The Space Guy helped us out with this carol since he's an expert on stars!
Star of the East (also known as Brightest and Best):
"Brightest and Best" is a Christian hymn written in 1811 by the Anglican bishop Reginald Heber to be sung at the feast of Epiphany which commemorates the arrival of the Wise Men to see the baby Jesus. It appeared in Heber's widow's compilation of hymns entitled Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Service of the Church Year in 1827. It can be sung to a number of tunes, including "Morning Star" by James P. Harding, "Epiphany" by Joseph Thrupp, and "Star in the East" by William Walker. It appears in The Lutheran Hymnal, and appeared in the 1966 Methodist hymnal. It has been recorded by a number of artists, including Glen Campbell, Joanne Hogg, Kathy Mattea (on her album Good News) and John McCutcheon. The Kentucky traditional singer Jean Ritchie often sang this song recalling the childhood memory of her grandmother sitting by the fire and singing it quietly to herself on Twelfth Night. The lyrics (if you're not familiar with the song) are as follows:
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning;
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Several astronomical possibilities have been suggested as to what the star was but none of them are conclusive (although all would be possible). Space Guy has offered this suggestion (and we agree with him!)- it is not so much WHAT kind of celestial event led the Wise Men out of their Persian palaces but WHERE they were led and WHO they saw there. I think our Space Guy might be a Wise Man too.
@bruni Thank you Bruni! I'm glad you liked this one. @randystreat Thank you Kathy! I do hope you get to sing it. I think your choir probably has enough time to squeeze it in if the weather holds out.
@louannwarren Thank you Lou Ann!
@gilbertwood Thank you Denise!
@mittens Thank you Marilyn!
@randystreat Thank you Kathy! I do hope you get to sing it. I think your choir probably has enough time to squeeze it in if the weather holds out.
Thank you Rob and Katy!