Songs and Hymns for Advent 4C (December 20 2009)

As well as the songs listed below, there are many other songs that fit well with Advent. Here is a list of general Advent suggestions.

Micah 5:2-5a
The one of peace will come from the small clan of Judah in Bethlehem. Prophets foretold it.
TiS 621 / UMH435 / VU677 / R260 / ELW748 / HPSS289 / GC(II)717 / CP593 / W&R626 / Cha680 O God of Every Nation (Reid) Powerful words seeking God's redemption of the world. Can be sung to LLANGLOFFAN or PASSION CHORALE, both very familiar hymn tunes. Lyrics and a tune sample.
TiS 283 / HPP87 / CP(E) 58 / W&R167 Long ago prophets knew (Pratt Green / THEODORIC) I’m never sure if I like this one, but lots of other people do and it fits the reading this week well. Lyrics and midi sample here.

Luke 1:46b-55
The magnificat
G(II)128 / GC147 / GC(II)83 / RS210 And Holy Is Your Name (Haas) Lovely words to a simple Celtic tune (WILD MOUNTAIN THYME). Sheet music, lyrics and sound sample (search for Holy is your name).
MV120 / StS124 / R245 / ELW723 / HPP88 / G(II)376 / GC556 / GC(II)527 / RS678 My soul cries out with a joyful shout (Canticle of the Turning) This is my favourite Magnificat! "Could the world be about to turn?" It's sung to a folk tune (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN). Sheet music and sound sample (search for turning). Lyrics.
Taize / GC(II)530 Let Us Sing to the Lord / Benissez le Seigneur A joyous chant. Sound samples, sheet music and translations.
Taize / Iona (T1AU) / StS012 / GC(II)522 Magnificat “Magnificat amina mea dominum” Taize Magnificat. To be honest, I think it’s kind of funny to sing “Magnificat” as a lyric, but maybe that's just me. There are also alternative English lyrics, which are good if your congregation thinks singing in Latin is quirky. A catchy and happy Taize chant. Sheet music, sound samples, and English translation.
Online resource Magnificat (Harding) A fun magnificat, using the Latin phrase “Magnificat amina mea deum” Sound and sheet music sample.
GC788 / G(II)568 / GC(II)773 All that I am sings (Haas) Nice. Simple refrain. Sheet music and sound sample (search for "Magnificat").
TiS 172 / NCH119 / UMH198 / VU899 / Cha130 My soul gives glory to my God my heart (Miriam Therese Winter / MORNING SONG) Simple and beautiful words to a simple and beautiful tune. Inclusive lyrics. Lyrics (plus lyrics to lots of other magnificats). Scroll down and look for "ecumenical".
GC(II)782 My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of God (Haugen) Nice, simple to sing. Sample sheet music and music sample (search for "My soul proclaims").
GA250 My soul rejoices / Canticle of Mary (Alstott) A simple, hymnlike Magnificat.
W&R172 For Ages Women Hoped and Prayed (Huber) This is one of those "Coming, but already here songs" of Advent, and could be sung at other times of year, too. Thought-provoking words about what it may have been like for Mary to bear Christ. Lyrics (downloads a Word file). Set to VOX DILECTI, but could be sung to other tunes. It fits New Britain (the tune for Amazing Grace) quite nicely.

Psalm 80:1-7
TiS 42 / GA47 Lord make us turn to you (Boschetti). A simple refrain and mostly inclusive cantor part (just change “man” to “one” in verse 3). We have sung this at Brunswick and it went very well. Don't forget that you can use these refrains with a reader if you don't have someone confident enough to cantor.
AoVK-29 Remember we are your people (Barr) Simple three part chant "Remember we are your people, your people O God". This would work really well as a sung refrain during the prayer of confession.
StJ / G(II)346 / GC506 / GC(II)508 You Are All We Have (O'Brien) A nice refrain and good cantor parts. Somewhat formal. Sound and sheet music sample (search for "you are all we have") and a different sound sample.

Hebrews 10:5-10
Christ did God's will.
Iona / CH805 / MV151 / StJ / R257 / ELW741 / G(II)416 Your Will Be Done / Mayenziwe I found it hard to choose anything for this reading in Advent, but I think this song would be good, because it can be happy or solemn depending on how you sing it.

Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)Mary and Elizabeth.
Not many songs out there for this story....
VU12 She walked in the summer / The Visit (Winter) I will confess that I don't have a copy of this, nor do I know the tune, but I think the first two verses are really lovely. I'm not wild about the rest, sadly. Lyrics (scroll down).
TiS 731 / SFFS 2017 / G(II)377 / GC557 / GC(II)535 / W&R212 Raise a song of gladness / Jubilate Deo omnis terra (Taize) Glorious, fun round. If your congregation balks at singing in Latin, it can be sung in English as "Raise a song of gladness, people of the earth, Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart, Alleluia Alleluia, Joy to every heart (x2)" For Advent you may like to change it to "Christ will come".
TiS 287 / CH287 / StS011 / GC(II)768 / RS876 No wind at the window (COLUMCILLE /Iona). Highly recommended. This lovely Irish tune and excellent words tell the story in a simple and powerful setting. I especially like the last verse “No payment was promised, no promises made; no wedding was dated, no blueprint displayed. Yet Mary, consenting to what none could guess, replied with conviction “Tell God, I say Yes”. Lyrics, sound and sheet music sample accessible here. An easier link to the lyrics is here.
Liturgy for the Whole Church The Visitation (Susan Bock) An imaginative narration of the thoughts of Mary and Elizabeth as they wait for the birth of their children. This is a play. Suddenly I'm suggesting dramatic readings as well as music!! You can view the book, and even this reading at Google Books.

Recorded music Heaven When We're Home (Wailin' Jennys) Something about this song makes me think of Advent. The idea that we're not sure what we're looking for, or even whether and where we should be looking, but we know that our hope is not ill-founded. It's a beautiful song, so enjoy it regardless. Lyrics.