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"Stern über Bethlehem"
Christmas carol by Alfred Hans Zoller
Sternsinger Waldkirch 2014.jpg
Star singers, who frequently sing the song, in 2014
English Star above Bethlehem
Language German
Published 1964 (1964)

Stern über Bethlehem (which means "Star above Bethlehem" in German) is a special Christmas carol. Alfred Hans Zoller wrote this song in 1964. It is part of a style called Neues Geistliches Lied, which means "New Sacred Song."

Many star singers often sing this song around Epiphany. Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6th. The song has become very popular and is found in many German hymnals and songbooks.

How the Song Was Made

The Composer: Alfred Hans Zoller

Alfred Hans Zoller, who wrote "Stern über Bethlehem," was a talented musician. He played jazz piano and also worked as a church musician. He even started a gospel choir in a town called Reutti, near Neu-Ulm, Germany.

Zoller wanted to bring new, modern gospel music into church services. In 1964, he wrote both the words and the tune for "Stern über Bethlehem." He created it for a special competition.

A Competition for New Music

The competition was held by the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing. Its goal was to encourage new church songs for younger people. These songs often included elements of jazz and other fun music styles.

"Stern über Bethlehem" quickly became popular, especially with children's choirs. It was added to many important church songbooks. This includes the Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch and the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob.

Star Singers and the Song

The song is often sung by star singers. These are children and teenagers who dress up as the Three Kings or wise men. They go from house to house, singing songs and collecting money. The money they collect helps support projects that help people in need around the world.

The song's title, "Stern über Bethlehem," was even used for a collection of Christmas songs for guitar.

What the Song Is About

New Church Music

"Stern über Bethlehem" is part of the Neues Geistliches Lied movement. This movement helped to bring new, fresh music into German churches. It was inspired by the Second Vatican Council, which was a big meeting that updated many parts of the Catholic Church.

The Story of the Star

The song's words are based on a famous Bible story. It tells about the wise men (sometimes called kings) who followed a bright star. This star led them to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

Star singers act out this story. They dress up like the wise men and travel through villages, singing songs around Epiphany.

The Star's Message

In the song, the journey of the wise men becomes a spiritual journey. The star is asked to "show us the way" (zeig uns den Weg). In the last part of the song, the star is asked to shine at home too. This reminds everyone of the special visit to Bethlehem long ago.

How the Words Are Written

The German words are short and clear. There are four parts, called stanzas, and each has four lines. Most of the words have only one or two syllables. The phrase "Stern über Bethlehem" starts the first and last line of every stanza. This gives the song a strong, clear structure.

The song is often used in nativity plays for Christmas or Epiphany church services. It can also be sung during other parts of the service.

The Music and How It Sounds

The Melody

The tune of "Stern über Bethlehem" is a good example of German music from after World War II. It is simple and clear, focusing on the main musical ideas. Each line of the song has an interesting rhythm. It feels like it speeds up and slows down, which makes the song feel light and joyful.

The melody sounds great with instruments like flutes and percussion (drums and other rhythm instruments).

Other Versions

A church musician named Friedemann Schaber created a special harmony for the song in 2005. Interestingly, the melody of "Stern über Bethlehem" was also used in 2004 for an English pop song called "She" by the group Groove Coverage.

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