Favorite Advent Hymns and Chants
  • BenBen
    Posts: 3,114
    While this is partially self serving, since I have to find rep for my choir on Friday to sing during Low Mass, I'm sure it will be helpful and enjoyable for everyone:

    What are your favorite hymns and chants for advent?

    I'll start with a few of mine.

    • O Come Divine Messiah
    • Rorate Caeli
  • The Low Mass schola sings just once a month, and we did the following for Advent I:

    Veni, Veni Emmanuel
    Rorate caeli
    Communio Dominus dabit benignitatem
    Creator alme siderum
    Alma Redemptoris Mater

    For later in the season, I love the O Antiphons, with verses from the Magnificat or a psalm. Some might like to save Veni, veni till later as the verses are adaptations of O Antiphons.
    Thanked by 1Kathy
  • Rorate caeli and the chants for Ember Saturday
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    My list changes all the time, but this is my go-to list this year:

    HYMNS:
    Hark a thrilling voice is sounding (MERTON) pdf here with descant
    On Jordan's Bank
    Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (TRURO)
    Come Thou, Redeemer of the Earth
    The Angel Gabriel Came (Verses 1-3)
    Lo, He comes with clouds descending
    Prepare the way, O Sion (pdf here)


    CHORAL
    Alma Redemptoris Mater (Palestrina)
    Ave Maria (Johann Joseph Fux)
    Ave Maria (Cornelius Verdonck):
    Adam Lay Ybounden (Boris Ord)
    Creator, Alme Siderum (Richard Burchard, arr. here)
    Dixit Maria (Hassler)
    Ne timeas, Maria (Victoria)
    Remember, O Thou Man

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNbQicRIj48
    Thanked by 1rich_enough
  • At Mass on Sunday, we were singing O Come o COme Emannuel. Look, we know that, I said to my friends 8 year old, who is head girl for our adoration schola. Yes we do, but its a pity they are not singing it in Latin she replied.
    ;-)
    Thanked by 1JulieColl
  • Savior of the Nations, Come
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,150
    I started another thread on a closely related topic (Advent music, reflections, wishes), but it got lost or ignored in the midst of other discussions (who am I to say, perhaps justly so?):

    http://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/13119/advent-music-reflections-wishes#Item_1

    My own "Creator of the Stars at Night" is appropriate (and also has the Latin "Conditor alme siderum" text underlay included in the score at CPDL and also somewhere here):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlHeNIBTpVg

    A more intimate arrangement for solo voice by Denice Grant is posted in the other thread.
  • I'm particularly fond of the Advent Prose, which was sung in procession at Walsingham this just passed Advent Sunday. I can't say that I have any advent favourite, though I am partial to some. I can say, though, that I rather dread hearing or singing Veni, veni, Emmanuel (in English or Latin) yet another time!
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • lmassery
    Posts: 404
    Savior of the Nations Come, Creator of the Stars of Night, Alma Redempotris Mater, O Come O Come Emmanuel, The King Shall Come
    Thanked by 2Steve Q SarahJ
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,934
    Last week the choir sang "Prepare the Way, O Zion" Bereden vag for Herran and plan on singing "This Advent Moon Shines Cold and Clear" Sunday after next. This coming Sunday will be "Comfort, Comfort Now My People" Freu dich sehr. We have a version of "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" for the last Sunday of Advent. The congregational hymns are from the Advent section of RitualSong. "The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns" Morning Song by Wyeth is a particular Advent congregational favorite.
  • Liam
    Posts: 4,942
    I could do without the percussion here, and a shade or two slower, but I loves me my Genevan psalter tunes:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1BeKHq2LIQ
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen