How Brightly Shines the Morning Star - Music for Epiphany

How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Music for Epiphany
Brian Fairbanks, flute
Joyce Ramée, viola
Thomas Joyce, J. Melvin Butler, Roger Sherman, organ
Saint Mark's Cathedral Choir (Seattle, WA)
J. Melvin Butler, director

The chorale “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” (“How brightly shines the Morning Star”) is presented on this CD in a wide variety of musical styles, along with other hymns, anthems and voluntaries for the season of Epiphany. J. Melvin Butler directs the cathedral choir in this program of familiar–and unusual–works.

The Season of Epiphany

The liturgical season of Epiphany extends from the Feast of Epiphany (January 6) until Ash Wednesday. The Feast of the Epiphany marks the twelfth and final day of Christmas and commemorates the visit of the Wise Men, or Magi, to the infant Jesus. The Magi are led by a star to Bethlehem and to an encounter with Jesus, an appropriate thematic introduction to a season characterized by light and the ongoing revelation of Christ to his followers.

The Gospel readings for the season of Epiphany recount stories of Jesus’ early ministry as an adult, beginning with the story of Jesus’ baptism on the First Sunday after the Epiphany. In all three accounts of the baptism of Christ, God’s voice is heard saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.” Thus Jesus’ public ministry is set in motion.

The Gospel reading for the last Sunday after Epiphany always tells of the “Transfiguration of Christ,” another pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry, again invoking the themes of light and revelation. Jesus is seen by the apostles Peter, James, and John, in the presence of Elijah and Moses, and his face gleams “brighter than the sun.” Again, God’s voice is heard, saying, “This is my son, the Beloved, listen to him.” The Transfiguration fittingly culminates the Epiphany season as Jesus is more fully revealed to his disciples, takes his place of authority among the great prophets, and presages his journey towards Jerusalem, crucifixion, and resurrection.

H.U. von Balthasar defines an epiphany as “the radiance and splendor which breaks forth in expressive form from a veiled and yet mighty depth of being.” The encounters with Christ that come via the musical stories contained on this CD are in themselves such epiphanies, offering more opportunities for the ongoing revelation of Christ’s presence in our lives.

—Becky Morrill

1  |  Hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise—"Salzburg" (3:34)
             Thomas Joyce, organ
2  |  Voluntary: Chorale Fantasy: “Wie schön leuchtet”—Dieterich Buxtehude (7:00)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
3  |  Anthem: Now there lightens upon us—Leo Sowerby (7:06)
              Thomas Joyce, organ; Joyce Ramée, viola
4  |  Hymn: We Three Kings—"Three Kings of Orient" (4:24)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
              Brian Fairbanks, flute
              Joshua Haberman, Fred McIlroy, Vernon Nicodemus, soloists
5  |  Anthem: The Three Kings—Healey Willan (2:54)
6  |  Hymn: As with gladness men of old—"Dix" (3:57)
              Thomas Joyce, organ

              Brian Fairbanks, flute
7  |  Anthem: Baptism of Christ—Peter Hallock (3:13)
              Tym Mackey, countertenor
8  |  Hymn: Jesus went to Jordon's Stream—"Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" (2:49)
              Thomas Joyce, organ
9  |  Voluntary: Chorale Prelude: “O Heil’ge Geest daal op ons neer”—Jan Zwart (3:01)
              tune: "Wie schön leuchtet"
              Roger Sherman, organ
10 | Anthem: Tribus miraculis—Luca Marenzio (3:08)
11 | Hymn:  Lord God, you now have set your servant free—"Song I" (1:03)
12 | Voluntary: Chorale Prelude: “Wie schön leuchtet”—Helmut Walcha (3:08)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
13 | Hymn: Alleluia, song of gladness—"Tibi, Christe, splendor Patris" (2:35)
              Brian Fairbanks, flute
14 | Anthem: Behold a star from Jacob shining—Felix Mendelssohn (5:57)
              Thomas Joyce, organ
15 | Hymn: O Light of Light, Love given birth— "Elmhurst" (2:17)
              Thomas Joyce, organ
16 | Anthem: In splendenti nube—Peter Philips (3:01)
17 | Hymn: O wondrous type! O vision fair—"Wareham" (3:34)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
18 | Voluntary: Chorale Prelude: “Wie schön leuchtet” —Ludwig Lenel (2:50)
              J. Melvin Butler, organ
19 | Hymn: How bright appears the Morning Star—"Wie schön leuchtet" (3:46)
              J. Melvin Butler

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