Anyone know a hymn tune for this text? ("The Star of Morn to Night Succeeds")
  • John_F_ChurchJohn_F_Church
    Posts: 55
    This is Cardinal Newman's poetic translation of the hymn "Iam lucis ordo sidere" from the Office of Prime (as found in the Little Office of Baltimore.)

    It is a tricky one!

    There are five (5) stanzas,
    the odd ones are in 8.6.8.6,
    whereas the even ones are in 8.8.8.8.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    THE star of morn to night succeeds;
     We therefore meekly pray,
    May God, in all our words and deeds,
     Keep us from harm this day.

    May He in love restrain us still
    From tones of strife and words of ill,
    And wrap around and close our eyes
    To earth's absorbing vanities.

    May wrath and thoughts that gender shame
     Ne'er in our breasts abide,
    And painful abstinences tame
     Of wanton flesh the pride;

    So when the weary day is o'er,
    And night and stillness come once more,
    Blameless and clean from spot of earth
    We may repeat with reverent mirth—

    To God the Father glory be,
     And to His Only Son,
    And to the Spirit, One and Three,
     While endless ages run. Amen.
    _____________________________________________________________________

    Any ideas? Might have to make my own if I can't find any (lol.) Thanks!
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,117
    If no suitable tune for the original meter can be found (given that it has an odd number of verses, so 8.8.8.8.8.6.8.6. won't work, not that there's much in that meter), I'd be tempted to "alt" it by squaring it up - and pair it with DANBY:

    THE star of morn to night succeeds;
     We therefore *now do* meekly pray,
    May God, in all our words and deeds,
     Keep us from *ev'ry* harm this day.

    May He in love restrain us still
    From tones of strife and words of ill,
    And wrap around and close our eyes
    To earth's absorbing vanities.

    May wrath and thoughts that gender shame
     Ne'er in our *inmost* breasts abide,
    And painful abstinences tame
     Of wanton flesh the *sin[s] of* pride;

    So when the weary day is o'er,
    And night and stillness come once more,
    Blameless and clean from spot of earth
    We may repeat with reverent mirth—

    To God the Father glory be,
     And to *the Father's* Only Son,
    And to the Spirit, One and Three,
     While *sempiternal* ages run. Amen.

    DANBY in the 1906 English Hymnal: https://hymnary.org/page/fetch/EH1906/416/high

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgDtklcOL44
    Thanked by 4CHGiffen tomjaw John_F_Church Patricia Cecilia
  • GerardH
    Posts: 481
    How about pairing a CM and an LM tune? A functional (but probably not recommended) option could be ST THOMAS and ROCKINGHAM, both in E-flat.

    It might work better to have the LM tune in the dominant of the CM one to give the effect of a perfect-cadence-style resolution into the final verse.
    Thanked by 2John_F_Church Patricia Cecilia
  • John_F_ChurchJohn_F_Church
    Posts: 55
    Hello all, resurrecting this old thread because after literally two years I may have found something that works. I took Gerard's advice about combining two hymns. From the tunes DETROIT and SHOUT ON! I have edited both a little bit to make them mesh a little better and make it all feel a bit more organic.

    Would very much welcome feedback. Thanks again!
    The Star of Morn To Night Succeeds 2.pdf
    45K
    Thanked by 2Chrism M. Jackson Osborn
  • GerardH
    Posts: 481
    Bravo! I like how the beginning of the second tune feels like a modulation to the relative major.

    Revisiting my old comment, I think I mistyped and meant to put ST COLUMBA, not ST THOMAS!
    Thanked by 1John_F_Church
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