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Advent 2023 (Look Ahead)

Hi Friends—
In the interest of accomplishing more at rehearsal tomorrow, (and to look ahead towards Advent,) I’d like to make a few resources available to you before we meet.

(Save this link so you can revisit this list later on.)

THIS COMING SUNDAY, we will sing Bach’s setting of Wake, Awake! for Night is Flying. Odds are, you’ve heard this before and didn’t even know it. Here are two versions to get this simple unison melody into your ear:

Organ Only:

German Sung Version:

The glory of this piece is that it matches our communion hymn. The plan is to learn this simple melody in unison, and sing it with organ as demoed the videos linked above. We will sing the text that matches the first verse of the communion hymn, and then invite the congregation to sing the remaining two verses as the communion hymn proper.

(Some of you may know this hymn to traditionally be associated with Advent; since we are so close to Advent, and because this text perfectly references this Sunday’s Gospel reading, it is appropriate for this week.)

And quickly before we get to Advent, here’s this week’s psalm as well. NB: the version we will sing this week has a different Verser 4, but everything else is the same.

We also find ourselves on the cusp of Advent, so it is time we begin looking at Advent motets as well. The schedule will be largely familiar to most of you. We also cannot forget Christ the King, which rounds out this Church year.

Christ the King

  • Choral Fanfare for Christ the King (Smith) LINK
    (We will repeat this immediately before “Midnight Mass”)

Advent I

  • Ad Te Levati (Witt) LINK

  • Call to Advent (Williams) LINK

Immaculate Conception of the BVM

  • Magnificat in C (Dyson) LINK

Advent II

  • Vox Clamanti (de las Muelas) LINK

Advent III

  • Tollite Portas (Dalitz) LINK

  • ‘Genevan Alleluia’ LINK

  • (Repeat the Dyson Magnificat? cf. Isaiah)

Advent IV

  • Rorate Cæli Desuper (arr. Richardson) LINK

  • Ecce Virgo Concipiet (Richardson) LINK

Check time stamps for each voice part.

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St. John the Evangelist, Choir Ordos, Year C James J. Richardson St. John the Evangelist, Choir Ordos, Year C James J. Richardson

Advent I

Musical ordo for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year C) at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen IN. (2021)

  • Ordinary: Liturgical seasons have changed! Now we return to Missa XVII which is traditionally sung on Sundays in Advent & Lent.

  • Entrance Antiphon Hymn: My Spirit Unto Thee I Raise
    Tune: Puer Nobis Nascitur (see below)

  • Entrance Antiphon: Fr. Weber #10 (NB: this is actually the “offertory ii” antiphon, but we will sing it as the entrance antiphon since the text is the same as the entrance antiphon and the melody is nicer.)

  • Psalm 25 — “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
    (This is based on the Gregorian introit for Advent I “Ad te levavi anima mea.”)

  • Alleluia ‘Rorate Cæli’ — This is based on the Advent Antiphon ‘Rorate Cæli’ (“Drop down dew from above, ye heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Savior!”) We will sing this throughout Advent (with the possible exception of Gaudete Sunday where we may do something more festive).

  • Offertory Hymn — Come, Thou, Long-expected Jesus

  • [11am only] Our Father — Roman Tone Transcription

  • Communion Antiphon: Fr. Weber #17
    •••• We will sing the verses in immediate succession. ••••

  • Communion Special: The Call by Ralph Vaughan Williams
    •••• First part: Women, 2nd Part: Men, 3rd Part: All ••••

  • Communion Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come Tune: Nun Komm der Heidan Heiland (NB: we will sing a full SATB version, but the harmonization will be nearly identical.)

  • Recessional Hymn: Alma Redemptoris Mater

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