How brightly [lovely] shines the Morning Star! What ray divine streams from afar?

Representative Text

1 How brightly shines the morning star,
With mercy beaming from afar,
The host of heav'n rejoices;
O righteous branch, O Jesse's rod,
Thou Son of Man and Son of God,
We, too, will lift our voices.
Jesus, Jesus,
Holy holy, yet most lowly,
Draw Thou near us,
Great Immanuel, come and hear us.

2 Rejoice ye heav'ns; thou earth reply;
With praise, ye sinners, fill the sky,
For this His incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth Thy power,
Ride on, ride on, great conqueror,
Till all know Thy salvation.
Amen, Amen,
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Praise be given
Evermore by earth and heaven.

Source: The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 #111

Translator: J. M. Sloan

Sloan, John Morrison, M.A., eldest son of John Sloan, farmer of Stairaird, near Mauchline, Ayrshire was born at Stairaird, May 19, 1835. He studied at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Erlangen, and graduated M.A. at Edinburgh in 1859. In 1864 he became collegiate tminister of the Free Church, Dalkeith; in 1868 minister of the South Free Church, Aberdeen; in 1878 collegiate minister of Anderston Free Church, Glasgow; and is now (1890) minister of the Grange Free Church, Edinburgh. He contributed 8 translations from the German to the Rev. J. H. Wilson's Service of Praise, 1865, 2 of which have since appeared in Mr. Wilson's Songs of Zion, 1877, and 1 in the Free Church Hymn Book1882. The best known of these is his translation of â… Go to person page >

Author: Philip Nicolai

Philipp Nicolai (b. Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, Germany, 1556; d. Hamburg, Germany, 1608) lived an eventful life–he fled from the Spanish army, sparred with Roman Catholic and Calvinist opponents, and ministered to plague-stricken congregations. Educated at Wittenberg University, he was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1583 in the city of Herdecke. However, he was soon at odds with the Roman Catholic town council, and when Spanish troops arrived to reestablish Roman dominance, Nicolai fled. In 1588 he became chief pastor at Altwildungen and court preacher to Countess Argaretha of Waldeck. During that time Nicolai battled with Calvinists, who disagreed with him about the theology of the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. These doctri… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: How brightly [lovely] shines the Morning Star! What ray divine streams from afar?
German Title: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Translator: J. M. Sloan
Author: Philip Nicolai
Language: English
Publication Date: 1884
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

Adapting a tune written for Psalm 100 found in Wolff Köphel's Psalter (1538), Nicolai composed WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET, which was published with the text in 1599. Although the tune was originally more varied rhythmically, the hymnal version here is isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) and set to the rich ha…

Go to tune page >


WACHET AUF (Nicolai)


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)

Christmas Favorites #27

Include 16 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us