Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

"Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern"
Hymn by Philipp Nicolai
First publication in Nicolai's 1599 Frewdenspiegel deß ewigen Lebens
English	How lovely shines the morning star
Text	by Philipp Nicolai
Language	German
Published	1599 (1599)
Tune

"Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (How lovely shines the morning star) is a hymn by Philipp Nicolai written in 1597 and first published in 1599. The hymn for Pentecost "O Heilger Geist, kehr bei uns ein" by Michael Schirmer () is sung to the same tune.

The words in seven stanzas are based on , a mystical wedding song. Jesus is identified with the morning star, according to , and with the bridegroom of the psalm. Nicolai wrote the words in response to a pestilence in 1597. He published the chorale first in 1599 in his book Frewdenspiegel deß ewigen Lebens ("Mirror of Joy of the Life Everlasting") in Frankfurt, together with "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme". He introduced it: "Ein Geistlich Brautlied der Gläubigen Seelen / von Jesu Christo irem himlischen Bräutgam: Gestellt ober den 45. Psalm deß Propheten Dauids" (A spiritual bridal song of the believing soul / concerning Jesus Christ, her heavenly bridegroom, founded on the 45th Psalm of the prophet David). This hymn is often referred to as "The Queen of Chorales".

The chorale theme "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" was codified then, but research by C. S. Terry has shown the tune to predate Nicolai's publication by at least 61 years.

The chorale appeared as a hymn in German hymnals and in several translations in English hymnals, starting with How bright appears the Morning Star! by John Christian Jacobi, in his , 1722, p. 90. Additional hymns were written on the same tune such as "O heilger Geist, kehr bei uns ein" of Michael Schirmer (1640).

The words, speaking of "süße musica" (sweet music) in verse 6, and the melody have inspired composers to vocal and instrumental settings.

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern was seized upon by many of the composers of the period. Dieterich Buxtehude used it (BuxWV223), as did Johann Kuhnau. Michael Praetorius published a setting in Polyhymnia Caduceatrix et Panegyrica (1618–19, Wolfenbütte).