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LUX PRIMA (Gounod)

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LUX PRIMA (Gounod)

Composer: Charles F. Gounod (1872)
Published in 33 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Sibelius
Audio files: MIDI

Composer: Charles F. Gounod

(no biographical information available about Charles F. Gounod.) Go to person page >

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Tune Information

Composer:	Charles F. Gounod (1872)
Meter:	7.7.7.7.7.7
Incipit:	11132 17153 33543

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Texts

Christ, Whose glory fills the skies

Christ, Whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise!
Triumph o'er the shades of night;
Day-spring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.
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Through the day thy love has spared us

Through the day Thy love has spared us;
Hear us ere the hour of rest:
Through the silent watches guard us,
Let no foe our peace molest;
Jesus, Thou our guardian be;
Sweet it is to trust in Thee.
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All texts published with LUX PRIMA (Gounod)^ top

Alternative Tunes

More tunes with meter 7.7.7.7.7.7 ^ top

Notes

French romanticist composer Charles F. Gounod (PHH 165) wrote LUX PRIMA, which means "first light" in Latin. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, Gounod left his native Paris and settled in England for five years. This sturdy tune was published in the Scottish Hymnary in 1872.

It uses several melodic sequences and builds to a climax in its last line. Sing in parts throughout with moderate to strong accompaniment. RATISBON, the suggested alternate tune, is found with this text in many other hymnals, but its isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) shape doesn't fit this text as well as Gounod's livelier LUX PRIMA.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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