What star is this, with beams so bright, More lovely than the noon-day light?

Representative Text

1 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.

2 ’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed,
“From Jacob shall a star proceed;”
And lo! the eastern sages stand
To read in heav'n the Lord’s command.

3 O Jesus, while the star of grace
Impels us on to seek thy face,
Let not our slothful hearts refuse
The guidance of thy light to use.

4 To God the Father, heav'nly Light,
To Christ, revealed in earthly night,
To God the Holy Spirit raise
An endless song of thankful praise!

Source: Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #103

Translator: John Chandler

John Chandler, one of the most successful translators of hymns, was born at Witley in Surrey, June 16, 1806. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, B.A. 1827, M.A. 1830. Ordained deacon in 1831 and priest in 1832, he succeeded his father as the patron and vicar of Whitley, in 1837. His first volume, entitled The Hymns of the Primitive Church, now first Collected, Translated and Arranged, 1837, contained 100 hymns, for the most part ancient, with a few additions from the Paris Breviary of 1736. Four years later, he republished this volume under the title of hymns of the Church, mostly primitive, collected, translated and arranged for public use, 1841. Other publications include a Life of William of Wykeham, 1842, and Horae s… Go to person page >

Author: Charles Coffin

Coffin, Charles, born at Buzaney (Ardennes) in 1676, died 1749, was principal of the college at Beauvais, 1712 (succeeding the historian Rollin), and rector of the University of Paris, 1718. He published in 1727 some, of his Latin poems, for which he was already noted, and in 1736 the bulk of his hymns appeared in the Paris Breviary of that year. In the same year he published them as Hymni Sacri Auctore Carolo Coffin, and in 1755 a complete ed. of his Works was issued in 2 vols. To his Hymni Sacri is prefixed an interesting preface. The whole plan of his hymns, and of the Paris Breviary which he so largely influenced, comes out in his words. "In his porro scribendis Hymnis non tam poetico indulgendunv spiritui, quam nitoro et pietate co… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: What star is this, with beams so bright, More lovely than the noon-day light?
Latin Title: Quem stella sole pulchrior
Author: Charles Coffin (1736)
Translator: John Chandler
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

PUER NOBIS NASCITUR

PUER NOBIS is a melody from a fifteenth-century manuscript from Trier. However, the tune probably dates from an earlier time and may even have folk roots. PUER NOBIS was altered in Spangenberg's Christliches GesangbUchlein (1568), in Petri's famous Piae Cantiones (1582), and again in Praetorius's (P…

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The Cyber Hymnal #7295
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Instances

Instances (1 - 23 of 23)
Text

The Book of Praise #170

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Catholic Book of Worship III #349

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CPWI Hymnal #109

The Covenant Hymnal #196

Ambassador Hymnal #337

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Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #103

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Gather (3rd ed.) #461

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Gather Comprehensive #378

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Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #389

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Glory to God #152

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Hymnal Supplement 1991 #736

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Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #370

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Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #336

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One in Faith #410

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Rejoice in the Lord #227

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RitualSong (2nd ed.) #553

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RitualSong #531

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Singing Our Faith #119

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The Cyber Hymnal #7295

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The Hymnal 1982 #124

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #68

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Worship (3rd ed.) #407

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Worship (4th ed.) #448

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