From the Organist & Choirmaster

Here we are in Advent, the start of the Church’s year. Advent is one of my favorite liturgical seasons despite the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday season. There are many things that “happen” in the world during this season of Advent, we prepare for Christmas by decorating, shopping for gifts; we make obligations to go to distances to see our families; we have longer choir rehearsals, more liturgies. All of it is exciting to me and the anticipatory attitude of the “secular” world sort of aligns with the Sacred, though they are anticipating the same thing always.

I’ve always loved Christmas and the time around it. My family had to keep me out of the attic in October when I wanted to begin decorating the house, I always found some way to get decorations out before Thanksgiving. I’m not much better as an adult, my tree is up, my Advent calendar stuffed with chocolates. I have however learned the importance of Advent, the Latin word for “coming.” This Sunday we will sing The Great Litany, which reminds us of our need for God’s presence in our life and world. Before the Litany, the choir will sing Palestrina’s adaptation of words from the first responsory of Advent Sunday in the Roman Rite of Matins (or Morning Prayer). It is traditionally sung at Advent Carol services at King’s College, Cambridge. In it, I envision shepherds singing in fields after seeing or hearing the prophecy of Isaiah that someone will come to reign over us. You’ll notice several choristers singing solos interspersed with choral parts, the last time a solo happens, it is all the soloists together singing “Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come” with the choir finishing the plea, “to reign over thy people Israel.” Here is the full text:

“I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel? High and low, rich and poor, one with another. Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leanest Joseph like a sheep, Tell us, art thou he that should come? Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel.”

This text is so wonderful in its expression of what Advent is, looking to see God’s power; meeting God and asking God questions; hearing the scripture and listening to their messages; asking for God to come. How does Advent “stir us up?” So much of Advent’s hymnody centers around Advent’s very meaning. There will not be one Sunday in Advent that a Mass will not include a hymn with the word “come” in it. This past Sunday, “Hark the glad sound! the Savior comes, Lo he comes with clouds descending.” This Sunday, Savior of the nations, come!

Even so Lord Jesus, quickly come.