長夜星光 The Night Watch – 劉奕朗 LAU Yik Long
長夜星光 The Night Watch
粵語混聲四部合唱、管風琴及室樂團 for SATB chorus, organ and chamber orchestra ( sung in Cantonese)
(香港聖公會聖約翰座堂詩班委約創作 commissioned by St John's Cathedral Choir, Hong Kong)
Recorded in 2022-12-24 St John's Cathedral Midnight Mass
Conducted by Felix YEUNG
Sung by St John's Cathedral Choir with Instrumental Ensemble
曲：劉奕朗 Composed by LAU Yik Long
詞：莫冠文 Text by Adam MOK
英譯: 葉翹瑋 English Translation by Jonathan YIP
我愛向夜空遙望，
寂靜中、萬籟裡，
深邃的幽暗，
似能將焦躁心情
暫時安放。
曾聽聞遠古先知神諭：
必有天上嬰孩降下，
他能宣示真愛，
藉生命滿足眾生渴望，
難道，這星便是世人所望真光？
攜上黃金、沒藥、乳香，
放下思慮、邁步前往，
循那閃爍星光，
期望親見神聖嬰孩模樣。
不在皇宮，不在朝堂，
原來基督竟誕生在陋巷，
貧民窟、窮人堆，
卑微少女懷抱普世希望；
馬槽裡，牛羊隊，
襤褸君王要帶來全地解放！
基督嬰孩請安躺，
你是受苦眾生渴望;
貧病困迫請前往，
齊來朝見萬王之王。
歡然迎接那燦爛星光。
(English Translation)
I lift my eyes to the jet-black shroud above
Where even the Moon has slept, in darker silence
Seek my spirit’s windows two a place
Beyond the veil to rest, unhurried, and calm
The palpitations of my harried heart.
From stirring breeze unfolds an ancient voice:
‘A child shall come: from high-heaven,
A soothfast love his might to show.
His life to quench – all cups to fill.’
And if tonight my soul shall find the Light?
All doubts begone! My steps shall lead me on
For as long as that gleaming dot should guide me so.
My precious gold, frankincense, and myrrh
Will buy me an audience with that holy child.
But no, no palace, no pomp, nor princely court,
That Christ is born at an unlit spot, unkempt,
Unloved by comfort, void of wordly wealth –
Yet shines the spotless hope from humble maiden
Born beside the creatures in that stable dim,
He who comes to liberate: our King.
In silence sleeps the Christ Child in his dreams.
To him we came, the harried host, to seek
That place to rest from worldly toils and care,
To meet our radiant hope, the King of Kings.
I lift my eyes to the morning star above.
Recording courtesy to @StJohnsCathedralHongKong