The Wassail Song has a bit of history behind it. The Old English “Waes Hail” is a word that expresses hope for a good cider apple harvest… and so a wassail is a drink of hot mulled cider! Okay… maybe this isn’t completely consistent with many of the other Christmas carols we sing, but a …
Tag: Advent
Advent is the season preceding Christmas Day. It's begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, called "Advent 1", with the following Sundays being called "Advent 2", "Advent 3", and "Advent 4". If Christmas Day falls on Sunday, December 25th, then Advent 1 is four weeks prior, on November 27th.
Churches observing traditional liturgy use the four Advent Sundays to contemplate different aspects of Christ's coming. The traditional meanings of the candles on an Advent wreath are Prophecy/hope (advent 1), Bethlehem/faith (Advent 2), Shepherd/joy (Advent 3), and Angel/peace (Advent 4). In addition, many Advent wreaths have a Christ candle in the center that's lit for Christmas, symbolizing the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning His (first) coming.
The more liturgical your church is, the stronger the possibility that their services will be more focused on making sure that music during Advent refers specifically to this anticipatory time of the Church calendar (this has also prompted rumors of the existence of a force called the "Advent police"). Churches that are not as insistent on maintaining the distinction between Advent and Christmas tend to rejoice with Christmas music all the way from Thanksgiving to Epiphany.
Sussex Carol / On This Night All Christians Sing (SUSSEX CAROL)
This traditional English Christmas Sussex Carol is also known as “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing”. The arrangement we see in our hymnals is almost certainly the one written by Ralph Vaughan Williams… but the unharmonized tune is far older than that. On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear what news those angels bring; …
Once in Royal David’s City (IRBY)
There are a number of hymns where the lyrics preceded the music by being written as a poem. Once in David’s Royal City was written by Cecil Frances Alexander, and a year after its publication Henry John Gauntlett composed the melody IRBY that we know and love. Historical footnote: Mrs. Alexander wasn’t a one-hit wonder… …
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (GABRIEL’S MESSAGE)
Our Christmas carols come from many places and times. This one originated in the Basque country between Spain and France, and has a lovely, mysterious feel. The Angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; ‘All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria! “For …
On This Day Earth Shall Ring (PERSONENT HODIE)
On This Day Earth Shall Ring is a melody from fairly far back (1582, to be precise). It’s appropriate for Christmas as well as Easter, and we’ve even been in a church where the pastor made the request “Please play that again next year – it really doesn’t matter when.” On this day earth shall …
Oct 14
Advent is soon… and here’s another piece to play!
As you may know, plainchant was one of the great expressions of church music. It’s been that way for hundreds of years – and some of the songs from those times are still with us. We’ve set Divinum Mysterium (aka “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”) for eight handbells, and think it will go well with …
Ukrainian Bell Carol
Ukrainian Bell Carol was first known as “Schedryk”/«Щедрик» when Mykola Leontovych wrote it in 1916. And then… in 1941, Peter Wilhousky wrote the lyrics entitled “Carol of the Bells”, the title under which credit is usually given in the United States. We present our arrangement of Leontovych’s composition under its “more original” title. We hope …
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL)
The Advent song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as we know it today, is adapted from a fifteenth-century French melody, but may originate from as far back as possibly the 12th century. It first appeared in English as translated by John M. Neale in 1851. It’s a prayer by those who hoped that the Christ …
People Look East (BESANÇON)
The anticipation of the Savior’s birth in Bethlehem and the joy it would bring is displayed in this Advent hymn. Our arrangement is lively and exciting, and we hope you’ll envision the celebration that occurred at the manger and in heaven as you play it! People, look east. The time is near / Of the …
Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing? (QUELLE EST CETTE ODEUR)
QUELLE EST CETTE ODEUR AGREABLE (what is that fragrance?)is a pretty French carol describing the wonder of Christ’s coming to Earth – think of the wonderful scent of a special incense wafting through the air you’re breathing; it’s a representation of all the great and good things – especially salvation – that Jesus came to …
