Tune of the Day: Morning Has Broken
This well-known Christian hymn was first published in 1931 with words by Eleanor Farjeon and a traditional Gaelic tune known as “Bunessan”, from the name of a small village in the south of the island of Mull, on the west coast of Scotland. “Morning Has Broken” shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas carol “Child in the Manger”. Mary M. Macdonald, who lived near Bunessan and who spoke only Gaelic, wrote the hymn to this melody; when the words were later translated into English, the melody was named after the village by the translator.
Pop and folk singer Cat Stevens included a version of “Morning Has Broken” in his 1971 album Teaser and the Firecat. The song became identified with Stevens when it reached number 6 on the US pop chart. The song has also been recorded by numerous other artists, including Neil Diamond, Art Garfunkel and Nana Mouskouri.