Advent and Christmas (29): "Die Nacht ist vorgedrungen"

"Die Nacht ist vorgedrungen,
der Tag ist nicht mehr fern.
So sei nun Lob gesungen
dem hellen Morgenstern.
Auch wer zur Nacht geweinet,
der stimme froh mit ein.
Der Morgenstern bescheinet
auch deine Angst und Pein."

This Advent poem was written by theologian Jochen Klepper in 1938 and draws in a consistent style the way of the morning star from the deep darkness into the bright radiant morning light. The melody of the haunting song was written by Johannes Petzold.

Harold Henning (1901-1988) was an organist and church musician in the city center of Stuttgart (Germany). He also worked as a music educator in a nearby lyceum.

His amazing choral prelude „Die Nacht ist vorgedrungen“ starts tender and carefully, as the small first starlight, and raises up to the full organ.