Hail the Blest Morn

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Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator

Author: Reginald Heber
Published in 227 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Piano/Organ
	A Star in the East (Captivating Piano Se…

Instrumental
	Reflections throughout the Church Year:…

Handbells
	Star in the East

Representative Text

1 Hail the bless’d morn, see the great Mediator
down from the region of glory descend!
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,
lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.

2 Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion,
fragrance of Edom and off’rings divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest or gold from the mine?

3 Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

4 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining,
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

5 Bright-est and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Source: Voices Together #272

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Author: Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took its toll on his health and he died of a stroke. Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today. -- Greg Scheer, 1995… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator
Title:	Hail the Blest Morn
Author:	Reginald Heber
Meter:	11.10.11.10
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Kindest and best of the sons of the morning
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

"Hail the [thou] blest morn, see [when] the great Mediator" is an anonymous text which, in the (Fasola) shapenote tunebook traditions of the United States is frequently prefixed to Reginald Heber's Epiphany hymn, "Brightest and best of the sons of the morning". Heber's first stanza is sometimes set as the second stanza of the hymn, but perhaps more frequently cast as a refrain to this stanza and the remainder of Heber's. A number of significant tunes originated with this version of the hymn, but are sometimes set with Heber's original stanzas.

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Tune

STAR IN THE EAST

First published in Japheth Coombs Washburn’s The Temple Harmony (1826), in three parts, Joshua Leavitt's The Christian Lyre (1830), in two parts, and in John H. Hickok's Sacred Harp (1832), in two parts. Chris Fenner / Barry Johnston

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[Hail the blest morn when the great Mediator] (55356)

THE SHEPHERD'S STAR

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