Sun Of Righteousness

Sun Of Righteousness

A Hymn for Christmas Day

Words: From a poem by William Austin (1587-1634), ca. 1630
"All this Night, shrill Chauntecleare"
Devotionis Augustinianae Flamma (1635), p. 52.

Music: William Knapp.

Compare: All This Night, First Line: "All this night bright angels sing"

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 200-201.
Rickert wrote: "From A Handfull of Celestiall Flowers, manuscrib'd by R. Cr. (Ralph Crane), 1632"

1. All this night shrill chanticleer,
Day's proclaiming trumpeter,
    Claps his wings and loudly cries,
    "Mortals, mortals, wake and rise!
            See a wonder
            Heaven is under,
        From the earth is risen a Sun
        Shrines all night though day be done.

2. Wake, O earth, wake everything,
Wake and hear the joy I bring,
    Wake and joy; for all this night
    Heaven and every twinkling light,
            All amazing,
            Still stand gazing,
        Angels, powers and all that be,
        Wake and joy this Sun to see.

3. Hail, O Sun, O blessed Light,
Sent into the world by night,
    Let thy rays and heavenly powers
    Shine in this dark soul of ours;
            For most duly
            Thou art truly
        God and man we do confess.
        Hail, O Sun of Righteousness!"

Note.

This poem was written by William Austin and was published after his death in a collection created by his wife, Devotionis Augustinianae flamma (1635), which included three "Carrols for Christmas Day:"

All this Night, shrill Chauntecleare, p. 52 (adapted as All This Night Bright Angels Sing)
Harke: heare you not a cheereful Noyse, p. 53 (adapted by William Knapp as Hark! Hear You Not A Cheerful, Cheerful Noise)
My Soule; why art thou thus deject? p. 53-54

William Austin, "All this Night, shrill Chauntecleare," from Devotionis Augustinianae flamma, or, Certaine devout, godly, and learned meditations written, by the excellently-accomplisht gentleman, William Austin, of Lincolnes-Inne, Esquire. (London : Printed [by John Legat] for I[ohn] L[egat] and Ralph Mab, 1635), p. 52.

Another musical setting for this poem was written by acclaimed composer Dr. David L. Brunner of the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Chauntecleer was published by Boosey and Hawkes in Choral Music Experience: Holiday Lights by Doreen Rao.

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