The radiant sun, declining (Joseph Barnby)

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• (Posted 2018-11-17)  CPDL #52151:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2018-11-17).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 65 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transcribed from the edition on IMSLP. Note values halved.

General Information

Title: The radiant sun, declining
Composer: Joseph Barnby
Lyricist:

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn   Meter: 76. 76. D

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1897 in Hymn Tunes, no. 96, p. 50
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

1  The radiant sun, declining,
Will soon have pass’d away,
And silver stars outshining
Make but as transient stay;
O Light! all light excelling,
When sun or stars decline,
Shine forth, our gloom dispelling
With light and joy divine.

2  Like sunbeams, quickly flying
Before the dusky night,
Or stars’ fair lustre, dying
With morning’s clearer light,
So, swift beyond our measure,
Life’s little day speeds on;
A moment’s fleeting pleasure
And light and life are gone.

3  Thou, who in human fashion
Didst render up Thy breath,
And by Thy bitter Passion
Destroy the sting of death;
When life’s brief day is over—
Its toil, its care and sin—
Open Thine arms of mercy,
And take the weary in.

4  O Saviour, be Thou near us
Till all our toil is o’er,
Till heav’nly light shall cheer us,
And night return no more.
So, to the life immortal,
With joy we’ll haste away
And pass thro’ death’s dark portal
To never-ending day.