Epiphany Carol: How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

[Improvisation by Ulfert Smidt]

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Voll Gnad' und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
Die süße Wurzel Jesse!
Du Sohn David zus Jakobs Stamm,
Mein König und mein Bräutigam,
Hast mir mein Herz besessen,
Lieblich, freundlich,
Schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich,
Reich von Gaben,
Hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben!

How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining.
Thou David's Son of Jacob's race,
My Bridegroom and my King of Grace,
For Thee my heart is pining.
Lowly, Holy,
Great and glorious, Thou victorious
Prince of graces,
Filling all the heavenly places.

[Arrangement: Praetorius]

Ei meine Perl', du werte Kron',
Wahr'r Gottes- und Mariensohn,
Ein hochgeborner König!
Mein Herz heißt dich ein Lilium,
Dein süßes Evangelium
Ist lauter Milch und Honig.
Ei mein Blümlein,
Hosianna, himmlisch Manna,
Das wir essen,
Deiner kann ich nicht vergessen!

O highest joy by mortals won,
True Son of God and Mary's Son,
Thou high-born King of ages!
Thou art my heart's most beauteous Flower,
And Thy blest Gospel's saving power
My raptured soul engages.
Thou mine, I Thine;
Sing hosanna! Heavenly manna
Tasting, eating,
Whilst Thy love in songs repeating.

[Arrangement: Buxtehude]

Geuss sehr tief in mein Herz hinein,
Du heller Jaspis und Rubin,
Die Flamme deiner Liebe
Und erfreu' mich, daß ich doch bleib'
An deinem auserwählten Leib
Ein' lebendige Rippe!
Nach dir ist mir,
Gratiosa coeli rosa,
Krank und glimmet
Mein Herz, durch Liebe verwundet.

Now richly to my waiting heart,
O Thou, my God, deign to impart
The grace of love undying.
In Thy blest body let me be,
E'en as the branch is in the tree,
Thy life my life supplying.
Sighing, Crying.
For the savor Of Thy favor;
Resting never,
Till I rest in Thee forever.

[Arrangement: JS Bach]

Von Gott kommt mir ein Freudenschein,
Wenn du mit deinen Äugelein
Mich freundlich tust anblicken.
O Herr Jesu, mein trautes Gut,
Dein Wort, dein Geist, dein Leib und Blut
Mich innerlich erquicken!
Nimm mich freundlich
In dein' Arme, daß ich warme
Werd' von Gnaden!
Auf dein Wort komm' ich geladen.

 A pledge of peace from God I see
When Thy pure eyes are turned to me
To show me Thy good pleasure.
Jesus, Thy Spirit and Thy Word,
Thy body and Thy blood, afford
My soul its dearest treasure.
Keep me Kindly
In Thy favor, O my Savior!
Thou wilt cheer me;
Thy Word calls me to draw near Thee.

[Arrangement: Max Reger]

Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held,
Du hast mich ewig vor der Welt
In deinem Sohn geliebet.
Dein Sohn hat mich ihm selbst vertraut,
Er ist mein Schatz, ich bin sein' Braut,
Sehr hoch in ihm erfreuet.
Eia, eia,
Himmlisch Leben wird er geben
Mir dort oben!
Ewig soll mein Herz ihn loben.

Thou, mighty Father, in Thy Son
Didst love me ere Thou hadst begun
This ancient world's foundation.
Thy Son hath made a friend of me,
And when in spirit Him I see,
I joy in tribulation.
What bliss Is this!
He that liveth To me giveth
Life forever;
Nothing me from Him can sever.

[Arrangement: JS Bach]

Zwingt die Saiten in Zithara
Und laßt die süße Musika
Ganz freudenreich erschallen,
Daß ich möge mit Jesulein,
Dem wunderschönen Bräut'gam mein,
In steter Liebe wallen!
Singet, springet,
Jubilieret, triumphieret,
Dankt dem Herren!
Groß ist der König der Ehren!

Lift up the voice and strike the string.
Let all glad sounds of music ring
In God's high praises blended.
Christ will be with me all the way,
Today, tomorrow, every day,
Till traveling days be ended.
Sing out, Ring out
Triumph glorious, O victorious,
Chosen nation;
Praise the God of your salvation.

[Arrangement: Samuel Scheidt]

Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh,
Daß mein Schatz ist das A und O.
Der Anfang und das Ende!
Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis
Aufnehmen in das Paradeis,
Des klopf' ich in die Hände.
Amen! Amen!
Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone,
Bleib nicht lange,
Deiner wart' ich mit Verlangen!

 Oh, joy to know that Thou, my Friend,
Art Lord, Beginning without end,
The First and Last, Eternal!
And Thou at length--O glorious grace!--
Wilt take me to that holy place,
The home of joys supernal.
Amen, Amen!

Come and meet me! Quickly greet me!

With deep yearning,

Lord, I look for your returning.

[The Choir of St. Thomas Episcopal School. Arrangement: JS Bach(?)]

~~~~~

A word-for-word English translation of the German can be found here.

[Improvisation: Evert Groen]

The Epiphany of Our Lord: The Light in Judah Shining

The "Queen of the Chorales" is Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, or "How Lovely Shines the Morning Star." Both the original German text and the English versification are taken from The Cyber Hymnal. Other translations can be found at The Lutheran Hymnal #343 and Lutheran Service Book #395.

~~~~~


Setting by Johann Ludwig Krebs

~~~

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Voll Gnad und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
Die süße Wurzel Jesse!
Du Sohn Davids aus Jakobs Stamm,
Mein König und mein Bräutigam,
Hast mir mein Herz besessen,
Lieblich, freundlich,
Schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich,
Reich von Gaben,
Hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben!

How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining.
Thou David’s Son of Jacob’s race,
My Bridegroom and my King of Grace,
For Thee my heart is pining.
Lowly, holy, great and glorious,
Thou victorious Prince of graces,
Filling all the heav’nly places.


Settings by JS Bach and Sigfrid Karg-Elert

~~~

Ei meine Perl’, du werte Kron,
Wahr’ Gottes und Mariens Sohn,
Ein hochgeborner König!
Mein Herz heißt dich ein Himmelsblum;
Dein süßes Evangelium
Ist lauter Milch und Honig.
Ei mein Blümlein,
Hosianna! Himmlisch Manna,
Das wir essen,
Deiner kann ich nicht vergessen!

O highest joy by mortals won,
True Son of God and Mary’s Son,
Thou highborn King of ages!
Thou art my heart’s most beauteous Flower,
And Thy blest Gospel’s saving power
My raptured soul engages.
Thou mine, I Thine; sing hosanna!
Heav’nly manna tasting, eating,
Whilst Thy love in songs repeating.


Description not available

~~~

Geuß sehr tief in das Herz hinein,
Du leuchtend Kleinod, edler Stein,
Mit deiner Liebe Flamme,
Daß ich, o Herr, ein Gliedmaß bleib
An deinem auserwählten Leib,
Ein Zweig an deinem Stamme.
Nach dir wallt mir,
Mei Gemüte,
Ewig Güte, bis es findet
Dich, des Liebe mich entzündet.

Now richly to my waiting heart,
O Thou, my God, deign to impart
The grace of love undying.
In Thy blest body let me be,
E’en as the branch is in the tree,
Thy life my life supplying.
Sighing, crying, for the savor
Of Thy favor; resting never
Till I rest in Thee forever.


Setting by JS Bach
St. James Cappella Magna
St. Ignatius in Rome

~~~

Von Gott kommt mir ein Freudenschein,
Wenn du mich mit den Augen dein
Gar freundlich tust anblicken.
O Herr Jesu, mein trautes Gut,
Dein Wort, dein Geist, dein Leib und Blut
Mich innerlich erquicken.
Nimm mich freundlich
In dein Arme, Herr erbarme
Dich in Gnaden;
Auf dein Wort komm ich geladen.

A pledge of peace from God I see
When Thy pure eyes are turned to me
To show me Thy good pleasure.
Jesus, Thy Spirit and Thy Word,
Thy body and Thy blood afford
My soul its dearest treasure.
Keep me kindly in Thy favor,
O my Savior! Thou wilt cheer me;
Thy Word calls me to draw near Thee.


A Family sings stanza 4
Von Gott Kommt...

~~~

Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held,
Du hast mich ewig vor der Welt
In deinem Sohn geliebet.
Dein Sohn hat mich ihm selbst vertraut,
Er ist mein Schatz, ich seine Braut,
Drum mich auch nichts betrübet.
Eia, eia,
Himmlisch Leben wird er geben
Mir dort oben!
Ewig soll mein Herz ihn loben.

Thou, mighty Father, in Thy Son
Didst love me ere Thou hadst begun
This ancient world’s foundation.
Thy Son hath made a friend of me,
And when in spirit Him I see,
I joy in tribulation!
What bliss is this! He that liveth
To me giveth life forever;
Nothing me from Him can sever.


Setting by Michael Praetorius
Musica Fiata
La Capella Ducale
Roland Wilson, Director

~~~

Zwingt die Saiten in Cythara
Und laßt die süße Musika
Ganz freudenreich erschallen,
Daß ich möge mit Jesulein,
Dem wunderschönen Bräutgam mein,
In steter Liebe wallen!
Singet, springet,
Jubilieret, triumphieret,
Dankt dem Herren;
Groß ist der König der Ehren!

Lift up the voice and strike the string,
Let all glad sounds of music ring
In God’s high praises blended.
Christ will be with me all the way,
Today, tomorrow, every day,
Till traveling days be ended.
Sing out, ring out, triumph glorious,
O victorious, chosen nation;
Praise the God of your salvation.


Setting by Dietrich Buxtehude
Piet Kee, Organist
Schnitger organ of St. Laurenskerk (Alkmaar)

~~~

Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh,
Daß mein Schatz ist das A und O.
Der Anfang und das Ende.
Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis
Aufnehmen in das Paradeis;
Des klopf ich in die Hände.
Amen, Amen,
Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone,
Bleib nicht lange,
Deiner wart’ ich mit Verlangen

Oh, joy to know that Thou, my Friend,
Art Lord, Beginning without end,
The First and Last, eternal!
And Thou at length—O glorious grace!—
Wilt take me to that holy place,
The home of joys supernal.
Amen, Amen! Come and meet me!
Quickly greet me! With deep yearning
Lord, I look for Thy returning.


Setting by JS Bach
Wiener Sangerknaben
Chorus Viennensis

~~~~~

Don't forget to check out Lutheran Time Out's broadcast of this hymn. You can listen to it here and check out the text and tune from The Lutheran Hymnal here. Each Thursday Lutheran Time Out posts a Scripture reading, hymn, and a reading from a commentary. New posts go up shortly at around 12:15 pm ET.

The Epiphany of our Lord: To Thee All Angels Cry Aloud

Te Deum laudamus:

te Dominum confitemur.

Te aeternum Patrem

omnis terra veneratur.

We praise Thee, O God,

we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship Thee

the Father everlasting.

Tibi omnes Angeli;

tibi caeli et universae Potestates;

Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim

incessabili voce proclamant:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,

Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

Pleni sunt caeli et terra

maiestatis gloriae tuae.

To Thee all Angels cry aloud,

the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.

To Thee Cherubin and Seraphin

continually do cry:

Holy, Holy, Holy,

Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full

of the Majesty of Thy glory.

Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,

Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,

Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.

Te per orbem terrarum

sancta confitetur Ecclesia,

Patrem immensae maiestatis:

Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;

Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.

The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee.

The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee.

The holy Church throughout all the world

doth acknowledge Thee;

The Father of an infinite Majesty;

Thine honourable, true and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.

Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.

Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem,

non horruisti Virginis uterum.

Tu, devicto mortis aculeo,

aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.

Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.

Iudex crederis esse venturus.

Thou art the King of Glory O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

When Thou tookest upon thee to deliver man

Thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.

When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death

Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni:

quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.

Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.

Salvum fac populum tuum,

Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.

Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.

Per singulos dies benedicimus te;

Et laudamus Nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.

We therefore pray Thee, help thy servants

whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save Thy people

and bless Thine heritage.

Govern them and lift them up for ever.

 Day by day we magnify Thee;

And we worship Thy Name ever world without end.

Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.

Miserere nostri domine, miserere nostri.

Fiat misericordia tua,

Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.

In te, Domine, speravi:

non confundar in aeternum.

Vouchsafe, O Lord to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us;

Have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us

As our trust is in Thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted;

Let me never be confounded.

Te Deum from Matins

The Epiphany of our Lord: Shine in My Heart, Lord Jesus

Please join the children in singing

from Lutheran Service Book, Hymn 411

In Him there is no darkness at all.

The night and the day are both alike.

The Lamb is the light of the city of God.

Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

Deacon Dulas on Epiphany

Deacon Jerry Dulas, member of ELDoNA, submits this article on the Epiphany of Our Lord, offering an historic perspective on the day and the season.

~~~~~

In the ancient eastern lands, when a king would come to visit one of his cities, they would be welcomed with all due honor and pomp. There would be much feasting and revelry. Special gifts and privileges would be granted to certain individuals. It was an expensive and lavish event that was entirely paid for by the king himself by his own decree. These festive visitations became to be known as "theophanies" or "epiphanies" -- "an appearance of a god." It was as if a divine being had come to earth himself.

In our dear Lord Jesus, we find the true Epiphany. The One True God appears to us in our flesh. Our King Jesus has come to earth, and laviously bestowed upon us great gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. And we enjoy those gifts, through our feasting and joyful celebration of our dear Lord's arrival.

This reality is portrayed for us in the Gospel reading for the day, which is the visitation of the Magi from the East. The Magi arrive rejoicing, and bestow gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh upon our dear Lord Jesus, and they bend the knee before Him in worship and adoration. Such is our example, this is why historically, during the Gospel reading, the whole congregation genuflects at the words "and they fell down and worshipped Him."

In this Feast is the zenith of the Christmas cycle. From here on our eyes will slowly be focused toward the cross and Easter. This is portrayed in the historic practice of announcing the dates of the movable feasts on this day after the Gospel reading by the Celebrant. Following is an example:

Celebrant: Dearly beloved brethren, ye shall know that as we have rejoiced in the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, so there is announced to thee by the mercy of God the joyous observance of the Resurrection of same our Lord and Savior: _____ shall be Septuagesima Sunday; _____ shall be Ash Wednesday, the beginning the most holy season of Lent; On _____ we shall celebrate with great rejoicing the holy Easter Festival, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; _____: the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; _____: the Feast of Whitsunday; _____: the Feast of the Holy Trinity; _____ shall be the First Sunday in the Advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ; to Whom be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord begins this journey to Easter by filling us with a theme of light. This is portrayed in the star that led the Magi from the East. The light comes from the East, the place of the dawn, and the seat of God's revelation. This is why the altar is spoken of as residing in the East, even if it isn't oriented that way, the altar is the liturgical East; it is the place where God sheds His light of grace upon us.

The star which rises from the East, leads the Maji to Judea. According to some ancient Fathers, this star was the Holy Ghost appearing as a star, in the same way that He revealed Himself as a dove. Other ancient Fathers, consider this star an angel of the Lord, sent specifically to the Magi to lead them to our Savior. Still others consider it an actual star specifically created to announce the birth of God in the flesh.

Whatever this star was, it was the light that led Gentiles, as by means, to the Savior. This is why Epiphany has always had an evangelical nature. The texts for this season, call all peoples out of darkness, into the Saving Light. Jesus reveals Himself, or manifests, or enlightens Himself, to the whole world, at the Temple as a boy, in the waters of His Baptism, at the wedding at Cana--His first miracle--through the healing of the leper and the Centurion's servant, through the calming of the wind and the waves, and as the eternal judge between wheat and tare on the Last Day, Jesus reveals that He is the God who dwells in man's flesh. And at His Transfiguration, He fully manifests that He is the true Light of the World as His clothes shine like no fuller* on earth could launder.

Then having learned that Jesus is God in the flesh, we are called to work in His vineyard, that is called into the Church. In the Church we hear the Word of God planted into our ears, as the Sower, through the voice of His Minister, sows the seed, and by that seed He heals us of our blindness, and opens our eyes, so that we are no longer blind and living in darkness, but now see clearly the Light of our salvation.

Having gained the sight of salvation, we are led through the valley of temptation, and through the onslaught of the powers of sin, death, and the devil, all the way to the cross, where the Light, becomes for us, Life.

Today our King comes to us, showers His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation upon us abundantly, and reveals to us and all the world, that He is the one True Lord and Savior of all the world. So rejoice! Bend the knee! Worship and adore your Savior King.

~~~~~

The only Son from heaven,
Foretold by ancient seers,
By God the Father given,
In human form appears.
No sphere his light confining,
No star so brightly shining
As he, our Morning Star.

~~~~~

*A "fuller" is a launderer.

Deacon Dulas is ordained into the pastorate and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (eldona.org).  In his own words, "My call is to serve as deacon and missionary-at-large to MN and WI at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tony, WI.  We are starting a mission here in Mayer, MN, and the surrounding area called St. Matthew Ev. Luth. Mission."

The Epiphany of our Lord: A Pledge of Peace from God I See

The "chorales" are the unique hymn contributions of the Lutheran movement to the Church Universal.

These include:

• A Mighty Fortress (Ein Feste Burg)
  
• Savior of the Nations, Come (Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland)
  
• Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice (Nun Freut Euch)
• Lord, Let at Last Thine Angels Come (which is Stanza 3 of "Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart, aka Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr)
  

The "King of the Chorales" is "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying."  It is sometimes called "Sleepers, Wake!" and is also known by it's German title Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme.  This is often sung on the Last Sunday of the Church Year.  In the 1-year lectionary, the Gospel reading is the Wise and Foolish Virgins, and this hymn goes nicely with that text.

You can check out posts for this hymn here at All for Hymn: Stanza 1, Stanza 2, Stanza 3, Stanza 3, and Stanza 3.  There was a lot of material for Stanza 3!

Over at Lutheran Time Out, you can hear the English translation and view the text and tune.

The "Queen of the Chorales" is "How Lovely Shines the Morning Star."  It is also known in LSB as "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright" and by its German title Wie Schön Leuchtet Der Morgenstern.

This week's Lutheran Time Out features a broadcast of the English translation and also a PDF of the text and tune of the TLH version.

Here at All for Hymn, please enjoy these choral and instrumental versions.

Here is JS Bach (BWV 1),

complete with the printed music

so you can follow along.

Improvisation from St. Mark's Church, Hannover, Germany

Johann Pachelbel and the organ at Grosshartmannsdorfe

Straight-up vocal arrangement of JS Bach by a youth choir

Vocal arrangement with organ accompaniment

Organ Improvisation

Organ Setting by Danish Composer Niels W. Gabe

Max Reger: Fugue from the Chorale Fantasy

(The German text comes across the screen

when the melody is introduced)

Finally, a repost of this gem by Max Reger,

which is followed by "Jerusalem, Thou City Fair and Bright"