Advent post No. 1: preparations

[callmemadam]

No decorations for me yet, but it’s time to get out the seasonal china and the advent calendar. The calendar is last year’s but I won’t remember what’s behind each window so it will still be fun.

Every year, there’s a candlelit Advent service in the Minster church. It’s always packed and you have to arrive early to get a seat. The service always opens with this hymn as a processional.

O come, O come, Emmanuel!
Redeem thy captive Israel
That into exile drear is gone,
Far from the face of God's dear Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Absolutely spine tingling. I love the Advent hymns, especially Of The Father’s Love Begotten and Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.
Who doesn’t love Fauré’s Pie Jesu? Get in training for listening to lots more choristers this month.

Comments

[gghost.livejournal.com]

How lovely! Thank you so much for sharing.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

My pleasure, and thank *you* so much for the pretty tree and wishes!

[gwendraith.livejournal.com]

Those mugs are lovely. I will get mine out as well. No advent calenders this year. I seem to be behind, probably because I'm not getting out often enough with this darned sciatica.

The video is beautiful. I love listening to those clear voices of the boy choristers.

Thanks for sharing :)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Great icon! It's about time there was a cure for darned sciatica.

Glad you like the music.

[trixiebacon.livejournal.com]

Osteopathy saved me.

[joyeuce]

I have that Advent calendar too, and M bought me this year's from the Bodleian. We also have one Nana provided for J, but my other five aren't coming out this year - very restrained for me!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Seven Advent calendars? My. I used to keep ours stashed away with the decorations but they went out in the great move.

[joyeuce]

Three date from my mother's childhood, one from mine and the others have been acquired since. I posted about some of them a few years ago.

[(Anonymous)]

Wonderful music.
(not sure if I can comment from iPad)
Susie (vereker)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Lovely, isn't it?

Ha, it seems you can!

[trixiebacon.livejournal.com]

I've always loved 'O come, O come, Emmanuel!'

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I love hymns like that one, with an almost medieval, plainsong-ish sound to them.