It would be hard to think of Christmas and not think of the beautiful music that is part of
the Advent-Christmas season.
Morning Star, O Cheering Sight is a traditional hymn that is sung antiphonally on
Christmas Eve, usually with a child soloist and the congregation singing in response, in
most Moravian congregations in the Northern Province.
Johann Scheffler, the author, was born at Breslau in Silesia in 1624, and studied
medicine at the University of Strasburg, then in Holland, and graduated from Padua,
Italy. He became a private physician for a duke, resigning that position in 1652 due to a
conflict with the Duke’s Lutheran court preacher.
In 1653, after becoming acquainted with some Jesuits, he was formally received into the
Roman Catholic communion.
He began writing poems at an early age. The Lutherans in Breslau welcomed his hymns.
They were great favorites among the Moravians, particularly after Count Zinzendorf had
included 79 of them in one of his books in 1727.
Our English translation of Morning Star, O Cheering Sight was produced by Bennet
Harvey, Jr. In our American Moravian hymnals this hymn has been accompanied by a
tune composed by the Rev. Francis Florentine Hagen, who was born in Salem, N.C.
(1815) Hagen played the pipe organ at 12 years old, and as an adult had become skillful
with most musical instruments, especially the violin.
After graduating from Moravian Theological Seminary he located in Nazareth, PA. He
composed the tune for “Morning Star” in 1836 while teaching in the Boys’ School in
Salem, N.C.
He served as pastor of many Moravian congregations in the Southern Province, the
Eastern District (including New Dorp on Staten Island, where Duane Ullrich is presently
pastor), and in Harmony, Iowa in 1875 – a congregation which closed decades ago.
He died at age 92, having become the oldest surviving minister of the Moravian Church in
America. His tune for “Morning Star” had become so well known that it was sung at his
funeral even though that was on July 10.
This year, as you hold your candle and sing this hymn antiphonally with a soloist, you can
remember how long this hymn has been part of our Christmas tradition and musical
heritage.
Have a joyous Christmas celebration.
For your Information:
Pastor Barb’s Office Hours: Monday – Not in office
Tuesday – Friday: 9:30am – 1:00pm.
(Most often)
Also available by appointment
Watertown Moravian Church
From the Pastor
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