Daily Music for Advent
Note: from 17th to 23rd of December, please visit our The 'O' Antiphons for Advent page.
Note: from 17th to 23rd of December, please visit our The 'O' Antiphons for Advent page.
16th December: Monday in Advent Week Three
O Magnum Mysterium
The choir of Westminster Cathedral sing Morten Lauridsen's stunningly beautiful setting of O Magnum Mysterium.
To follow the lyrics, click on 'Watch on YouTube' and select 'More'.
The choir of Westminster Cathedral sing Morten Lauridsen's stunningly beautiful setting of O Magnum Mysterium.
To follow the lyrics, click on 'Watch on YouTube' and select 'More'.
15th December: The Third Sunday in Advent
Of the Father's Heart Begotten
This ancient hymn is beautifully arranged by Sir David Willcocks and sung by Ely Cathedral Choir.
This ancient hymn is beautifully arranged by Sir David Willcocks and sung by Ely Cathedral Choir.
14th December, Saturday in Advent Week Two
My Soul in Stillness Waits
This gentle hymn is sung here by its composer, contemporary American hymnist, Marty Haugen.
This gentle hymn is sung here by its composer, contemporary American hymnist, Marty Haugen.
13th December: Friday in Advent Week Two
'Comfort ye, my people – every valley shall be exalted', from Handel's Messiah
Sung here by Nicholas Sharratt, tenor soloist
Isaiah gives a message of consolation and calls the people to prepare the way for our God that all may see the glory of the Lord. It is with this text that Handel begins his Messiah. For many, attending a performance of this great work is part of their Advent preparation.
Sung here by Nicholas Sharratt, tenor soloist
Isaiah gives a message of consolation and calls the people to prepare the way for our God that all may see the glory of the Lord. It is with this text that Handel begins his Messiah. For many, attending a performance of this great work is part of their Advent preparation.
12th December: Thursday of the Second Week in Advent
A traditional American text attributed to an 18th century American Baptist preacher, Joshua Smith of New Hampshire, set to music of great simplicity. This is an unusual and outstandingly lovely carol and is done full justice by Texan singer, Lee Farrar Bailey.
11th December: Wednesday in Week Two of Advent
John the Baptist is the last of the Old Testament prophets preparing the people for the expected Messiah and the first of the New Testament prophets to point him out when he comes. It is John who identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and John gave his own life as a final witness to the Lord. Today’s piece of music is a setting of the text A Voice Cries Out in the Wilderness by contemporary American composer, Michael Joncas.
10th December: Tuesday of Week Two in Advent
"There shall a star from Jacob come forth"
from Mendelssohn's Christus
One of the last works composed by Felix Mendelssohn is an unfinished oratorio Christus, which begins around the birth of the Christ Child and this text is clothed in glorious music by Mendelssohn.
There shall a star from Jacob come forth,
and a sceptre from Israel rise up,
and dash in pieces princes and nations.
As bright the star of morning gleams,
so Jesus sheddeth glorious beams
of light and consolation!
Thy Word, O Lord, radiance darting,
truth imparting, gives salvation;
Thine be praise and adoration!
from Mendelssohn's Christus
One of the last works composed by Felix Mendelssohn is an unfinished oratorio Christus, which begins around the birth of the Christ Child and this text is clothed in glorious music by Mendelssohn.
There shall a star from Jacob come forth,
and a sceptre from Israel rise up,
and dash in pieces princes and nations.
As bright the star of morning gleams,
so Jesus sheddeth glorious beams
of light and consolation!
Thy Word, O Lord, radiance darting,
truth imparting, gives salvation;
Thine be praise and adoration!
9th December: Monday of the Second Week in Advent
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
Today's music is the great Advent hymn, On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry. It is sung here in an arrangement by Malcolm Archer at Bethany Lutheran Church, Colorado.
Today's music is the great Advent hymn, On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry. It is sung here in an arrangement by Malcolm Archer at Bethany Lutheran Church, Colorado.
8th December: Second Sunday in Advent and Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Mary's words appear only four times in the New Testament. Her joyful and prophetic canticle, known as the Magnificat, uttered not long after the Annunciation is as theologically rich as it is historically significant. In it, she alludes to at least 35 different Old Testament passages.She addresses God's covenant faithfulness, his enduring steadfast love, the exaltation of the humble, judgment on the proud, and God's service to his people. It has become the night prayer of many Christian churches.
Here, it is set to music by contemporary Englidh composer, John Rutter, and sung by the Cambridge Singers.
Here, it is set to music by contemporary Englidh composer, John Rutter, and sung by the Cambridge Singers.
7th December: Saturday, Week One in Advent
"Creator of the stars of night" is sung here by St John's Compline Choir.
6th December: Friday, Week One in Advent
5th December: Thursday, Week One in Advent
A very simple refrain from the ecumenical community of Taizé gives us a constant message in these Advent days: Wait for the Lord, whose day is near; Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart!
Click on the image to listen.
Click on the image to listen.
4th December: Wednesday, Week One in Advent
A simple hymn from childhood that miraculously popped up on YouTube recently. It’s infectious and likely to remain with you as what is called an ear-worm! The words and music are by David Palmer. It asks the age-old question – When is the Redeemer coming? He is addressed by the great Advent name: Emmanuel, God with us.
3rd December: Tuesday, Week One in Advent
The Wilderness, Anthem by S S Wesley
Sung by the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban Choir
A longer musical piece today which sets the text from Isaiah, the allotted reading for this day. It speaks of a time when the wilderness will blossom, when many signs and wonders will be seen and sorrow and sadness shall flee away. The great English composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) composed this glorious piece in 1832.
TEXT
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them,
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
Say to them of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not:
Behold, your God, even God, he will come and save you.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing:
for in the wilderness shall waters break out,
and streams in the desert.
And a highway shall be there:
it shall be called the way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Sung by the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban Choir
A longer musical piece today which sets the text from Isaiah, the allotted reading for this day. It speaks of a time when the wilderness will blossom, when many signs and wonders will be seen and sorrow and sadness shall flee away. The great English composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) composed this glorious piece in 1832.
TEXT
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them,
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
Say to them of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not:
Behold, your God, even God, he will come and save you.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing:
for in the wilderness shall waters break out,
and streams in the desert.
And a highway shall be there:
it shall be called the way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
2nd December: Monday, Week One in Advent
'Come, my way, my truth, my life'
Words by George Herbert; music by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Sung by the Chet Valley Churches Choir
'Come, my way, my truth, my life'
Words by George Herbert; music by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Sung by the Chet Valley Churches Choir
1st December: First Sunday in Advent
Renowned Irish composer and singer, Enya, sings this great Advent hymn.