Music Tuesday: “Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying”

In yesterday’s Sunday Meditation, which I embedded a video podcast from the Dominican friars, named Godsplaining, Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk brings up an Advent hymn, “Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying,” to make his particular theological point.  You can hear him talk about the hymn from the 20:50 to 22:00 minute mark in the podcast.  I had never heard of that hymn before, and no wonder.  As I researched it turned out to be originally a Lutheran hymn.  If you want to learn its history on how it went from the German composer, Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608), how it was made popular by J. S. Bach, and how it entered the English language, through Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), you can read about it here.  It has a really rich history. 

Here is a very beautiful choral arrangements by the Luther College Nordic Choir.

Very lovely but I think with a choir arrangement the lyrics are somewhat lost to the ear.  So let me embed an acapella rendition by someone named Aunnee Trampe from the Lutheran Songbird Project.  You can follow the lyrics posted below.

The lyrics don’t complete match with her singing, and neither did the choir above.  Perhaps there are alternative versions.

So here are the lyrics:

 

1. Wake, awake, for night is flying; the watchmen on the heights are crying: Awake, Jerusalem, at last! Midnight hears the welcome voices and at the thrilling cry rejoices; come forth, ye virgins, night is past; the Bridegroom comes, awake; your lamps with gladness take: Alleluia! And for his marriage feast prepare, for ye must go and meet him there.

 

2. Zion hears the watchmen singing, and all her heart with joy is springing; she wakes, she rises from her gloom; for her Lord comes down all-glorious, the strong in grace, in truth victorious. Her Star is risen; her Light is come. Ah come, thou blessed One, God's own beloved Son: Alleluia! We follow till the halls we see where thou hast bid us sup with thee.

 

3. Now let all the heavens adore thee, and saints and angels sing before thee, with harp and cymbal's clearest tone; of one pearl each shining portal, where we are with the choir immortal of angels round thy dazzling throne; nor eye hath seen, nor ear hath yet attained to hear what there is ours; but we rejoice and sing to thee our hymn of joy eternally.

 

Words by: Philipp Nicolai;

trans. by Catherine Winkworth

Music by: Philipp Nicolai;

harm. by J.S. Bach

 

Credit to TraditionalHymns: 

 

Now Catholics have not shied away from performing it.  Here is a pretty rendition by the Dominican Sisters of Mary.

Very lovely hymn.  I am glad I was introduced to it.  Happy Advent!