Music Notes for December 21, 2025

Music for Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

We are so close to Christmas – and yet there is more Advent music to remind us that we’re not quite there yet!

This morning’s mass setting is by German composer Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612). In his early 20s, he left his native Nürnberg  for the opportunity to study in Venice, where he befriended Giovanni Gabrieli and studied with Andrea Gabrieli. The title of the mass indicates that it is a parody mass, based on an earlier motet, which we will also sing during communion.

On this fourth Sunday of Advent in Year A, the gospel focuses on Joseph’s part in the story of preparation for the Nativity, but all our set collects remind us of Mary’s story and the Annunciation, and our communion motets reflect that: the original Hassler motet, and then the well-loved “Gabriel’s Message”, a Basque carol arranged by Edgar Pettman, best known for his 1892 collection of Modern Christmas Carols – which are now classics.

Our communion hymn is from Sweden – three verses of a much longer text in an irresistible dancing rhythm. And the melody of our closing hymn reminds us that Christmas is just around the corner, though the words are full of references to Isaiah’s prophecies.

Brigid Coult

Solemn Mass takes place at St. James’ Anglican Church, Vancouver at 10:30 am every Sunday.

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Music Notes for December 14, 2025

Music for Third Sunday of Advent

 

In a world full of Christmas songs and commercial excitement, our church remains in a time of waiting. Our Advent hymns focus on the coming of Christ, on the prophecies that fuel our expectation, and on the announcement of John the Baptist.

The composer of our Communion setting was Dr George Oldroyd. He was organist of St. Alban’s Church, Holborn, and then of St. Michael’s Church, Croydon until his death in 1951. His beautiful “Mass of the Quiet Hour” was not published until 1969.

At communion, the choir sings the traditional O Antiphons in a setting by Canadian composer Healey Willan. These are antiphons to be used at Vespers during the Magnificat during the last week of Advent; they are best known in their form as the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, which we sang on Advent 1. They derive their title from the vocative address to Christ in one of his attributes.

  • O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
  • O Adonai (O Lord)
  • O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
  • O Clavis David (O Key of David)
  • O Oriens (O Dawn of the East)
  • O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
  • O Emmanuel (O God With Us)

This morning we will alternate the Willan settings with traditional plainsong.  A slightly different plainsong and translation can be found in the New English Hymnal at #503

Brigid Coult

Solemn Mass takes place at St. James’ Anglican Church, Vancouver at 10:30 am every Sunday.

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