Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar

Categories: hymns, feast-days, other-churches

Date: 05 January 2009 05:12:58

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, January 6 is Theophany, the Feast of Christ's Baptism revealing Him as Son of God to the World. In the Western Churches January 6 is Epiphany, the Feast of the Wise Men visting Jesus -- and the revelation of Christ as Messiah to the Gentiles. One of my favourite Western choral pieces for the Feast is Peter Cornelius' Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar.

Here is a video from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury in Carols from King's in 2006 and with soloist Rupert Reid.

Solo
Three Kings from Persian lands afar
to Jordan follow the pointing star:
and this the quest of the travellers three,
where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
the kings to Bethlehem make their way,
and there in worship they bend the knee,
as Mary’s child in her lap they see;
their royal gifts they show to the King;
gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
the Kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
offer thy heart to the infant King.

Chorale
How brightly shines the morning star!
With grace and truth from heaven afar
our Jesse tree now bloweth.
Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line,
for thee, my Bridegroom, King divine,
my soul with love o’erfloweth.
Thy word, Jesu, inly feeds us,
rightly leads us, life bestowing.
Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing.

Adoration of the Magi - Albrecht Dürer (b. 1471, Nürnberg, d. 1528, Nürnberg)
1504, Oil on wood, 100 x 114 cm, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
from: Web Gallery of Art