On pretty old music, old music, and really, really old music!

Why has Christine selected such ancient music for the assembly to sing this week, the second Sunday of Advent?

The great poet, Robert Graves knew the answer.   He taught that the more important an event was in the life of a community, the more important it was for that community to relive traditions and old practices.    It is why so many celebrate birthdays by singing a little ditty composed for children over a century ago-- “Happy birthday to you.”    It is why we continue to bring in a cake with some sort of fire burning on it.   We sing the old song and we continue the old tradition of cake and candles, because the birthday is important to our community of friends and relatives.  

December is full of old, even ancient, traditions and practices—bringing trees inside, exchanging gifts, eating certain foods.   In December, as the nights grow longer and as day light seems to be disappearing, we celebrate The Advent of Light, the Presence of Light, the Coming of the Light,.   We remember the past, but live in the present, anticipating the future when our Lord and Light will return in glory.

This is why Christine selected ancient melodies and poems for us to sing when we gather in the darkness of December. It is because Advent is important—important to us as a community anticipating the celebration of the Nativity; important to us as individuals lifting our hearts to the Lord, important to us as a Church observing the cycle of redemption and renewal. 

Happy Advent.    Blessed Advent.    Hope-filled Advent.

 PS.

How very, very fine you were last evening!   so warmly welcoming of our guests from Coro Hispano, so valiant in trying and succeeding in singing miles of Spanish, so musical in watching and listening.

thank you.

 December 4, 2016

The Second  Sunday of Advent

To you O Lord, I lift my soul

Prelude-Introit To you O Lord I lift my soul  Mode IV adapt. Paul Ford    Choir of Hope,  Men’s Schola Cantorum, Cantor TV

Entrance  O come, O come Emmanuel [Veni Emmanuel]  United in Christ No. 267 melody 15^th c. France; text 8^th century  This is OLD!

Penitential Act   Mass of Renewal  Choir of Hope,  Choir of Hope, Cantor TV, violin AS

Psalm 72 (R & A)  Intonation  Choir of Hope, Psalmist DGF (TV is sub is needed. Gospel Acclamation   Celtic Alleluia  

Preparation of the Altar and Gifts  Come thou long expected Jesus  text 1745, melody 1715.  Pretty dern OLD, but the “newest” assembly song we are singing this week.   For good reason.   See below..   Unidos en Christo, No.288)

Eucharistic Acclamations  Mass of Renewal with Save us Savior of the world Leader of Song CM

Agnus Dei Mass of Renewal Choir of Hope intonations Leader of Song CM

Communio I Creator of the stars of night text 9^th c. melody 12^th/13^th c. Choir of Hope

Communion Procession  II O come divine Messiah ‎[Venez, divin Messie] Abbot Pellegrin wrote the text for this popular French Noel about the year our own Benjamin Franklin was born,1705.  It’s OLD! [UIC 284]

“Sending Forth”   The King shall come when morning dawns Melody c. 16^th c.   Boy it’s really OLD!  (UIC No. 283)