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For Today...
'The holly and the ivy'
Ancient and well-known folk carol with mixed imagery.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxD6QLEzsu8 - Annie Lennox sings her arrangement of it.www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACvDYTfWupM - Steeleye Span sing it to the "other" tune.
(21/12/2024)
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'Cloth for the cradle'
Makes a nice processional, especially if you have everyone bringing a piece of cloth to the crib! Lilts along nicely - set to a Scottish folk tune (Wae's Me For Prince Charlie).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddJWcYH3l_0 - sung by Colleen Kitchen.www.youtube.com/watch?v=w20IX24sSak - album recording - a John Bell interpretation sung by a choir.
(20/12/2024)
'He walked where I walk'
Call and response - a useful all-age seasonal song. The chorus is better with a Hammond.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBrISj4bOko - Graham Kendrick album recording, with a preceding prayer.(19/12/2024)
'It came upon the midnight clear'
A Christmas essential - more often than not, I'll use the Caradog Roberts arrangement of the old English folk tune 'Noel', rather than the Arthur Sullivan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sglEN6Dr6BM - a rather different arrangement, sung by the King's Singers.(18/12/2024)
'Peace Child'
A too-short masterpiece: Bernadette Farrell setting Shirley Erena Murray's words.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQF1nvyWdL4 - the album recording.(17/12/2024)
'A great and mighty wonder'
A fine ancient carol, set to a favourite old German carol tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cpfj0LEg3M - from the choir of King's College Cambridge.(16/12/2024)
'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'
An Advent essential. There are so many good ways of arranging it...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-4 - choir and organ.www.youtube.com/watch?v=01BcaggibDw - Enya, in English and Latin.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxPynSu2LGE - Aled Jones (for Songs of Praise).
(15/12/2024)
'Into the darkness of this world'
Another brilliant Maggi Dawn song. Part of the Advent repertoire, but it's good to use it occasionally at other times too.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8NzE5wNqus - a light but lovely, subtle rendering.(14/12/2024)
'O what a mystery I see'
From Graham Kendrick's Make Way for Christmas. It stands well on its own, and in that context is arguably one of the most useful songs in the collection. My singing direction for this is, profound but earthy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k07jlDtHOnY - album recording, Graham Kendrick (Make Way for Christmas - extracted)(13/12/2024)
'Hail to the Lord's Anointed'
Traditional Advent hymn. Needs to be kept moving, or it can go stodgy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mCCwBqiQdk - from the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and sung to Crüger - my choice too.(12/12/2024)
'Let it be to me'
I think we've sung this nearly every year since it was written.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFSW9VRmHTc - by Graham Kendrick.(11/12/2024)
'The angel Gabriel from heaven came'
A Basque carol that's become core repertoire for us now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pliqObTHxUQ - the choir of King's College Cambridge.(10/12/2024)
'On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry'
An Advent hymn which which we rarely sing now, but the use of Winchester New means it's always accessible. The association of the tune with 'Ride on ride on in majesty' carries a Passiontide resonance for many, and that's not unhelpful.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvvEQkspJxY - Southwell Minster Choir, with an exciting last verse descant.(09/12/2024)
'When out of poverty is born'
Advent hymn from Kathy Galloway, and yet another good use for the tune 'Kingsfold'.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzwyjnACz0o - recorded for Christian Aid.(08/12/2024)
'Come Thou long-expected Jesus'
An Advent fixture, which we sing to Stuttgart. Searching Youtube, I found a number of recordings set to Hyfrydol (as if that tune doesn't have enough to do) and one to Stainer's Cross of Jesus. I would stick to Stuttgart, unless also using Jesus Hope of Every Nation, another Advent hymn that benefits from it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZY0e5Uux8I - from an Advent service at St Luke's Ordinariate Parish, Maryland, USA.www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEEd0uWnDGs - choir of St John's College, Cambridge, singing it to Cross of Jesus.
(07/12/2024)
'Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes'
A good solid old Advent hymn, which we sing to the even older good solid tune Bristol.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeBRYhG86x0 - a recording by the Chet Valley churches.(06/12/2024)
'He Came Down'
A song from Cameroon - useful at Advent and at other times.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PKMuSs_OEs - album recording - it says 'songs for Children', but these songs are fine for everyone.(05/12/2024)
'Of the Father's love begotten'
This ancient tune and even more ancient words connect with celebration of the Incarnation through the ages.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt75zI4kz6g - the Willcocks arrangement, sung under the octagon by the Ely Cathedral choir.www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKVYE-RRyHg - an album recording (a cappella version, rather short).
(04/12/2024)
'O bless the God of Israel'
A good one for Advent Sunday, or for that season.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=umZXxbh6IGw&start=1718&end=1852 - the last hymn in a service from Rothley Parish Church. (Words and accompaniment only.)(03/12/2024)
'Litany of the Word'
An Advent liturgy, but there's no good reason to confine it to such a short season. It's repetitive if you just listen, but very powerful and inspiring if you participate.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tprf4CfkG_g - a recording with two cantors sharing the role.(02/12/2024)
'Lo! He comes with clouds descending'
An Advent 'big hymn' which we haven't used for a while, but which is still well-known.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYf4W5Fy_2w - with a spectacular 45 second long introduction, and then just three verses. But nicely done.(01/12/2024)
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