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?
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.
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
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. ;-)
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?):
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):
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!
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.
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