346

90. The three kings

Words* and music by
P E T E R C O R N E L I U S (1824-74)
Tr. H . N . B A T E
arranged by I V O R A T K I N S
L a n g s a m (Slowly) (1869-1953)
mf
SOLO

1. Three kings from Per - sian lands a - far T o Jor-dan fol-lowthe

+ C H O R A L E Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern

jy) well sustained

TENOR

How bright - ly shines the

pp well sustained

BASS

How bright-ly shines the

point-ing star: A n d this the quest of the tra - vel-lers three. Where the

P _ =

morn - ing star! With grace and

P
morn - ing star! With grace and

m
new-born K i n g o f the Jews m a y _ be. F u l l roy - al gifts they bear for the

truth from heav'n a far Our

truth from heav'n far Our

Chorale text by Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608)
tThe singers should be placed, if possible, at some distance from the soloist.
Also available separately (OCS 1502)
(C) Oxford University Press 1930
 The three kings 347

1 J
K i n g ; Gold, i n - cense, m y r r h are their of - fer - ing. 2. The star shines

i
Jes - se tree now blow - - eth.

Jes - se tree now blow eth.

10

out- with a stead - fast ray; The kings to Beth-le-hem

PP
s.
A.

Of Ja - cob's stem and

i i 1
12

make their way, A n d there in wor-ship they bend the _ knee, As M a - ry's
p ~=poco'

Da -
f
vid's line.
=f=
For thee, my

^poco

14

3
child _ in her_ lap they_ see; Their roy - al gifts they show to the

J P

Bride - groom. King di vme, My

i i
348 The three kings

16

K i n g ; Gold, i n - cense, myrrh are their of - fer - ing._

T
soul with love o'er - flow - - - eth.

i
3

18

Thou child of man, lo, to Beth - le - hem

Thy word,_

Thy. word. thy. word.

pp

20

i
The kings are tra - v'lling,_ tra - vel with them!

Je su,-

Je - su,. Je su,
 The three kings 349

22 poco a poco p i u mosso

The star of mer-cy, the star of grace, Shall lead t h y _ heart to its r e s t - i n g -

3
In - ly feeds us, Right - ly leads us, -

4 j ^ ^
^ r r r I'
2^ *rit. a tempo

place. Gold,in-cense,myrrh thou-canst n o t _ bring;

m
O f - fer thy h e a r t _ to the

Life be - stow _ _ _ jng Praise, O.

H J. Ji
-f '^PLJ &/^"r p-
-ing. Praise, O praise,
Life be stow Praise, O.^
-ing - ^

Praise, O

26

in - fant__ K i n g , Of - fer thy heart!

i'J r
3i
praise such love o'er - flow - mg.

.1

praise such love o'er - flow ing.

*Tempo markings here and in bar 25 have been added according to the original.