Prelude: The Sleep of the Child Jesus (Le Sommeil de l’Enfant Jesus) is a traditional French carol dating before the 16 century. The original lyrics began, “entre le boeuf et l’ane gris, Dors, dors, dors le petit fils” which translates to “between the ox and the grey donkey sleeps the little child”, and it refers to the animals and angels that surround Jesus’ manger. It was arranged by Susan E. Geschke who has composed more than 100 pieces for handbells. She lives in Crystal Lake, Illinois and has a reputation as an energetic and inspiring director who combines hard work with fun. St. Martin’s Handbell choir will play lovely chords with the melody floating overhead. (2011 Agape, a Division of Hope Publishing Co.)
Carol 1: Deo Gracias is an arrangement of the classic carol Adam lay yBounden; an early English song that dates to the 15 century, circa 1400. You will find many of the words in the poem to be unfamiliar Middle English. It is based on the Genesis story of Adam, Eve, the Garden of Eden, the “forbidden fruit” and the “fall”. However, the poet took an optimistic view, and the eating of the forbidden apple ended well, thanks to Mary and her son Jesus. This arrangement by Jim Leininger was commissioned by the Pinellas County School for the Arts for a Madrigal Dinner. It will be sung by the soprano & alto Treble ensemble from our choir. (1997 JEHMS, Inc. Alliance Music Publications, Inc)
Carol 2: Comfort, Comfort Ye My People by David A. deSilva. He is the Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio and an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. deSilva has written many books but also has a gift for music, having been an organist and choir director and has arranged this song in his favorite musical style of Renaissance. (seminary.ashland.edu) The song is a paraphrase of Isaiah 40:1-5 in which the prophet looks forward to the coming of Christ when the coming of the forerunner of Christ—John the Baptist—is foretold. We will bring in oboe, cello and percussion to brighten the sound! (2010 Concordia Publishing House)
Carol 3: Come Now, O Prince of Peace was written in 1991 by Geonyong Lee. This elegantly simple hymn, paraphrased from Korean and set to the author’s own tune, gives voice to the hope of reconciliation between divided peoples. It appeared in the Iona Community’s 2nd volume of Songs of the World Church. It is the practice of this community to devote the Monday evening office to prayer for justice and peace, where, on occasion, individual stanzas of this hymn are sung between intercessions. (GIA publications; from Wonder, Love, and Praise hymnal supplement, Church Pub.)
Carol 4: Carol for Advent by Nancy Price and Don Besig is a haunting anthem incorporating one of the most beloved carols, What Child is This? Besig and long-time collaborator Price taught public school music for 31 years in New York. He is Director of Music at Perinton Presbyterian Church in Fairport, NY. Recognizing a need for choral music written for student singers and volunteer church choirs, they began composing and have since released over 350 arrangements. Joy Floyd will play the familiar carol on the flute while the choir sings a contrasting song. (1991 by Alfred Publishing Co. Inc.)
Carol 5: O little town of Bethlehem In 1865, the year the Civil War ended and President Lincoln was assassinated, themes of peace and quiet would probably have been welcome to Americans. In that year, the Rev. Phillips Brooks took a trip to Israel and saw Bethlehem and its surrounding fields on Christmas Eve, which eventually inspired him to write this carol. In contrast to some other Christmas hymns that emphasize the glory of God as seen in the grand chorus of angels, Brooks focuses on the quietness of Christ’s birth, and how little the larger world paid attention. The final stanza is a prayer that Christ would come again and be present with us. (Hymnary.org)
Carol 6: I want to walk as a child of the Light is a lovely new arrangement of Kathleen Thomerson’s beloved hymn by Erik Dewar and Dan Forrest. Dewar is the Pastor of Worship and Music at College Church in Wheaton, IL. Forrest (b. 1978) has been described as having “an undoubted gift for writing beautiful music…that is truly magical” (NY Concert Review) This arrangement is designed to have the congregation become a part of the choir with the dramatic crescendos of the final stanza. This moving interpretation of the hymn also adds oboe and cello. (2024 by Beckenhorst Press, Inc.)
Carol 7: I will hold Him: Beginning with the story of the angel Gabriel coming to Galilee to bring Mary the news that she will bear God’s son, the verses thereafter take the form of a conversation between Gabriel (tenors and basses) and Mary (sopranos and altos). The turning point comes at verse 5 when Mary repeats the words which the angel has just spoken but in the first person, indicating her willingness to accept God’s calling. For the final section, Mary, now represented by a solo soprano, communes directly with God through prayer. Joanna Forbes L’Estrange (b. 1971) is an Anglo-Irish soprano, composer and choral director. She is also a passionate advocate for gender equality and has become the go-to composer for songs about women. She took her inspiration for this piece from an evocative painting by her friend the Reverend Ally Barrett depicting the annunciation, of which Barrett explained, ‘Mary is able to be overwhelmed but not obliterated by the Holy Spirit because the same God who calls her is also holding her and giving her strength; likewise, she can hold Jesus because she herself is held.’ The piece ends with a beautiful colla voce section singing “And I will hold Him, Just as Thou holdest me” Chelsea Brewer will sing some of Mary’s words with the choir. (2022 The Royal School of Church Music)
Carol 8: Canticle of the Turning was written by Rory Cooney (b. 1952) and is based on the Magnificat. The melody is a traditional Irish tune Star of County Down. On the Daily Theology podcast, Katherine A. Greiner says, “When I pray with (this song) I imagine Mary being so filled with relief, excitement, nervousness, gratitude, joy, and hope that her prayer overflows into a spontaneous, raucous song. She starts clapping her hands and tapping her feet. Suddenly she grabs the shocked Elizabeth by the hands and together the two pregnant women playfully twirl around the kitchen singing and laughing in celebratory anticipation! Our God is good! Our God is present! This beautiful, broken world that is so corrupt, so unjust, so hurtful, and so dark is going to change! God has not abandoned us! In fact, God’s grace fills us! And our salvation is at hand!” (dailytheology.org/2014/07/17; 2015 Augsburg Fortress)
Offertory: Nadia Maddex returns to sing an inspiring solo: Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) by Amy Grant and Chris Eaton. The song was originally written as a simple prayer by British songwriter Chris Eaton and wasn’t meant to be a Christmas song. When contemporary Christian vocal artist Amy Grant heard the song while expecting her third child, she suggested that it could be sung from the perspective of the expectant Mary. The lyrics help us to relate to the uncertainty and vulnerability that Mary must have felt as she waited for Jesus to be born. (Steve Givens, Jesuits.org; 1998, Hal Leonard Co.)
Communion Voluntary: Whence is that Goodly Fragrance is an absolutely delicious setting of the French carol Quelle est cette odeur agreable, which translates as What is this perfume so appealing, shepherds, that fills the winter air? It is arranged by Evelyn R. Larter, who was born in Scotland and has become a world class musician and composer, and is also the Music Director at Deerfield Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania. Everyone will enjoy hearing Joy Floyd on oboe and Susan Hampton on cello with this lovely arrangement of the French carol. (2015 St. James Music Press license #11394)
Recessional Hymn: People, look East was written by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) in 1957 after the success of her popular hymn text Morning has broken. She was widely celebrated for her children’s books but the editors of The Oxford Book of Carols asked her to provide a text for this delightful French tune Besancon Carol. “The result was this charming carol, which matches the energy of the text perfectly with the energy of the tune; notice especially how the third phrase of each stanza discloses a task or challenge inherent in the metaphor of that stanza.” (John L. Hooker; Wonder, Love, and Praise hymnal supplement 1997 Church Publishing Inc.)
Each year, Advent Lessons & Carols is an experience that requires many people and many hours to bring to fruition. Our choir members are devout in giving a great deal of time and energy and beaucoup number of hours rehearsing along with sharing their musical talents every week throughout the year. We also welcome several guest musicians: Joy Floyd has provided beautiful music for us for many years and we appreciate her oboe and flute embellishments. Susan Hampton is a retired orchestra teacher and is always happy to share her wonderful cello music. Nadia Maddex returns from her busy schedule to share her lovely soprano voice with us. The children of St. Martin’s in our Chapel Choir are brave and willing to play any instrument handed to them as well as learning to ring bells and hand chimes in front of everyone to enhance our worship. Special thanks go to Chris Marsh for his dedication to playing percussion, pre-setting everything from equipment to microphones to bell tables, and keeping our sound system working at its highest level! My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn!