Author Topic: Advent Music (Read 639 times)

Petertherock · « **on:** December 08, 2013, 10:07:17 PM »

I found an awesome Advent album by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. From what I see on their site they are nuns that have the Real Mass...Plus the music is beautiful!

http://benedictinesofmary.org/content/liturgy

Here's the Itunes link for the album...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/benedictines-mary-queen-apostles/id575743999

StCeciliasGirl · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2013, 01:22:52 AM »

Excellent, thank you! The kids and I have been practicing some Christmas hymns for choirs and it's driving my husband batty ("it's not Christmas yet!") and we've...

queued up "Let it Snow" (passed muster), and Bach's Contata 147 "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and even some Trans-Siberian Orchestra (which I've since found out is not an exactly Christian-band, much less Catholic, in any sense of the words, but a few tunes sound good). My husband associates Beethoven's 9th and a whole lot with Christmas music, and I was sort of getting sick of our near-empty Advent playlist. THANK. YOU. Changes things up some, at least!

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2013, 03:32:06 AM »

.

It seems every year we go through this.

The shopping centers and radio stations play Joy to the World and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and Frosty the Snowman and White Christmas over and over and over. They're trying to induce a shopping spree!

It's Not Christmas Yet!!

What about:

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Hark! A Mystic Voice is Sounding (En Clara Vox)
Behold! Behold, He Cometh!
Creator Alme Siderum
En Clara Vox Redarguit
O Come! Divine Messaiah
Immaculate Mary (Her Feast Day, today, always falls in Advent)
Rorate Coeli
See He Comes
Like the Dawning of the Morning Fr. F.W. Faber
Magnificat (words of Our Lady from before the Nativity)
Veni, O Sapientia

The many hymns to Our Lady are often suitable for Advent, as well:

Hail! Star of Ocean
Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent through Purification inclusive)
Ave Maris Stella (Edvard Grieg setting is very nice for Advent)
Salve Regina Coelitum
Tota Pulchra Es, Maria
Sub tuum Praesidium
Ave Regina Coelorum
Ave Maria! O Maiden, O Mother
O Purest of Creatures (Immaculate Conception)
Whither thus, in holy rapture? (the Visitation)
Hear Thy Children, Gentlest Mother (M. Haydn)
O Sanctissima

Other hymns with an Advent theme
Jesus, Jesus, Come to Me
Dear Angel Ever at My Side
Veni, Jesu, amor mi
The Angel Gabriel ("..from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame")

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2013, 03:51:49 AM »

.

The problem is the commercialization of Christmas, which keeps pushing the season back so people will start shopping earlier. The merchants would be happiest if people were buying up stuff for Christmas 6 months in advance!

So the music gets going in early November, and then by the end of Advent everyone is tired of Christmas.

That's no way to have a Merry Christmas!

We should be GETTING READY for Christmas all during Advent and then we should be ENJOYING Christmas until February 2nd.

The world has it all backwards.

The spirit of the world would have Christmas starting in November and New Year's in January, while the Church has New Year's the first Sunday of Advent and the Christmas season all through January.

(Check your Missal: you 'start over' at the beginning of the Liturgical Year in Advent.)

.

LaramieHirsch · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2013, 04:18:14 AM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat

It seems every year we go through this...

Thanks for the list Neil!

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2013, 01:18:58 PM »

Quote from: LaramieHirsch

Quote from: Neil Obstat

It seems every year we go through this...

Thanks for the list Neil!

You're welcome. It's by no means exhaustive. I just flipped through my Gregory Hymnal, my St. Basil's Hymnal and my Traditional Roman Hymnal (SSPX, under guess who -- Bishop Williamson!!).

And also, there's a couple in there I have on Xerox and don't know the source, unfortunately.

Please let me know if you've ever heard any one of these on the radio or while shopping during Advent!

Our chapel choirs are responsible for sticking to this list during Advent because it's TOO SHORT of a time. In fact, a sprinkling of them could extend into January, too.

The Advent and Christmas season is so short, and our Catholic heritage is so rich. We should do everything we can to make this season memorable.

.

Petertherock · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2013, 01:19:28 PM »

Here is the track listing of the album I linked...