As the sun doth daily rise

As the sun doth daily rise. Horatio Bolton Nelson* (1823-1913). The origins of this hymn are shrouded in mystery. It was a Latin text, beginning ‘Matutinus altiora’, translated by a ‘J. Masters’. Nothing seems to be known of the Latin text or of its translator. JJ, p. 1579, followed by all commentators, gave the first line of Masters’ translation as ‘As the sun to brighter skies’, and noted that the hymn was described as ‘King Alfred’s Hymn. Words by O.B.C. Music by Dr Smith’. The entry continued ‘There is no proof that any part of the Latin text is by King Alfred, neither have we found the Latin text elsewhere.’ Matters become clearer in 1864 when Masters’ version was altered by Nelson...

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