring. 2. True spake the prophet from afar who told the rise of Jacob's star; and eastern sages with amaze upon the wondrous token gaze. 3. The guiding star above is bright; within them shines a clearer light, and leads them on with power benign to seek the Giver of the sign. 4. O Jesus, while the star of grace impels us on to seek thy face, let not our slothful hearts refuse the guidance of thy light to use. 5. To God the Father, heavenly Light, to Christ, revealed in earthly night, to God the Holy Ghost we raise our equal and unceasing praise. Topics: Epiphany Used With Tune: PUER NOBIS Text Sources: Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, (tr.)

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PUER NOBIS

Meter: 8.8.8.8 Appears in 213 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621 Tune Sources: Trier MS, 15th cent. (melody); Cowley Carol Book, 1902 (harm.) Tune Key: D Major Incipit: 11234 32115 55671 Used With Text: What star is this, with beams so bright

[What star is this with beams so bright]

Appears in 1 hymnal Composer and/or Arranger: Jer. Clark; M. M. B. Tune Key: g minor Incipit: 11232 34321 5765 Used With Text: What star is this, with beams so bright

THE CHILD JESUS

Meter: 8.8.8.8.8 Appears in 1 hymnal Tune Sources: Maintzisch Gesangbuch, 1661 Tune Key: G Major Incipit: 11127 16553 2125 Used With Text: What Star Is This

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Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

What Star Is This?

Author: Charles Coffin; John Chandler Hymnal: Rejoice in the Lord #227 (1985) Meter: 8.8.8.8 First Line: What star is this, with beams so bright Lyrics: 1 What star is this, with beams so bright, more lovely than the noonday light? ’Tis sent to announce a newborn King, glad tidings of our God to bring. 2 ’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed: “From Jacob shall a star proceed”; And lo! the eastern sages stand, to read in heav'n the Lord’s command. 3 While outward signs the star displays, an inward light the Lord conveys, and urges them, with force benign, to seek the Giver of the sign. 4 O while the star of heav'nly grace invites us, Lord, to seek thy face, may we no more that grace repel, or quench that light which shines so well. 5 To God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit, Thee in one, may ev'ry tongue and nation raise an endless song of thankful praise. Topics: Biblical Characters Jacob; Jesus Christ Epiphany and Youth Scripture: Numbers 24:17 Languages: English Tune Title: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR

What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright?

Author: Charles Coffin; John Chandler Hymnal: The Cyber Hymnal #7295 Meter: 8.8.8.8 First Line: What star is this, with beams so bright Lyrics: 1. What star is this, with beams so bright, More lovely than the noonday light? ’Tis sent to announce a newborn King, Glad tidings of our God to bring. 2. ’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed, From Jacob shall a star proceed; And lo! the Eastern sages stand To read in heaven the Lord’s command. 3. While outward signs the star displays, An inward light the Lord conveys, And urges them, with force benign, To seek the Giver of the sign. 4. True love can brook no dull delay; Nor toil nor dangers stop their way Home, kindred, father land and all They leave at their Creator’s call. 5. O, while the star of heavenly grace Invites us, Lord, to seek Thy face, May we no more that grace repel, Or quench that light which shines so well! 6. To God the Father, God the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One, May every tongue and nation raise An endless song of thankful praise! Languages: English Tune Title: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR

What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright

Author: Charles Coffin; John Chandler Hymnal: The Presbyterian Hymnal #68 (1990) Meter: 8.8.8.8 Lyrics: 1 What star is this, with beams so bright, More lovely than the noonday light? ’Tis sent to announce a newborn King, Glad tidings of our God to bring. 2 ’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed, “From Jacob shall a star proceed”; And lo! the Eastern sages stand To read in heaven the Lord’s command. 3 O Jesus, while the star of grace Impels us on to seek Your face, Let not our slothful hearts refuse The guidance of Your light to use. 4 To God the Father, God the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One, May every tongue and nation raise An endless song of thankful praise. Scripture: Numbers 24:17 Languages: English Tune Title: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR

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People

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Michael Praetorius

1571 - 1621 Adapter of "PUER NOBIS NASCITUR" in The Presbyterian Hymnal Born into a staunchly Lutheran family, Michael Praetorius (b. Creuzburg, Germany, February 15, 1571; d. Wolfenbüttel, Germany, February 15, 1621) was educated at the University of Frankfort-an-der-Oder. In 1595 he began a long association with Duke Heinrich Julius of Brunswick, when he was appointed court organist and later music director and secretary. The duke resided in Wolfenbüttel, and Praetorius spent much of his time at the court there, eventually establishing his own residence in Wolfenbüttel as well. When the duke died, Praetorius officially retained his position, but he spent long periods of time engaged in various musical appointments in Dresden, Magdeburg, and Halle. Praetorius produced a prodigious amount of music and music theory. His church music consists of over one thousand titles, including the sixteen-volume Musae Sionae (1605-1612), which contains Lutheran hymns in settings ranging from two voices to multiple choirs. His Syntagma Musicum (1614-1619) is a veritable encyclopedia of music and includes valuable information about the musical instruments of his time. Bert Polman

John Chandler

1806 - 1876 Translator of "What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright" in The Presbyterian Hymnal John Chandler, one of the most successful translators of hymns, was born at Witley in Surrey, June 16, 1806. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, B.A. 1827, M.A. 1830. Ordained deacon in 1831 and priest in 1832, he succeeded his father as the patron and vicar of Whitley, in 1837. His first volume, entitled The Hymns of the Primitive Church, now first Collected, Translated and Arranged, 1837, contained 100 hymns, for the most part ancient, with a few additions from the Paris Breviary of 1736. Four years later, he republished this volume under the title of hymns of the Church, mostly primitive, collected, translated and arranged for public use, 1841. Other publications include a Life of William of Wykeham, 1842, and Horae sacrae: prayers and meditations from the writings of the divines of the Anglican Church, 1854, as well as numerous sermons and tracts. Chandler died at Putney on July 1, 1876. --The Hymnal 1940 Companion =============== Chandler, John, M.A.,one of the earliest and most successful of modern translators of Latin hymns, son of the Rev. John F. Chandler, was born at Witley, Godalming, Surrey, June 16, 1806, and educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1827. He took Holy Orders in 1831, and became Vicar of Witley in 1837. He died at Putney, July 1, 1876. Besides numerous Sermons and Tracts, his prose works include Life of William of Wykeham, 1842; and Horae Sacrae; Prayers and Meditations from the writings of the Divines of the Anglican Church, with an Introduction, 1844. His translations, he says, arose out of his desire to see the ancient prayers of the Anglican Liturgy accompanied by hymns of a corresponding date of composition, and his inability to find these hymns until he says, "My attention was a short time ago directed to some translations [by Isaac Williams] which appeared from time to time in the British Magazine, very beautifully executed, of some hymns extracted from the Parisian Breviary,with originals annexed. Some, indeed, of the Sapphic and Alcaic and other Horatian metres, seem to be of little value; but the rest, of the peculiar hymn-metre, Dimeter Iambics, appear ancient, simple, striking, and devotional—in a word in every way likely to answer our purpose. So I got a copy of the Parisian Breviary [1736], and one or two other old books of Latin Hymns, especially one compiled by Georgius Cassander, printed at Cologne, in the year 1556, and regularly applied myself to the work of selection and translation. The result is the collection I now lay before the public." Preface, Hymns of the Primitive Church, viii., ix. This collection is:— (1) The Hymns of the Primitive Church, now first Collected, Translated, and Arranged, by the Rev. J. Chandler. London, John W. Parker, 1837. These translations were accompanied by the Latin texts. The trsanslations rearranged, with additional translations, original hymns by Chandler and a few taken from other sources, were republished as (2) The Hymns of the Church, mostly Primitive, Collected, Translated, and Arranged/or Public Use, by the Rev. J. Chandler, M.A. London, John W. Parker, 1841. From these works from 30 to 40 translations have come gradually into common use, some of which hold a foremost place in modern hymnals, "Alleluia, best and sweetest;" "Christ is our Corner Stone;" "On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry;" "Jesus, our Hope, our hearts' Desire;" "Now, my soul, thy voice upraising;" "Once more the solemn season calls;" and, "O Jesu, Lord of heavenly grace;" being those which are most widely used. Although Chandler's translations are somewhat free, and, in a few instances, doctrinal difficulties are either evaded or softened down, yet their popularity is unquestionably greater than the translations of several others whose renderings are more massive in style and more literal in execution. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Charles Coffin

1676 - 1749 Author of "What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright" in The Presbyterian Hymnal Coffin, Charles, born at Buzaney (Ardennes) in 1676, died 1749, was principal of the college at Beauvais, 1712 (succeeding the historian Rollin), and rector of the University of Paris, 1718. He published in 1727 some, of his Latin poems, for which he was already noted, and in 1736 the bulk of his hymns appeared in the Paris Breviary of that year. In the same year he published them as Hymni Sacri Auctore Carolo Coffin, and in 1755 a complete ed. of his Works was issued in 2 vols. To his Hymni Sacri is prefixed an interesting preface. The whole plan of his hymns, and of the Paris Breviary which he so largely influenced, comes out in his words. "In his porro scribendis Hymnis non tam poetico indulgendunv spiritui, quam nitoro et pietate consulendum esse existimavi. Pleraque igitur, argumentis convenientia e purissiinis Scripturae Sacrae fontibus deprompsi quac idoneis Ecclesiae cantui numeris alligarem." His hymns are described by a French critic as having less brilliancy than those of Santüil (q.v.), but more simplicity and unction. They number 100 in the edition of 1736. Translated into English by J. Chandler, I. Williams and others, are noted under their respective Latin first lines. [William T. Brooke] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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