View source for Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

{{Short description|Chorale by Philipp Nicolai}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| name                = "{{Langr|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}}"
| type                = [[Lutheran hymn]]
| image               = Freudenspiegel deß ewigen Lebens 409.jpg
| alt                 =
| caption             = First publication in Nicolai's 1599 ''Frewdenspiegel deß ewigen Lebens''
| catalogue           = [[Zahn number|Zahn]]&nbsp;8359
| translation         = How lovely shines the morning star
| text                = by [[Philipp Nicolai]]
| written             = {{Start date|1597}}
| language            = German
| melody              = by Nicolai, reminiscent of a 1538 tune
| published           = {{Start date|1599}}
| misc                = {{Audio|(Aurel von Bismarck) EG 70 Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern.mp3|Tune (organ)}}
}}
"'''{{Langr|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}}'''" ({{IPA|de|viː ʃøːn ˈlɔɪ̯çtət deːɐ̯ ˈmɔʁɡn̩ˌʃtɛʁn|-|De-Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern.ogg}}; How lovely shines the morning star) is a [[Lutheran hymn]] by [[Philipp Nicolai]] written in 1597 and first published in 1599. It inspired musical settings through centuries, notably Bach's chorale cantata {{Lang|de|[[Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1|''Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern'', BWV 1]]|italic=unset}}, but also vocal and instrumental works by Baroque composers, [[Peter Cornelius]], [[Felix Mendelssohn]], [[Max Reger]], [[Hugo Distler]], [[Ernst Pepping]], [[Mauricio Kagel]] and [[Naji Hakim]].
== History ==
Nicolai wrote the text in response to a [[Black Death|pestilence]] in 1597.{{sfn|Julian|1907}} The hymn, in seven [[stanza]]s,{{sfn|Stalmann|2000|p=42}} is based on [[Psalm 45]], a mystical wedding song. Jesus is identified with the [[Titles of Jesus#Bright and Morning Star|morning star]], according to {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Revelation|chapter=22|verse=16}}, and with the bridegroom of the psalm. The initials of the seven stanzas form the same [[acrostic]] as the full name of Nicolai's pupil '''W'''ilhelm '''E'''rnst '''G'''raf '''u'''nd '''H'''err '''z'''u '''W'''aldeck: 1) '''W'''ie schön, 2) '''E'''y meine Perl, ... 6) '''Z'''wingt die Saiten, 7) '''W'''ie bin ich.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guided tour of the Stiftskirche Tübingen |url=https://www.stiftskirche-tuebingen.de/stiftskirche-st-georg/virtueller-rundgang/epitaphien/}}</ref>
Nicolai published the hymn first in 1599 in his collection {{Lang|de|Frewdenspiegel deß ewigen Lebens}} ("Mirror of Joy of the Life Everlasting") in Frankfurt, together with "{{Lang|de|[[Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme]]|italic=no}}".{{sfn|Fischer|2006}} He introduced it: "{{Lang|de|Ein Geistlich Brautlied der Gläubigen Seelen / von Jesu Christo irem himlischen Bräutgam: Gestellt ober den 45. Psalm deß Propheten Dauids}}"{{sfn|Stalmann|2000|p=42}} (A [[Epithalamium|spiritual bridal song]] of the believing soul / concerning Jesus Christ, her heavenly bridegroom, founded on the 45th Psalm of the prophet David).{{sfn|Julian|1907}}
== Tune ==
The [[hymn tune]] of "{{Langr|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}}", [[Zahn number|Zahn No.]]&nbsp;8359, was codified then as a creation of Nicolai.{{sfn|Zahn|1892}} [[Charles Sanford Terry (historian)|C. S. Terry]] claimed in an article in 1917 that the melody was at least 61 years older than Nicolai's publication.{{sfn|Terry|1917}} Joachim Stalmann wrote in 2000 that Nicolai's melody is reminiscent ("hat Anklänge") of a 1538 melody published in the [[Genevan Psalter|Strasbourg Psalter]] in 1539 with the song "Jauchzet dem Herren alle Land", possibly by Jakob Dachser.{{sfn|Stalmann|2000|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=H8xdPdRolGgC&pg=PA43 43]}}
== Translations ==
The hymn appeared in several translations in English hymnals, beginning with "How bright appears the Morning Star!" by [[John Christian Jacobi]], in his ''[[Scores:Psalmodia Germanica (Jacobi, Johann Christian)|Psalmodica Germanica]]'', 1722, p.&nbsp;90.{{sfn|Julian|1907}} The first stanza, in an anonymous English translation beginning "How splendid shines the morning star", appeared in the ''Southern Harmony'', an 1835 shape-note tunebook compiled by William Walker, where it is set to a tune called ''Morning Star'' by composer J. C. Lowry. This arrangement is repeated in ''An American Christmas Harp'', with the addition of two more stanzas in a translation by William Mercer (1811–1873).{{sfn|Hymnary en|2022}} The hymn has been referred to as the "Queen of Chorales".{{sfn|Renick|1961}}
== Musical settings ==
The words, speaking of {{Lang|de|süße musica}} (sweet music) in the sixth stanza, and the melody have inspired composers to vocal and instrumental settings. Other hymns to Nicolai's tune include "{{Lang|de|O heilger Geist, kehr bei uns ein|italic=no}}" by Michael Schirmer (1640).{{sfn|Fischer|2006}}{{sfn|Hymnary Heil'ger Geist|2022}}
=== Vocal works ===
"{{Lang|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern|italic=no}}" was seized upon by many composers of the period. [[Dieterich Buxtehude]] used it (BuxWV223), as did [[Johann Kuhnau]]. [[Michael Praetorius]] published a setting in {{Lang|la|Polyhymnia Caduceatrix et Panegyrica}} (1618–19, Wolfenbüttel).{{sfn|Guillotel-Nothmann|Ceulemans|2020}}
[[Johann Sebastian Bach]] based his 1725 [[Chorale cantata (Bach)|chorale cantata]] {{Lang|de|[[Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1|''Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern'', BWV 1]]|italic=unset}}, on the complete hymn.{{sfn|Bach Digital BWV 1|2022}} He used single stanzas in [[Four-part harmony|four-part settings]] for other cantatas: the fourth stanza as the closing chorale of {{Lang|de|[[Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172|''Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten!'' BWV 172]]|italic=unset}},{{sfn|Bach Digital 172|2022}} the fifth stanza in {{Lang|de|[[Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37|''Wer da gläubet und getauft wird'', BWV 37]]|italic=unset}}, the sixth stanza in {{Lang|de|[[Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36|''Schwingt freudig euch empor'', BWV 36]] |italic=unset}}, and the seventh stanza to close {{Lang|de|[[Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49|''Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen'', BWV 49]]|italic=unset}}. The final lines of the seventh stanza form the closing chorale of {{Lang|de|[[Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61|''Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland'', BWV 61]]|italic=unset}}.
[[Wilhelm Friedemann Bach]] composed a cantata {{Lang|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}} (F 82). [[Christian Geist]] set the words for [[soprano]], two violins, [[viola da gamba]] and [[basso continuo]].{{sfn|Fischer|2006}}
[[File:DieKoenige.ogg|thumb|"Die Könige", from: ''Weihnachtslieder'' Opus 8,3]]
In 1870 [[Peter Cornelius]] published his second version of “[[The Three Kings|Die Könige]]” (The kings), as part of six [[Weihnachtslieder, Op. 8 (Cornelius)|''Weihnachtslieder'', Op. 8]], a song for solo voice and piano. He used the "Wie schön" melody for the accompaniment of his own vocal melody. The song was later reworked into an [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]] anthem in English for solo voice and chorus in which the soloist sings the text "Three Kings from Persian lands afar..." (using Cornelius's original tune) over the choir which performs the chorale setting from Cornelius's original piano accompaniment. A version of "The Three Kings" is included in the first volume of the popular [[David Willcocks|Willcocks]] and [[Reginald Jacques|Jacques]] compilation ''[[Carols for Choirs]]''.
''[[Christus (Mendelssohn)|Christus]]'' is the title given by the composer's brother Paul to fragments of an unfinished [[oratorio]] by [[Felix Mendelssohn]], published posthumously as Op. 97.{{sfn|Todd|2003}} The completed portions include a four-part setting of the chorale tune in the chorus "There Shall a Star from Jacob Shine Forth."
[[Hugo Distler]] treated the tune both instrumentally as well as vocally, with an a cappella arrangement for four voices. [[Mauricio Kagel]] quoted the stanza "Zwingt die Saiten in Cythara" in his oratorio ''[[Sankt-Bach-Passion]]'' telling [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach's]] life, composed for the tricentenary of Bach's birth in 1985.
=== Instrumental works ===
Bach wrote several [[chorale prelude]]s for [[Pipe organ|organ]] on the chorale. Bach's student [[Johann Ludwig Krebs]] wrote a prelude on the chorale tune. So did [[Johann Pachelbel|Pachelbel]] in his ''[[Erster Theil etlicher Choräle#Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern|Erster Theil etlicher Choräle]]''. Pachelbel's student [[Johann Heinrich Buttstett]] composed a chorale setting for organ as well. [[Dieterich Buxtehude]] also wrote a [[chorale fantasia]] {{Lang|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}} (BuxWV 223).
[[Felix Mendelssohn]] used this theme as [[cantus firmus]] in one of his early fugues for string quartet, MWV R 12, composed in 1821 when he was age 12, as a [[Counterpoint|contrapuntal]] composition exercise when studying with [[Carl Friedrich Zelter]].<ref>{{IMSLP|work=12 Fugues for String Quartet (Mendelssohn, Felix)|cname=12 Fugues for String Quartet (Mendelssohn, Felix)}}</ref>
In 1899 [[Max Reger]] composed an organ fantasy on "{{Lang|de|Wie schön leucht't uns der Morgenstern|italic=no}}", the first of two, [[Zwei Choralphantasien, Op. 40|''Zwei Choralphantasien'', Op. 40]].{{sfn|Fischer|2006}} He also wrote in 1902 a chorale prelude, No. 49 in his collection of [[52 Chorale Preludes, Op. 67]]. [[Ernst Pepping]] wrote in 1933 a [[partita]], "{{Lang|de|Partita über den Choral 'Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}}'".{{sfn|Ernst Pepping Gesellschaft|2004}} [[Hugo Distler]] composed a prelude for organ entitled {{Lang|de|Vorspiel und Satz 'Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern'}}, as part of his Op. 8, No. 3, published in 1938.<ref>{{IMSLP|work=Kleine Orgelchoral-Bearbeitungen, Op.8 No.3 (Distler, Hugo) |cname=Kleine Orgelchoral-Bearbeitungen, Op.8 No.3 (Distler, Hugo)}}</ref>
In 1954 [[Jan Koetsier]] composed the "Partita for English Horn and Organ" Op. 41, No. 1, which includes the melody played by the [[English horn]] over an organ accompaniment in the final movement. [[Howard Hanson]] used the choral tune as the basis for his orchestral work "Dies Natalis" (1967). In 1974 [[Gloria Coates]] composed {{Lang|de|Phantasie über 'Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern'}} for amplified viola and organ. [[Rolf Schweizer|Rolf Schweitzer]] wrote in 1983 a meditative work for organ, {{Lang|de|Orgelmeditation 'Morgenstern'}}.{{sfn|Fischer|2006}}
Australian composer, [[Graeme Koehne]], referenced the chorale in a work titled ''To His servant Bach God grants a final glimpse; the morning star'' (1989).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Repertoire list 2018 Barker College Europe Music Tour |url=https://www.barker.college/media/1684/programme.pdf |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Barker College}}</ref> [[Naji Hakim]] composed in 2008 {{Lang|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}}, [[Variation (music)|variations]] for oboe (flute, violin) and organ.{{sfn|Schott Music|2010}} Organist and composer [[List of compositions by Paul Manz|Paul Manz]] also created a chorale setting for organ and solo instrument called "How Lovely Shines the Morning Star" (2009).{{sfn|Stretta|2022}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=How lovely shines the Morning Star: for organ and solo instrument |date=2009 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/466625776 |place=Fenton, MO |publisher=MorningStar Music |oclc=466625776 |access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist|20em}}
=== Cited sources ===
* {{cite journal
| last1 = Guillotel-Nothmann
| first1 = Christophe
| last2 = Ceulemans
| first2 = Anne-Emmanuelle
| title = Praetorius' Polyhymnia caduceatrix (1619): Diatonische Logik und Skalenlogik in mehrchörigen und konzertierenden Werken des Frühbarocks
| journal = Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie
| volume = 17
| issue = 2
| date = 23 December 2020
| issn = 1862-6742
| doi = 10.31751/1073
| pages = 51–93
| s2cid = 234508103
| url = https://www.gmth.de/zeitschrift/artikel/1073.aspx
| language = de
| access-date = 9 January 2022
| doi-access = free
}}
* {{cite web
| last = Fischer
| first = Michael
| url = http://www.lyrik-und-lied.de/ll.pl?kat=typ.show.song&cmd=&sf=1&ds=1786&fs=s
| title = Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
| work = Freiburger Anthologie Lied und Lyrik
| date = 2006
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120309222551/http://www.lyrik-und-lied.de/ll.pl?kat=typ.show.song&cmd=&sf=1&ds=1786&fs=s
| language = de
| access-date = 27 July 2010
| archive-date = 2012-03-09
}}
* {{cite web
| last = Julian
| first = John
| url = http://www.hymnary.org/person/Nicolai_P
| title = Nicolai, Philipp, 1556–1608
| website = hymnary.org
| date = 1907
| access-date = 28 July 2010
}}
* {{cite web
| last = Renick
| first = Paul Winston
| title = The treatment of the chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" in organ compositions from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century
| url = https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc798419/m2/1/high_res_d/1002774460-Renick.pdf
| type = Thesis for Master of Music
| publisher = [[University of North Texas|North State Texas College]]
| location = Denton, TX
| page = 10
| date = 1961
| quote = Both have remained popular to the present day, the former being referred to as the "King of Chorales" and the latter, as the "Queen of Chorales".}}
* {{cite book
| last = Stalmann
| first = Joachim
| editor1-last = Hahn
| editor1-first = Gerhard
| editor2-last = Henkys
| editor2-first = Jürgen
| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=H8xdPdRolGgC&pg=PA42
| chapter = Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
| title = Liederkunde zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch
| publisher = [[Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht]]
| language = de
| date = 2000
| isbn = 978-3-52-550325-6
| pages = 42–52
}}
* {{cite journal
| last = Terry
| first = C. Sanford
| author-link = Charles Sanford Terry (historian)
| title = A Note on the Tune, "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern"
| journal = [[The Musical Times]]
| volume = 58
| number = 893
| date = 1 July 1917
| pages = 302–303
| doi = 10.2307/908419
| jstor = 908419
| url = https://zenodo.org/record/2388947
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Todd
| first = R. Larry
| date = 2003
| title = Mendelssohn: a Life in Music
| publisher =
| pages = 554–556
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Zahn
| first = Johannes
| author-link = Johannes Zahn
| date = 1892
| title = [[scores:Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (Zahn, Johannes)|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder]]
| volume = V
| location = Gütersloh
| publisher = [[Bertelsmann]]
| language = de
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/1508287113bsb11304503/page/n136 129]–[https://archive.org/details/1508287113bsb11304503/page/n137 130]
}}
* {{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000001?lang=en
| title = Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BWV 1; BC A 173
| website = [[Bach Digital]]
| date = 15 February 2022
| access-date = 17 February 2022
| ref = {{sfnref|Bach Digital BWV 1|2022}}
}}
* {{cite web
| url         = https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000207?lang=en
| title       = Erschallet, ihr Lieder [Weimar version] BWV 172.1; BWV 172; BC A 81a
| publisher   = [[Bach Digital]]
| date        = 2022
| access-date = 18 February 2022
| ref         = {{sfnref|Bach Digital 172|2022}}
}}
* {{cite web
| url = http://werk.pepping-gesellschaft.de/Orgel/4.htm
| title = Partita über den Choral "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern"
| language = de
| date = 2004
| publisher = Ernst Pepping Gesellschaft
| ref = {{sfnref|Ernst Pepping Gesellschaft|2004}}
}}
* {{cite web
| url = https://hymnary.org/text/how_splendid_shines_the_morning_star
| title = How splendid shines the morning star
| website = hymnary.org
| date = 2022
| access-date = 18 February 2022
| ref = {{sfnref|Hymnary en|2022}}
}}
* {{cite web
| url = http://www.hymnary.org/text/o_heilger_geist_kehr_bei_uns_ein_und_las?sort=text-publicationDate
| title = O Heil'ger Geist! kehr bei uns ein, Und laß uns deine Wohnung sein
| website = hymnary.org
| date = 2022
| access-date = 18 February 2022
| ref = {{sfnref|Hymnary Heil'ger Geist|2022}}
}}
* {{cite web
| url = https://en.schott-music.com/shop/wie-schoen-leuchtet-der-morgenstern-no251195.html
| title = Naji Hakim: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
| access-date = 28 July 2010
| publisher = [[Schott Music]]
| ref = {{sfnref|Schott Music|2010}}
}}
* {{cite web
| url = https://www.stretta-music.com/en/manz-how-lovely-shines-the-morning-star-nr-913899.html
| title = Paul Manz (1919 – 2009) / How Lovely Shines the Morning Star
| website = stretta-music.com
| access-date = 28 July 2010
| ref = {{sfnref|Stretta|2022}}
}}
== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
* {{Wikisourcelang-inline|de|Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern}}
* {{IMSLP|work=Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (Anonymous)|cname=''Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern''}}
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale015-Eng3.htm Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, text and translation] Bach Cantatas Website (2005)
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Z8359.htm Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern] Bach Cantatas Website
{{German Lutheran hymns}}
{{Hymns and songs based on Psalms}}
{{Epiphany}}
{{Lutheran hymns with English texts}}
{{Hymn tunes by Zahn number}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern}}
[[Category:16th-century hymns in German]]
[[Category:Lutheran hymns based on Psalms]]
[[Category:Hymn tunes]]
[[Category:1597 works]]