Advent Music: Christmas Eve

I think this one needs no explanation.

Advent Music Part 5

Past Three O' Clock has long been a favorite carol of mine. I can't say exactly why (although it is one of the few Christmas carols that mentions cheese); I think partially because it's lesser-known, and thus doesn't get overplayed ever Christmas season. But more so, I think it's because it gets to my favorite moment of Christmas - that quiet, pregnant moment when the world has yet to wake up, when Christmas is set to be sprung but first, there is one last quiet pause. The shepherds are still on the hillside, ma in her kerchief and I in my cap are still settled in for a long winter's nap. The town crier echoes the ancient cry "all is well." And we slumber, gently, and Christmas lays just beyond the horizon, waiting for the sun to rise and all glory to break forth on the earth.

This carol gets at the heart of Advent - Christmas is coming, but just for now, rest. Morning, and with it Christmas, is on the way.

Past three o'clock, and a cold frosty morning,
Past three o'clock, good morrow masters all.

Born is the baby, gentle as may be
Son of the eternal Father supernal,

Sereph choir singeth, angel bell ringeth
hark how they rhyme it, time it and chime it!

Hinds o'er the pearly dewy lawn early,
Seek the high stranger laid in the manger.

Cheese from the dairy bring they for Mary
And, not for money, butter and honey

Thus they, I pray you, up sirs, nor stay you
'Til ye confess him likewise, and bless him.
 

Advent Music, auf Deutsch!

How about a nice little German lullaby for Advent? And performed by not one, but two outstanding vocal groups - The men of New York Polyphony and the ladies of Anonymous Four.

The music of Josef Lieber, Josef Mein can be traced back to a 14th century German carol (although it may go all the way back to the 12th century), while the words were used in the 16th century mystery plays in Leipzig.

The lyric is sung by Mary and Joseph as they ponder their newborn son, wrapped up in the glory and wonder of this miraculous birth. It is meant as a gentle lullaby, rocking the baby to sleep.




"Joseph, dearest Joseph mine
help me cradle the child divine
God reward thee, and all that's thine
in Paradise" 
So prays the mother Mary.

      He came among us at Christmas time,
      At Christmas time, in Bethlehem
      Men shall bring him far and wide
      love's diadem: Jesus, Jesus
      Lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us.

Gladly, dear one, lady mine
Help I cradle this child of thine
God's own light on us both shall shine
in Paradise
As prays the mother Mary.

Advent Music 3

Let's jump back 500 years. Jacob Arcadelt lived ca. 1505-1568. He was born in what is now Belgium, spent time in Florence, Rome, and Germany, and died in France. He served for a time as choirmaster of the Papal choir under Pope Paul 3, and later was choirmaster of the French Royal chapel. He was known for shorter works; in his earlier career he focused on motets and madrigals, and once in France he switched to chansons. However, he did write 3 masses, including the Christmas mass - Missa Noe noe.

This is the Kyrie from that Christmas Mass. Like much of his work, it is written in four-part harmony, with beautiful, long-flowing melodies that intertwine like the winter wind blowing through the trees. The text is the traditional Latin Kyrie:

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Music Christians would have been listening to during Advent and Christmas, almost 500 years ago.

Advent Music 2

Lux Aurumque is rightfully growing in popularity, so you may already know it. It is a modern song that sounds ancient, rich in polyphony yet so sweet and simple. It's a Christmas song, but it seems to pop up any number of places, including the Peninsula High School graduation a few years ago. I have about 3 different recordings in my own collection, including the Elora Festival Singers and the St. Olaf Choir.

Like with the last, you need to stop and really listen to this one. Dim the lights, light a candle, sit with your warm cup of tea, and let the sound wash over you, even while contemplating the mystery of the incarnation. Hear the angelic choir song of Christmas once again.

Light,
Warm and heavy as pure gold
and the angels sing softly
to the newborn baby. 
 

If you want to see something cool, then watch this. Whitacre put together a virtual choir of the same song.

And then there's the band version, which gives it a much different feel. if you're interested.

New Horizons in Musical Appreciation (Advent Edition)

As long as we've been exploring such rich versions of the wonderful Shaker tune "Simple Gifts," I thought I might continue on for the next month or so, sharing some Advent and Christmas themed music that you all need to listen to.

I was once accused of being a musical bigot. Thank you. I wasn't a music major for nothing. America is a cesspool of popular music being touted as "art."

I am hereby doing my part to educate and share and generally lift up the collective musical conscience of the world by bringing to your attention music that is, actually, really very good and worthy of listen.

If you're a lover of good music, you don't need the introduction: you already know. But if you happen to think the world really needed a Justin Bieber Christmas album, or a Carrie Underwood version of The Sound of Music, then this is for you. This is what good art, this is what craft, sounds like. This is how good it really can be.

Here's the only thing - don't play this in the background. Stop what you're doing, except maybe sipping on that hot beverage, still your heart, and take this in.

You can thank me later.

Let's start with Lauridsen's Magnum Mysterium. The text is from the Matins of Christmas, the liturgy that takes the church through the darkest hours before dawn on Christmas morning.

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!

The Rip-off of Following Advent

Here's how it's supposed to go.

First comes the 4+ weeks of Advent, a time of slowing, of cleansing, of deep-thinking, a time to be still and quiet, a time to contemplate the deep mysteries of the Incarnation and the hope of the 2nd Coming. A time to cease and desist from extravagant activities, a time to look silently inward, seeking holiness in the midst of a darkening winter.

Then, beginning December 25, 12 solid days of Christmas. Almost two weeks of celebrating Christ's birth, of excitement and joy and raucous wonder that the Lord has come to us.

Get it? Advent - the time of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," then Christmas - the time of "Joy to the World."

But our culture does it backward. 4+ months of garish Christmas displays in the stores and Marts of the land, many weeks of garlands and trees and Bing Crosby and Liquor and laughter, an extended time of frivolity leading up to December 25, and then. . .

It's over in an instant. All except the "returning merchandise to the mall-a-thon." We wake up on December 26, look around at the decorations and say "Is that still up?" All the Christmas music disappears from the airwaves, the Christmas specials gone from the television. And should you appear to still be in a Christmas mood on, say, January 3, people will look at you funny. "Dude - it's already New Years!"

Which means those of us who choose to do it the right way tend to get ripped off. We come through Advent and wake up on Christmas, ready to begin the celebration, just when the world is saying "nope - had enough of that."

See, I'm trying hard this year to stay in Advent and not get to Christmas too soon. I'd prefer to not be mugged by all the mall displays, I'm seeking music that is reflective, I'm reading books and articles that make me think slowly and deeply. Yes, we're probably going to watch Elf tomorrow night, and I've got the Harry Connick jr. Christmas CD on, so it's not like a total fast. But, overall, I'm not allowing myself to jump into Christmas hyperdrive yet.

And yet, I know how it's going to be. I'm going to be all ready to jump into the Christmas season just when the rest of you will be taking down your trees and removing the boughs of holly from the halls. Those of us who follow Advent. . .well, we may just feel a little cheated that everybody else peeked into the present box before it was time.

So, just so you know, I'm still going to be celebrating Christmas for a couple weeks yet, right up to Epiphany, with perhaps a short break for my birthday in there. I may just wish you a Merry Christmas well into 2009. Because once Advent is over, I plan on being plumb full of Christmas cheer. I can feel it building up already, and it's going to take some time to work it all out.

A good reminder before the weekend