An Advent Playlist: Music for the Season of Expectant Hope
Way back in 2009, I was inspired to create an Advent playlist. I love Christmas music so much, but I was trying to focus on what the actual season of Advent was all about—waiting, hoping, longing, preparing. I didn’t want to celebrate Christmas too early. And so, I searched for music that reflected the true spirit of Advent—waiting for Jesus, journeying with Mary, growing in excitement, preparing my heart and home.
This Advent, I was inspired to dig up that Advent playlist. I have updated it on Spotify, as not all of the original recordings are available there, and I also plan to add to it over the next few days. I have been listening to it, as well a couple other Advent playlists (here and here) in the van as I run holiday errands. It is helping me to keep calm and peaceful during the hustle-bustle moments of the season.
***
This Advent I created an Advent playlist to listen to on my iPod (mostly) while I work on my knitting or wait for dance lessons. I have really enjoyed the differentiation between Advent and Christmas music. Something I honestly had not thought of until this year. The themes of hope, preparation, and waiting in the lyrics have truly helped me enter into this season and embrace a bit more fully all that it has to offer.
O Come, Divine Messiah: Passionist Sacred Music
People Look East: Alfred Deller & the Deller Consort
Veni Veni Emmanuel: Beth Nielsen Chapman
Magnum Nomen Domini: local choir CD
The Holly She Bears a Berry: local choir CD
Lo, How a Rose E’r Blooming: local choir CD
Still, Still, Still: local choir CD
Ave Maria: local choir CD
Creator of the Stars of Night: The Christendom College Choir & Scholla Gregoriana
Alma Redemptoris Mater: The Christendom College Choir & Scholla Gregoriana
I found some of the songs on iTunes and some on CDs I already owned. This truly has enhanced my personal Advent experience, and I highly recommend creating an Advent playlist of your own. (It’s not too late!)
What is your favorite Advent song or hymn?
For more #WorthRevisit posts, please visit Allison at Reconciled to You and Elizabeth at Theology is a Verb.
6 thoughts on “An Advent Playlist: Music for the Season of Expectant Hope”
I participate in an annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” each Advent. We perform an eclectic mix of ancient, modern and traditional Advent music, ending with 2 Christmas carols. There is always a version of the Magnificat. Other pieces include:
Once in Royal David’s City (traditional)
Emmanuel (Angrisano)
Adam Lay y Bounden (medieval)
Prepare Ye the Way/Shout to the North (I don’t have the composer for this one but it’s contemporary and FABULOUS)
The King Shall Come (Thompson)
On That Holy Mountain (Mattingly)
O Nata Lux (Porter)
Dream a Dream (contemporary)
Maranatha
Ave Maria (one of several versions)
O Magnum Mysterium (one of several versions)
Gaudete (contemporary)
I should see if these are on Spotify…
I will have to add these to my playlist, Barb! I wish I could come to your festival! I bet it is beautiful.
There’s also “Advent at Ephesus” CD by the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles. REALLY GOOD STUFF.
YES!! I love that CD!!!
I am fairly ‘new’ to Advent so I appreciate the links to the playlists so much! Thanks for hooking me up!
I grew up celebrating Advent, but I really started appreciating it in adulthood. Each year, it becomes richer and more beautiful to me.
Comments are closed.