What Star Is This?
Composer
Difficulty
Easy
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Voicing(s)
Instruments
Category
Collections
Instrumental Only?
No
Description
An easy and effective piece for Epiphany (or Lessons and Carols) - especially if your choir is still reeling from Christmas! Based on the Tallis Canon for 3 equal voices. Nice organ part and an optional easy handbell part (only 6 bells!) as well. Richard used this same setting for his festival anthem "Lord, Speak to Me," but unlike that setting, this one uses no brass. All the parts are in the organ. Text by John Chandler.
Audio
Lyrics
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.
’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.
More lovely than the noonday light?
’Tis sent to announce a newborn King,
Glad tidings of our God to bring.
’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.
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.
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!
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!