This edition was prepared by Charles Pearson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Christ, der du bist der helle Tag
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SAB · Charles Pearson
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Christ, der du bist der helle Tag by Hugo Distler — Lyrics
1. Christ, der du bist der helle Tag,
vor dir die Nacht nicht bleiben mag,
du leuchtes uns vom Vater her
und bist des Lichtest Prediger.
2. Ach lieber Herr, behüt uns heint
in dieser Nacht vor'm bösen Feind
und laß uns in dir ruhen fein
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About Christ, der du bist der helle Tag
Hugo Distler’s SAB setting of Christ, der du bist der helle Tag unfolds with a gentle, flowing character. The voices interweave to create a sense of peaceful devotion, mirroring the text’s plea for protection and light. The German lyrics, based on a 15th-century Latin original and set by Erasmus Alber, invoke Christ as the bright day who banishes the night. The choir sings of Christ’s illuminating presence, a beacon from the Father. The motet then moves into a prayer for protection against the adversary during the night, asking for rest in Christ and safety from Satan. The final stanza expresses trust in divine protection through guardian angels, concluding with praise to the Holy Trinity for all eternity. Distler's sensitive treatment of this sacred text offers a moving devotional experience.
