Advent Service from St John's: 2 December, 4pm

[subcontrabass]

But still an Ave Maria

So how does that relate specifically to Advent?

[Alison]

What a great idea. Stephen Layton too. Perhaps I won't go to Chelmsford Cathedral after all.

[weston752]

So how does that relate specifically to Advent?

In a service which is built around the great O antiphons [to Magnificat!] and which concludes with a section entitled 'The Christ-bearer', isn't that fairly self-evident?

[Simon Biazeck]

In a service which is built around the great O antiphons [to Magnificat!] and which concludes with a section entitled 'The Christ-bearer', isn't that fairly self-evident?

Quite so!

Dom. 4 Adventus

http://www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/fcc/0002/23r/medium

Also,

Ave Maria - Offertory proper for Mass of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8.

[subcontrabass]

In a service which is built around the great O antiphons [to Magnificat!] and which concludes with a section entitled 'The Christ-bearer', isn't that fairly self-evident?

No.

(a) Because it is a text that is used all the year round.

(b) Because it is a text in honour of Mary.

[Chris Watson]

I would have thought that the phrase sung to Mary by Gabriel at the moment he told her she was going to bear the son of God is entirely appropriate for a telling of the Advent story, which if it isn't a celebration of her pregnancy and the approaching birth it isn't anything at all. Just because it is also a text that is used at other times of year it doesn't mean that it isn't particularly suitable here. As Simon points out it's even liturgically correct as it's the offertory for Mass on the 4th Sunday in Advent and they've included it in the 4th section of the service.

[DracoM]

The service is going to be a bit of an anti-climax after all this.

Chris Watson is entirely right.

[orbis factor]

So how does that relate specifically to Advent?

Crikey. Not sure where to begin..

[DracoM]

I'm a bit with orbis factor. Pretty gobsmacking question from subcontrabass - given the entire trajectory of Advent, explicit and implicit in this service format.

[Finzi4ever]

Having slept on it, maybe after all a recording from St Johns would be preferable to a live offering from most other institutions. I'm hoping for tip-top engineering as compensation.

...notwithstanding Buttery conflagrations...

[ardcarp]

[orbis factor]

...notwithstanding Buttery conflagrations...

I gather that all went without mishap

[subcontrabass]

I would have thought that the phrase sung to Mary by Gabriel at the moment he told her she was going to bear the son of God is entirely appropriate for a telling of the Advent story, which if it isn't a celebration of her pregnancy and the approaching birth it isn't anything at all. Just because it is also a text that is used at other times of year it doesn't mean that it isn't particularly suitable here. As Simon points out it's even liturgically correct as it's the offertory for Mass on the 4th Sunday in Advent and they've included it in the 4th section of the service.

Perhaps I should rephrase my objection. The Great O Antiphons belong specifically to the final days of Advent, and are related to the Magnificat at Vespers. There are texts in the Byzantine Rite which similarly relate to Advent, so why not take the opportunity to use one of those rather than something totally generic? [The Latin Rite text of Ave Maria is not the same as the Byzantine Rite text. If they were using the Western text I would not raise an objection.]

[orbis factor]

Perhaps I should rephrase my objection. The Great O Antiphons belong specifically to the final days of Advent, and are related to the Magnificat at Vespers. There are texts in the Byzantine Rite which similarly relate to Advent, so why not take the opportunity to use one of those rather than something totally generic? [The Latin Rite text of Ave Maria is not the same as the Byzantine Rite text. If they were using the Western text I would not raise an objection.]

Wikipedia is indeed a splendid resource.

[Oldcrofter]

Nothing in Whitehead's arrangement of the Joys of Mary that is either trendy or likely to frighten the horses. Straightforward new arangement of trad. melody - very 'safe' & very good.