Adam's Advent Hymns and Songs Megapost
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,451
    It turns out I’ve written A LOT of Advent music. More than I thought I had.
    This post is all of it that I can track down.

    Not all of this will be appropriate for this forum (in terms of style/genre)
    but I thought I'd just share everything and people can sort out what might be useful.


    TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS, LORD

    a three (and a half)-part paperless song, based on the text of the first reading on the first Sunday of Advent, Yr B, in the Revised Common Lectionary (This is different than what is in the Roman Catholic lectionary. But it's still a good Advent text.)

    Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-0ynIgxuyM
    PDF score: https://adammichaelwood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/paperless/b-advent-1-tear-open+-+Score.pdf


    WHAT SHALL I CRY?

    A hymn inspired by Isaiah 40, the text of the first reading on the Second Sunday, and set to FINLANDIA

    What shall I cry,
    O God unto your people?
    What word of truth, what blessing shall I speak?
    Shall I shout harshly, calling out injustice?
    Or gently sing of comfort to the weak?
    What voice is yours, O Mother of the Heavens,
    a sounding trumpet, or a whisper meek?

    imageimage


    PDF score:
    https://adammichaelwood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/what-shall-i-cry-hymnal-satb+-+Score.pdf


    FROM ANCIENT ROOTS / A VOICE CRIES OUT
    A hymn text focused on John the Baptist’s testimony.

    The original text (From Ancient Roots) is five verses long. A shorter, three-verse version (A Voice Cries Out) is also an option

    A Voice cries out, “Prepare the way
    Repent and make his pathways clear.”
    We dare not rest, dare not delay.
    Salvation by our God is near.

    Matthew Burt’s setting (tune as yet unnamed):
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/14kBrMIfwwry4ZM2AhLLKG-WmL1ck-yxN/view?usp=sharing

    Set to BOURBON:
    image



    THERE IS A HOPE

    Inspired by the Annunciation to Mary and her Visitation to Elizabeth

    There is a hope as yet unborn;
    The birth pangs are already here.
    The promised dawn, the waiting morn
    Comes, every moment, yet more near.

    From deep within my hope filled ache
    Joy leaps to greet the rising sun.
    How can this be, that God should make
    Me midwife to the Chosen One?

    This world and I, we labor on.
    Waiting for God, our bodies groan
    ‘Til with the promised, coming dawn
    We are redeemed and made God’s own.

    Set to ROYAL PRIESTHOOD by Henry Gaida:

    image

    (You can also feel free to set this LONG METER text to another tune.)


    THE GOD WHO SEES ALL THINGS SEES ME

    This text is inspired by the story of Hagar, paired with the Annunciation to Mary,
    a pairing that appears in the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney’s Women’s Lectionary.

    The God who sees all things sees me.
    The Faithful One is faithful still.
    God from my bondage sets me free,
    and every promise will fulfill.

    The Unknown God has been made known.
    The One Who Saves has come to save,
    Not as a god, not on a throne;
    Born to a woman, born a slave.

    The Mighty One of Heav’n comes low,
    The mighty of the Earth to fell.
    All tongues shall sing, all people know
    The One who has done all things well.

    Well Spring of Life, take mine from me;
    I wait upon your Holy Word.
    As you have said it, let it be,
    You are my Savior and my Lord.


    This LONG METER text has not yet been set to a tune, but you should feel free to do so if you like.
    Canonical text:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iCCnd76Q7d9KqRbARF_Q60wXf0aybdbvy5wH1Pv9u5M/edit?usp=sharing


    HOLY IS THE NAME

    I have a contemporary setting of the Magnificat:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBPoK-wtcl0

    I haven’t prepped the score to make this available, but if you want it I will send you my poorly-edited, poorly-formatted version.

    CREATOR OF THE STARS OF NIGHT

    I recorded a contemporary folk arrangement of Creator of the Stars of Night.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uetmPu_Eo4

    Again, I haven’t prepped a score to make this available. But if you’re interested in actually using this, I will get something to you.




    Everything I have written here is available to use without further permission.
    Specifically:
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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  • Adam, these are awesome! I particularly love what you've done with FINLANDIA.
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,500
    Hey when are we going to do that podcast, Adam?
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood