Quæ stella sole pulchrior

For Epiphany

Words: Charles Coffin, Paris Breviary (1676-1749), from the Paris Breviary, 1736

English Translations:
 What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Chandler
What Is That Which Shines Afar - Williams
What Beauteous Sun-surpassing Star - Campbell

Music: "Quae Stella," Michael Praetorius
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Source: Carolo Coffin, Hymni Sacri (Paris: Usuum Parisiensium, 1736), pp. 38-39.

    Quæ stella sole pulcrior 
Coruscat ? hæc Regis novi 
Revelat ortus; hæc Dei 
Præsignat ad cunas iter.

    Stat vatibus priscis sides: 
En stella surgit ex Jacob; 
Arrectus ad spectaculum 
Eous orbis emicat.

    Dum sidus admonet foris, 
Lux fulget intus clarior; 
Suadetque vi blandâ Magos 
Signi datorem quærere.

    Segnes amor nescit moras; 
Labor, pericla nil movent: 
Domum, propinquos, patriam, 
Deo vocante, deserunt.

    Micante dum nos allicis, 
O Christe, stellâ gratiæ; 
Ne tarda cœlesti sinas 
Obstare corda lumini.

    Qui lumen est, sit laus Patri: 
Qui se revelat Gentibus
Sit laus perennis Filio:
Par sit tibi laus, Spiritus.

Sheet Music from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #80, p. 125.

"Melody first published in 1604.
Harmonized by M. Prätorius, 1604."

Additional translations include:

What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Version 1
What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Version 2
What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Version 3
What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Version 4
What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Version 5

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