This Sunday (Nov 30) marks the first Sunday of Advent, a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

 The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming".

Many churches also hold special musical events, such as Nine Lessons and Carols and singing of Handel's Messiah oratorio, Also, the Advent Prose, an antiphonal plainsong, may be sung. The "Late Advent Weekdays", December 17–24, mark the singing of the Great Advent 'O antiphons'. These are the antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers, or Evening Prayer (in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches) and Evensong in Anglican churches each day and mark the forthcoming birth of the Messiah. They form the basis for each verse of the popular Advent hymn, "O come, O come, Emmanuel".

German songs for Advent include "Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen" from the 15th century.

Johann Sebastian Bach composed four cantatas for Advent. White Light listeners will be treated to two of them ---Bach's Nun komm Heiden Heiland, BWV 61 and Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36.

Here's a little taste of Bach's cantatas with the first movement (ouverture) from cantata BWV 61  "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" (Now come, the gentiles' Savior) for the First Sunday in Advent, performed by the J. S. Bach Foundation of St Gallen under Rudolf Lutz.

 

 

Eric will also have music written for Advent by French composer Olivier Messiaen.

Tune in to White Light every Sunday morning 6:00 AM - Noon with Eric Friesen.