Star in the East (Brightest and Best)

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Reginald Heber, 1811

Heber was an Anglican priest and Bishop of Calcutta. His most well-known hymn is Holy, Holy Holy. Star in the East is an Epiphany hymn celebrating Christ with us.

There seem to be a number of different verses and versions of this hymn. It is either titled “Star in the East,” “Brightest and Best of the Son of the Morning,” or “Hail the Blest Morn!” According to hymnologist Hawn, the first line is changed in recent hymnals to “Brightest and best of the stars of the morning” (stars instead of sons).  Some versions omit the entire verse that has “Hail the blest morn!”

TUNE
Southern Harmony, 1835

HymnTime lists 7 different tunes that can be used with this hymn. The most commonly sung is used here and is most often referred to as Southern Harmony, which is actually not listed in HymnTime.

TIDBITS
Hymn history by hymnologist C. Michael Hawn at UMC Discipleship Ministries.

Vocalist: Bec Stewart

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