19th December: Monday in Advent Week Four
On December 17th the Gospel was the genealogy of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham. Joseph, the husband of Mary, is of the House of David. Thus this list of the generations firmly roots Jesus both as a human being and of the royal house.
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall say: Come and deliver us, and tarry not.
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall say: Come and deliver us, and tarry not.
18th December: Fourth Sunday in Advent
O Adonai
O Adonai
Today we hear the title O Adonai. For our Jewish brothers and sisters, the name of God is so sacred that it is never pronounced, but replaced by an alternative name. Adonai is one such alternative.
O Lord Eternal and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power. Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
O Lord Eternal and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power. Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
7th December: THURSDAY, WEEK ONE IN ADVENT
"Creator of the stars of night" is sung here by St John's Compline Choir.
16th December: SATURDAY, 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!
Daily Music for Advent
16th December: SATURDAY, WEEK TWO IN ADVENT
Our salvation draws ever nearer and we anticipate that event.
Today’s music is Henry Purcell's 'Rejoice In The Lord Alway' sung by the choir of St. John's College Cambridge.
Today’s music is Henry Purcell's 'Rejoice In The Lord Alway' sung by the choir of St. John's College Cambridge.
15th December: FRIDAY, WEEK TWO IN 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.
14th December: THURSDAY, WEEK TWO 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.
13th December: WEDNESDAY, WEEK TWO OF 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.
12th December: TUESDAY, WEEK TWO IN ADVENT
'Comfort ye, my people – every valley shall be exalted', from Handel's Messiah
Sung here by Nicholas Sharratt, tenor soloist recorded live at the Cadogan Hall, London on Sunday, 16th September 2012.
Isaiah again 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, a musical staple for this time of year. For many, attending a performance of this great work is part of their Advent preparation.
TEXT
Comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
Sung here by Nicholas Sharratt, tenor soloist recorded live at the Cadogan Hall, London on Sunday, 16th September 2012.
Isaiah again 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, a musical staple for this time of year. For many, attending a performance of this great work is part of their Advent preparation.
TEXT
Comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
11th December: MONDAY, WEEK TWO IN ADVENT
Roráte caéli desuper
" Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down." That prayer was answered when God, in the person of Jesus, took on our human condition in the Incarnation. These ringing lines from Isaiah are strongly associated with Advent. They are beautifully sung here by the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Cîteaux, France.
To pray the lyrics (in Latin and English), select 'Watch on YouTube' and click on 'more'.
" Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down." That prayer was answered when God, in the person of Jesus, took on our human condition in the Incarnation. These ringing lines from Isaiah are strongly associated with Advent. They are beautifully sung here by the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Cîteaux, France.
To pray the lyrics (in Latin and English), select 'Watch on YouTube' and click on 'more'.
10th December: the Second Sunday in Advent
Creator of the Stars of Night
Creator of the Stars of Night
Today’s piece of music is the beautiful chant, Creator of the Stars of Night. It is a translation of the 7th-century Latin hymn, Conditor alme siderum. This hymn was first sung in monasteries during Advent as part of the Evening Prayer liturgy. It is sung here by the Benedictine monks of St Meinrad Abbey, Indiana.
TEXT
Creator of the stars of night,
Your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
We pray You, hear us when we call.
To thee the travail deep was known
That made the whole creation groan
Till thou, Redeemer, shouldest free
Thine own in glorious liberty.
When this old world drew on toward night.
You came, but not in splendor bright.
Not as a monarch, but the child
Of Mary, blameless mother mild.
At Your great name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord.
Like those in heaven, shall call You Lord.
Come in thy holy might, we pray;
Redeemer us for eternal day
From ev’ry pow’r of darkness, when
Thou judgest all the sons of men.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Praise, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.
TEXT
Creator of the stars of night,
Your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
We pray You, hear us when we call.
To thee the travail deep was known
That made the whole creation groan
Till thou, Redeemer, shouldest free
Thine own in glorious liberty.
When this old world drew on toward night.
You came, but not in splendor bright.
Not as a monarch, but the child
Of Mary, blameless mother mild.
At Your great name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord.
Like those in heaven, shall call You Lord.
Come in thy holy might, we pray;
Redeemer us for eternal day
From ev’ry pow’r of darkness, when
Thou judgest all the sons of men.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Praise, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.
9th December: SATURDAY, 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.
8th December: FRIDAY, WEEK ONE IN ADVENT & FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
One of the world's leading vocal ensembles, Tenebrae, sing Anton Bruckner's setting of the medieval text 'Virga Jesse floruit' .
TEXT
Virga Jesse floruit: The rod of Jesse has flourished:
Virgo Deum et hominem genuit: the Virgin has borne God and man:
pacem Deus reddidit, God has restored peace,
in se reconcilians ima summis. reconciling to himself the heights and the depths.
Alleluia!
TEXT
Virga Jesse floruit: The rod of Jesse has flourished:
Virgo Deum et hominem genuit: the Virgin has borne God and man:
pacem Deus reddidit, God has restored peace,
in se reconcilians ima summis. reconciling to himself the heights and the depths.
Alleluia!
6th 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.
5th 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.
4th 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
3rd December: FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Renowned Irish composer and singer, Enya, sings this great Advent hymn.