Posted on 12/02/2011 2:24:22 PM PST by NYer
Ping!
Thank you :)
I can't disagree. It's certainly in the top two, along with Veni Veni Emmanuel.
We have these two hymns in our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book, as "Savior of the Nations, Come" (332) and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (357).
Emmanuel is my favorite.
ML/NJ
I love that one as well.
I love them both but Emmanuel sits just a tad higher IMO.
My favorite recording of the tune is by the Trinity Choir
Here are the words:
STAR OF THE EAST
Star of the East, oh Bethlehem's star,
Guiding us on to heaven afar.
Sorrow and grief are lulled by thy light.
Thou hope of each mortal, in death's lonely night.
Fearless and tranquil, we look up to Thee,
Knowing thou beam'st through eternity.
Help us to follow where Thou still dost guide
Pilgrims of earth so wise.
Oh star that leads to God above.
Whose rays are peace, and joy, and love.
Watch o'er us still till life hath ceased.
Beam on, bright star, sweet Bethlehem’s star.
Star of the East, thou hope of the soul.
While round us here the dark billows roll.
Lead us from sin to glory afar,
Oh, star of the East, thou sweet Bethlehem's star.
Being a jazz/blues fan, I like “O, Little Town of Bethlehem” as it lends itself to 1/16th stops and even 32nd notes.
While making it jazz worthy, it still comes across as reverent (in an American style).
Written 400 ad?
Amazing, even older than “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, and that one is OLD also, going back to the dark ages.
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,
Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt,
Des sich wundert alle Welt,
Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt.
Words with a strictly literal translation here: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale016-Eng3.htm
An interesting setting here:
The segue into pop at around the 5 minute mark is hideous . . . but until they get to that awful stuff, it's a wonderful, atmospheric setting. Just listen to the first 5 minutes and then turn it off.
More traditional version:
Of course, there's also a whole Bach cantata, but that's a different story.
My favorites: Veni Emmanuel, Conditor Alme Siderum (Creator of the Stars of Night), On Jordan's Bank.
Hate to disagree with Msgr, Pope, but the best—THE BEST—Advent hymn is “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. The guys in my mens group like it so much, they want to sing it year round.
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I especially like the version by John Michael Talbot:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni6WuAX1fKE
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1. Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
2. King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood;
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.
3. Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
4. At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!
True, but I have a hard time relegating Philip Nicolai’s “Wake, awake, for night is flying” (aka “the King of chorales) to third place.
You would really like Chip Davis's arrangement on one of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums...done on electric piano in 40's blues style.
Enjoyed that! Thanks for sharing this link.
Wachet auf is truly a great hymn, but since it is not in the Advent section of our hymnal--it's under "End Times"--I did not consider it for this thread.
Loved your link. In looking at it also saw this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng_79a_Zia4&feature=related
Star of The East (Christmas old time fiddle)
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