The original of this most beautiful Sabbath hymn by Benjamin Schmolck (1672-1737; see SDAH 45) was in German and began Licht von Licht, erleuchte mich” (light of light, enlighten me”). It was published in his Andachtige Herze (Devout Hearts), 1714, in seven stanzas. Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878; see Biographies) but with the last stanza omitted, it appeared in her Lyra Germanica, Second series, 1858, titled “For the Sabbath Morning,” and later in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Several other authors made translations but this is considered to be the best. The first appearance in America was in Hymns of the Ages, Second Series, Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1861. Winkworth adds Schmolck’s name, but gives the date as 1731.

The HINCHMAN was composed by a very successful dry-goods merchant who was born June 17, 1834, in Brooklyn, New York. As a young man, Uzziah Christopher Burnap studied music in Paris and later served for 37 years as organist at the Reformed Church in Brooklyn Heights. A composer of many hymn tunes, he also collaborated with John Knowles Paine of Harvard University in compiling Hymns and Songs of Praise, and edited a hymnal for the Reformed Church, Hymns of the Church: with tunes, New York, 1869. He died December 8, 1900.

Notice that the rhythm of two quarter notes followed by two half notes is repeated in each line, and the melody in the first phrase of the second score is repeated at the interval of a third higher, Burnap also arranged SDAH 455 SERENITY.

📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.