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How Bright Appears the Morning Star

Representative Text

1 How bright appears 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 Emmanuel, come and hear us.

2 Though circled by the hosts on high,
He deigned to cast a pitying eye
upon His helpless creature;
the whole creation’s Head and Lord,
by highest seraphim adored,
assumed our very nature;
Jesus, grant us, thro' Your merit,
to inherit Your salvation;
hear, O hear our supplication.

3 Rejoice, O heav'ns, and earth, reply;
with praise, O sinners, fill the sky
for this, His incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth Your pow'r;
ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
till all know Your salvation.
Amen, amen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise be given
evermore by earth and heaven.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #233

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Author: Philipp 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 >

Translator and Adapter: William Mercer

Mercer, William, M.A., born at Barnard Castle, Durham, 1811, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A., 1835). In 1840 he was appointed Incumbent of St. George's, Sheffield. He died at Leavy Greave, Sheffield, Aug. 21, 1873. His principal work was:—- The Church Psalter and Hymn Book, comprising The Psalter, or Psalms of David, together with the Canticles, Pointed for Chanting; Four Hundred Metrical Hymns and Six Responses to the Commandments; the whole united to appropriate Chants and Tunes, for the use of Congregations and Families, by the Rev. William Mercer, M.A. . .. Assisted by John Goss, Esq…., 1854; enlarged 1856; issued without music, 1857; quarto edition 1860; rearranged edition (Oxford edition) 1864; Appendix 1872.… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: How bright appears the Morning-Star, With mercy beaming from afar
Title: How Bright Appears the Morning Star
German Title: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Author: Philipp Nicolai (1599)
Translator and Adapter: William Mercer (1859)
Language: English
Publication Date: 1964
Copyright: Public Domain
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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…

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The Cyber Hymnal #2567
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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #357
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Instances

Instances (1 - 12 of 12)
Page Scan

Common Praise (1998) #622

Common Praise (1998) #622
TextPage Scan

Common Praise #88

Common Praise #88
TextPage Scan

Hymns to the Living God #118

Hymns to the Living God #118
TextFlexScoreAudio

Lift Up Your Hearts #101

Lift Up Your Hearts #101
TextPage Scan

Moravian Book of Worship #278

Moravian Book of Worship #278
TextPage Scan

One in Faith #407

One in Faith #407
TextPage Scan

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #233

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #233
Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreAudioPage Scan

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #357

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #357
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2567

The Cyber Hymnal #2567
TextPage Scan

The Hymnal 1982 #496

The Hymnal 1982 #496
TextPage Scan

The Hymnal 1982 #497

The Hymnal 1982 #497

The Summit Choirbook #11

The Summit Choirbook #11
Include 18 pre-1979 instances
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