Cornelius: The Three Kings (Gerald Finley)

Disclaimer: I do not own this!

Carl August Peter Cornelius (24 December 1824 26 October 1874) was a German composer, writer about music, poet and translator. He was born and died in Mainz where his grave in the Hauptfriedhof survives.
Cornelius played violin and composed lieder from an early age, and began studying composition with Heinrich Esser in 1841. Cornelius lived with his painter uncle Peter von Cornelius in Berlin from 1844 to 1852, during which time he met prominent figures such as Alexander von Humboldt, the Brothers Grimm, Friedrich Rückert and Felix Mendelssohn. During his last few years in Berlin, Cornelius wrote music criticism for several major Berlin journals and entered into friendships with Joseph von Eichendorff, Paul Heyse and Hans von Bülow.
Cornelius's first mature works (including the opera Der Barbier von Bagdad) were composed during his brief stay in Weimar (18521858). His next place of residence was Vienna, where he stayed for five years. It was in Vienna that Cornelius began a friendship with Richard Wagner. It was at Wagner's behest that Cornelius moved to Munich in 1864, where he finally took a wife and fathered four children.
Among many British musicians, his best known work is "The Three Kings", an epiphany 'carol' of which a version is included in the first volume of the popular Willocks and Jacques compilation, Carols for Choirs.

Three kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star :
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the newborn King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

The star shines out with a steadfast ray :
The kings to Bethlehem make their way.
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Marys child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King,
Offer thy heart!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• the
• three
• kings
• cornelius
• christmas
• adagios
• gerald
• finley

[arcticangel48]

I.t raises me to a completely different plane, so beautiful it is. One of the most spine tingling pieces I can think of, and having been a singer myself, it must be ,as previously said, an absolute pig to sing.

[trombonedave43]

It makes me cry its so lovely

[JRZGRL55]

I could listen to Gerald Finley 24/7. He is absolutely amazing. I had the pleasure of seeing him in recital at Spivey Hall last year. Stunning!!

[Reject2humanity]

Truly Beautiful :)

[Eurofrank1]

This piece is technically a sod to sing (voice placement, tuning, range, rhythm etc.) and Gerald does a great job with it. It´s almost unfair to ask the King´s Cambridge lads to sing it!! The only other comparable performance I´ve heard was Sir Tom A. before he was knighted.