Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

The chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" [How beautifully the morning star shines] by Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) originated as a form of music for regular use in pastoral services at a time full of tensions within religious and social history, but it rose far above these original circumstances, not least because it bore within it signs of an artwork rich in gripping linguistic and melodic interest. This chorale has inspired Catholic and Protestant composers alike to musical adaptations. It runs through the organ literature, new and old, that renowned composers have written for liturgical and concert settings. The ecstatic splendor of the "phosphoros" (Greek for "morning star") shines even in secular symphonic music up to the present.