Advent Sunday 1

Time seems to go so quickly. I still have not sorted through all the pictures and the diary I kept on my trip through Canada and the USA. It feels as if the memories are whirling around and haven't settled yet, like snowflakes in one of those glass balls with a scene in it. When you shake one, snow starts falling and it takes some time for it to stop again.

Meanwhile Christmas has caught me by surprise. Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. It is weird to begin this Christmas-tide, the time leading up to the birth of Christ, when St. Nicholas is still visiting the Low Countries and the atmosphere is so different. One advantage of St. Nicholas, celebrated on December 5^th, is that traditionally most people give their family and friends presents on that day. Which means that at Christmas we can concentrate on what Christmas is really about, at least if we are believers, and in glad expectation await the mystery of this birth.

For choristers this is a happy but busy time. I sing with two Anglican choirs during this period and so it means a lot of rehearsals and driving between The Hague and Haarlem. For me the Advent Carol service is the most wonderful service of all with the Matin Responsory, the Advent Wreath prayer and the Vesper Responsory, partly chanted.

Advent Mattins Responsory (after Palestrina), sung by the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral. London

We begin in a dark church, the choir standing at the back and holding candles. The most frightening part is processing in, blinded by the small flame of the candle, holding it in one hand and the music folder in the other, having to turn pages, trying not to trip or set the hair of the singer in front of me on fire! I suppose the Fire and Safety department would be greatly upset by what we do. One by one the candles held by the people in the congregation are lit. It is magical, but nevertheless it is a relief when we can put them out, as space is rather limited so we are very close together next to the small pipe organ. I have added a link to the Advent Carol Service held in Trinity Chapel. Here the chapel is lit by candles only during the entire service. It is a wonderfully moving service which you may enjoy listening to.

Advent Carol Service 1012 Trinity College Chapel November 25^th 2012

This year the service was one we will never forget. While we were singing a carol, there was an awful noise as if the organ case came thundering down. What happened was that one of our singers had fainted and fallen from the podium, in between the wall and the back of the organ. Although he must have hit a table and other objects, the unfortunate bass hadn't broken any bones. After he regained consciousness and had been given a glass of water, he was able to stay in the choir for the rest of the carol service - this time sitting down securely between two other singers who guarded him. It did ruin our concentration for a short time only, and in part the mystery and beauty of this service .

This is the liturgy of yesterday's service:

Advent Carol Service

Choir: Matin responsory (Palestrina)& Come thou redeemer of the Earth

Choir: during procession: Advent Wreath prayer for Advent Sunday   

Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel – arr.Rutter  

         Bidding Prayer

Choir: Advent prose – arr. S.Cleobury   

         Lesson 1: The prophet proclaims the good news to a people in exile

Choir: People look east – arr.B.Ferguson 

         Lesson 2: The Lord promises to send his people a righteous King

Hymn: NEH 15 “The Lord will come and not be slow”

         Lesson 3: The Lord promises that the King will come to Israel in peace

Choir: How beautiful upon the mountains – J.Stainer 

Hymn: NEH 5 “Hark, a herald voice is calling"

         Lesson 4: The prophet foretells the advent of the desire of all the nations.

Choir: Never weather beaten sail – R.Shephard 

         Lesson 5: The prophet foretells the glory of the kingdom of God.

Hymn: NEH 14 (tune 341) “The Advent of our God”

Choir: The angel Gabriel – arr.M.Archer  

         Lesson 6: The angel Gabriel salutes the blessed virgin Mary

Choir: Ecce concipies – J.Handl. 

Hymn: NEH 10  “Long ago, prophets knew”

         Lesson 7: Jesus proclaims the coming of the kingdom of God

Hymn: NEH 9 “Lo he comes with clouds descending”.  

Choir: Veiled in darkness  - Rudolph     

Choir: Vesper Responsory – Ph.Ledger   

         Collect and Blessing

Hymn: NEH 30  O come all ye faithful ,  verses 1, 2, 6. 

I was very happy to discover this website, Saturday Chorale, which has links to a lot of well-sung Anglican church music.