What ho, readers all! I apologize profusely for abandoning the blogosphere for so long; end-of-semester papers paired with some less-than-stellar time management will do that sort of thing sometimes. It’s been so long since I last posted that we are now plumb spang in the middle of Advent (in fact, looking at my calendar, today is literally the halfway mark; I couldn’t have planned this better if I tried). I wrote about the importance of Advent both in 2022 and 2023, and while I certainly still agree with the sentiments I expressed there, it seems like it could soon get to be A Bit Much if I repeated pretty much the same post year after year. So go back and read those posts if you wish to and/or if you haven’t already, and I will take this time now to highlight some of my favorite Advent hymns.
(These are arranged very roughly in order of least favorite to most favorite, but who am I kidding, I love all of these and it’s nigh impossible to order them. Also, I was going to say something about each one, but I then realized that I couldn’t think of anything to say for some of them, so if you wonder about the sporadic nature of my commentary…that’s why.)
The angel Gabriel from Heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.
“All hail,” said he, “The lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored Lady!”
Gloria!
On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of Kings!
John the Baptist is a pretty central figure liturgically in Advent, so I appreciate that this is one of the few (perhaps only?) Advent hymns which features him.
Gaudete, gaudete,
Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine!
Gaudete!
(translation):
Rejoice, rejoice,
Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary!
Rejoice!
I always like to play/sing this on Gaudete Sunday (fitting, is it not?) which is coming in just a few days.
People, look east; the time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able;
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east, and sing today:
Love, the Guest, is on the way.
This hymn has such a feeling of joyful expectancy to it, very fitting for Advent.
6. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
As men of old have sung.
5. Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth
Come, Thou Redeemer of the earth,
In Thy admired virgin birth.
Let every age in wonder fall;
Such birth befits the God of all.
Not only do I love this hymn, but I really love the particular version by the Benedictines of Mary that I’ve linked. This is the first song on their Advent at Ephesus album, which we listened to a lot when I was a wee tyke. The album as a whole is therefore very nostalgic for me, and is also just a wonderful, quiet, warm, Advent-y experience. If you could turn sitting in a church at night – with no lights on but an Advent wreath and the tabernacle light- into music, it would be this album. (And I love that, in case I hadn’t already made that abundantly clear.)
O come, Divine Messiah,
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.
3. Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Of the Father’s Love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be;
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending, He.
This is one that, like “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” is both an Advent and Christmas song (and is also the oldest known Christmas song, as it is based on a poem by Aurelius Prudentius Clemens who died in 413).
2. Comfort, Comfort, O My People
Comfort, comfort, O My people;
Speak of peace, now says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak unto Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell of all the sins I cover,
And that warfare now is over.
O come, o come Emmanuel,
To free your captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Let’s face it, this is the most iconic Advent song. It’s absolutely beautiful, both lyrically and musically. (I’ve linked Enya’s version because I think it’s really beautiful (and she sings part in Latin, which is always cool) but be warned there are a lot of really cool verses that she leaves out, and she also tinkers with the lyrics a bit.)
Do you celebrate Advent? What are your favorite Advent hymns? How long do you wait to listen to Christmas songs?
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Thank you for sharing this, Lizzie! I’m not familiar with most of these hymns but the lyrics are beautiful:)
Thank you for your comment, Stephanie! Their lyrics are really lovely, aren’t they?
I’m afraid that I do not celebrate Advent, but I do love Christmas songs, and Lo, How a Rose Ere’ Blooming, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel are two of my favorite Christmas songs! I also enjoy Enya’s version, and the Latin is super intriguing!
Thank you so much for sharing all your favorites. I always love finding out what other people like to listen to. 🙂
Oh, those two are beautiful choices! (Heh, my dad is a Latin teacher, so the inclusion of Latin is always a cool plus for me xD)
Thank you so much for reading; I’m glad you liked hearing my picks! (:
I do celebrate Advent, but apparently the way I celebrate it is less distinct from Christmas, because I never really considered differentiating Advent songs from Christmas songs. I know I’ve heard/heard about most of these songs, but I don’t really *know* them, so I shall have to give them a listen 😀
O Come O Come Emmanuel <3 <3 That's one of my very favorites as well!
You should give them a listen; I think you’d like them! I would say that, generally speaking, Advent songs are more focused on anticipating Christmas (like O Come, O Come Emmanuel, or People Look East, or O Come, Divine Messiah) or about events that preceded Christmas (like The Angel Gabriel); however, the line can get pretty fuzzy at times (hence there being carols that are used for both Christmas and Advent :P).