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Music Suggestions
The Fourth Sunday of Advent (A)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

  • Introit:
    1. Rorate cæli desuper [Graduale Romanum, p.34]
    2. Rorate cæli desuper [Gregorian Missal, p.180]
    3. Rorate cæli desuper (Gregorian chant) [Liber usualis, p.353] Proper Introit for Advent IV
    4. Rorate cæli [ant] & Psalm 19A [ps tone] (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.59]
    5. Rorate coeli: A Responsory for Advent (Calvert Shenk)
    6. Rorate coeli desuper (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
    7. Rorate cæli desuper (William Byrd) [Oxford]
    8. Rorate cæli desuper (Francisco Guerrero) [Chester]
    9. Rorate cæli desuper (Gregorian chant) [Liber usualis, p.353] Proper Introit for Advent IV
    10. Rorate cæli desuper (Francisco Guerrero, Chris Mueller, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Jacob Reiner, Salamone Rossi)
    11. Skies, let the Just One come forth [Simple English Propers (Adam Bartlett) p.13 / CMAA]
    12. Let the clouds rain down the Just One [Simple Choral Gradual (Richard Rice) p.10 / CMAA]
    13. Drop down dew from above [Lumen Christi Missal (Adam Bartlett) p.906 / Illuminare Publications]
    14. Drop Down, Ye Heavens (Heathcote Statham) from Oxford Easy Anthem Book
    15. Drop down dew from above [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.7, Mode 1 / OCP]
    16. Drop down dew from above [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.30-33]
    17. Drop down dew from above [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.8, with Psalm 19[18] / Liturgical Press]
    18. Drop down dew from above [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #145, with Psalm 19 / Illuminare Publications]
    19. Let the clouds rain down the Just One [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.7, with Psalm 19 / Liturgical Press]
    20. Drop down dew from above [Mass Propers for Advent (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 80]
    21. O Heavens, Let the Just One Come [tune: Winchester Old] from Introit Hymns #4 (Christoph Tietze)
  • Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
    1. Prope est Dominus [Graduale Romanum, p.35]
    2. Prope est Dominus [Gregorian Missal, p.181]
    3. Choose one Psalmus responsorius from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]
    4. Prope est Dominus (Caspar Ett)
    5. Prope est Dominus from Vier Hymnen (Josef Rheinberger)
    6. I was glad when they said to me [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.8, with Psalm 122 / Liturgical Press]
    7. Chabanel Psalmody
    8. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
    9. Common Psalms for Schools & Parishes (Thomas Cosley)
  • Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
    1. Veni Domine [Graduale Romanum, p.36]
    2. Veni Domine [Gregorian Missal, p.182]
    3. Veni Domine (William Byrd, Felix Mendelssohn, Juan Esquivel, Francisco Guerrero, Cristóbal de Morales)
    4. Choose one Alleluia from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]
    5. Alleluia, give ear, O shepherd of Israel [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.8-9, with Psalm 80 / Liturgical Press]
  • Offertory:
    1. Ave Maria gratia plena [Graduale Romanum, p.36]
    2. Ave Maria gratia plena [Gregorian Missal, p.183] 
    3. Choose one Antiphona ad offertorium from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]
    4. Ave Maria (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume III
    5. Ave Maria [ant] & Psalm 25 [ps tone] (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.62]
    6. Ave Maria (Jacob Arcadelt, arr. Andrea Angelini)
    7. Ave Maria gratia plena (Moritz Brosig, Anton Bruckner, William Byrd, Luigi Cherubini, Edward Elgar, Cristóbal de Morales, Jean Mouton, Claudio Monteverdi, Lorenzo Perosi, Josquin des Prez, Louis Vierne)
    8. Ave Maria gratia plena from Vier Offertorien (L.B. Est)
    9. Ave Maria gratia plena from 6 Gradualia vel Offertoria (Karl Kempter)
    10. Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria, arr. Andrea Angelini)
    11. Hail Mary, full of grace [Simple English Propers, p.14 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
    12. Blessed are you among women [Simple Choral Gradual (Richard Rice) p.11 / CMAA]
    13. Hail Mary, Full of Grace [Lumen Christi Missal (Adam Bartlett) p.907 / Illuminare Publications]
    14. Hail Mary, full of grace [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.33-36]
    15. Hail Mary, full of grace [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #146, with Psalm Luke 1 / Illuminare Publications]
    16. Hail Mary, full of grace [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.10, with Psalm 24 / Liturgical Press]
    17. Rejoice, O highly favored [Mass Propers for Advent (Penkala) p.3, with Psalm 25]
  • Communion:
    1. Ecce virgo concipiet [Graduale Romanum, p.37]
    2. Ecce virgo concipiet [Gregorian Missal, p.184]
    3. Ecce virgo concipiet [Communio, p.82 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
    4. Ecce Virgo concipiet (Heinrich Isaac) [Chester]
    5. Ecce Virgo concipiet (Cristobal Morales) [G. Schirmer]
    6. Ecce Virgo concipiet (J.P. Sweelinck) [Broude]
    7. Choose one Antiphona ad communionem from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]
    8. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [Simple English Propers (Adam Bartlett) p.15 / CMAA]
    9. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [Choral Communio (Richard Rice) p.8 / Hostia Laudis Co]
    10. The Virgin is with child [Simple Choral Gradual (Richard Rice) p.12 / CMAA]
    11. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [Lumen Christi Missal (Adam Bartlett) p.907 / Illuminare Publications]
    12. A Virgin shall conceive and bear a son [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
    13. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.7, Mode 1 / OCP]
    14. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.36-38]
    15. Behold, a Virgin will conceive [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.9, with Luke 1 / Liturgical Press]
    16. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #147, with Psalm 19 / Illuminare Publications]
    17. Lord, you have blessed your land [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.10, with Psalm 85 / Liturgical Press]
    18. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive [Mass Propers for Advent (Penkala) p.5, with Psalm 85]
  • Mass settings:
    1. Latin Chant Mass XVII (Adventus et Quadragesimae)
    2. Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
    3. Missa Deus Genitor alme (Harry McMurray)

Other liturgical music

Hymns

  • As Joseph Lay Uneasy (CH #172)
  • Behold a Virgin Bearing Him (PMB #8, HH #29, SMH #453)
  • Canticle of Zachary/Zechariah (WIII #6, CBW #77, CH #421, PMB #223, PMB #754, CH #421, SMH #465)
  • Come, O Long Expected Jesus (WIII #364, HH #2, HPSC #140, AH #310, CBW #447, VII #329)
  • Come, Thou Redeemer (CD #804, CBW #18, HPSC #141)
  • Hail to the Lord's Anointed (AH #354, CH #175, HH #54, HPSC #181, ICEL #229, CHB #3, SMH #554, EH #545, LCH #35)
  • Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates! (AH #485, HH #19, HPSC #211, ICEL #7, WIII #363, SMH #615, EH #484, VII #211, LCH #6)
  • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (AH #301, CBW #440, CH #179, HPSC #236, ICEL #8, PMB #1, WIII #357, CHB #8, SMH #652, EH #2, VII #226, LCH #1)
  • O Comfort Ye My People (Ledoux/Penkala) from Ten New Carols, Volume 1
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (AH #302, CD #801, CH #184, HH #33, WIII #372, SMH #741, VII #228, LCH #12)
  • Send, Lord, Like Dew (HH #34)
  • So Lately Sprung from Glory (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
  • The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (WIII #537, ICEL #239, HPSC #320, EH #285)
  • Thou Art the Star of Morning (HPSC #331)
AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press
CBW = Catholic Book of Worship II / Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
CD = Cantate Domino / Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc.
CH = The Collegeville Hymnal, The Liturgical Press
CHB = The Catholic Hymn Book [London Oratory], Gracewing Publishers
EH = The Hymnal 1940 (Episcopal), used by many Anglican Use Roman Catholic parishes
HH = Hymnal of the Hours, GIA Publications, Inc.
HPSC = Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Canticles, out of print but excellent
ICEL = ICEL Resource Collection, GIA Publications, Inc.
LCH = Lumen Christi Hymnal, Illuminare Publications
PMB = People's Mass Book, World Library Publications, Inc.
SMH = The Saint Michael Hymnal – 4th Edition 2011, Saint Boniface Church, Lafayette IN
VII = Vatican II Hymnal, Corpus Christi Watershed
WIII = Worship, 3rd Edition, GIA Publications, Inc.

Choral Music

  • Adam Lay Y-bounden from Two-part Motets for Advent (Gregory Hamilton)
  • Adam Lay Ybounden (arr. Boris Ord) from Carols for Choirs II, Oxford
  • Ad te levavi animam meam (Leo Sowerby)
  • Alma redemptoris mater (Gregorian chant) Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
  • Alma redemptoris mater (Stephen McManus)
  • Alma redemptoris mater (G.P. da Palestrina, arr. Andrea Angelini)
  • Angelus ad Virginem (14 C., arr. Willcocks) from Carols for Choirs III, Oxford
  • Annunciation (Heinrich Schütz) for ST soli and SATB choir
  • Ave Maria (Jacob Arcadelt, arr. Andrea Angelini)
  • Ave Maria (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume III
  • Ave Maria [ant] & Psalm 25 [ps tone] (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.62]
  • Ave Maria (Anton Bruckner) [Peters]
  • Ave Maria (W.A. Mozart)
  • Ave Maria (Josef Rheinberger)
  • Ave Maria (Tomás Luis de Victoria, arr. Andrea Angelini)
  • Behold, A Virgin Shall Be with Child (John LaMontaine)
  • Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth (arr. Willcocks) from Carols for Choirs II, Oxford
  • Drop Down, Ye Heavens (Heathcote Statham) from Oxford Easy Anthem Book
  • Drop Down, Ye Heavens, from Above (G. Winston Cassler) [Augsburg]
  • Ecce Virgo concipiet (Heinrich Isaac) [Chester]
  • Ecce Virgo concipiet (Cristobal Morales) [G. Schirmer]
  • Ecce Virgo concipiet (J.P. Swelinck) [Broude]
  • Gabriel's Message (Robert Grogan)
  • Gabriel's Message (arr. David Willcocks) from Carols for Choirs II, Oxford
  • Hail! Blessed Virgin Mary (arr. Charles Wood) from Carols for Choirs II, Oxford
  • Lift Up Your Heads (Rev. Brian K. Muzas)
  • Lift Up Your Heads from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
  • Magnificat brevis (Gary Penkala)
  • Of the Father's Heart Begotten (arr. Willcocks) from Carols for Choirs II, Oxford
  • Of the Father's Love Begotten (Michael Cox)
  • Of the Father's Love Begotten (Andrew R. Motyka)
  • Rorate cæli desuper (Gregorian chant) [Liber usualis, p.353] Proper Introit for Advent IV
  • Rorate cæli [ant] & Psalm 19A [ps tone] (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.59]
  • Rorate caeli desuper (Calvert Shenk)
  • Rorate cæli desuper (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
  • Rorate cæli desuper (William Byrd) [Oxford]
  • Rorate cæli desuper (Francisco Guerrero) [Chester]
  • Rorate cæli desuper from Two-part Motets for Advent (Gregory Hamilton)
  • Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 1 (Gary Penkala)
  • Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 2 (Greene, Brumby, Penkala)
  • The Great 'O' Antiphons (Gregorian chant) choose the antiphon that is particularly appropriate for today from Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
  • There Is No Rose (anon 15th C.) from Carols for Choirs II, Oxford
  • There Is No Rose (Benjamin Britten) from Ceremony of Carols
  • Tota pulchra es, Maria (J. William Greene)

Organ Music

  • Advent Chorale Prelude (Robert Graham) [The Sacred Organ Journal, Vol.13, No.4 - Lorenz]
  • Advent: Stuttgart (Richard Elsasser) [The Christian Year - Sacred Songs Co.]
  • Canonic Partita on Savior of the Nations, Come (J. William Greene) [Choral Web Publishing, Inc]
  • Chorale Prelude on Veni Emmanuel (John Hebden Schaffner) [Organist's Companion, November 1997]
  • Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Jan Bender) [Parish Organist XII - Concordia]
  • Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Raymond Haan)
  • Drop Down, Ye Heavens (Camil Van Hulse)
  • Ellacombe (Lois Hill) [Organist's Companion, March 1999 ]
  • Fantasia on Veni Emmanuel (Heathcote Statham)
  • Festival Intrada on Ellacombe (Roger Bailey) [Consoliere V-2]
  • Four Advent Chorales for Flute and Harpsichord [or Organ] (Stephen McManus)
  • Four Preludes on Chant Hymns (Mark Siebert)
  • Hymnus de Adventu Domini: Veni Redemptor gentium (Samuel Scheidt) [Organist's Companion, November 1988]
  • Improvisation on Veni Emmanuel (Camil van Hulse) [Advent Preludes]
  • Joseph est bien marié (André Raison)
  • Lift Up Your Heads (Ewald Weiss) [Parish Organist XII - Concordia]
  • Little Fantasy on Veni Emmanuel (Glenn Caluda)
  • Now Come, Savior of the Gentiles (John Diercks) [Six Sacred Compositions for Organ - Abingdon APM-255]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (J.S. Bach) [Orgelbüchlein] [Orgelwerke VII - Peters 246] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland; (Dieterich Buxtehude) [Anthologia pro organo II - Schott Frères] [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (G.F. Kauffmann) [Organist's Companion, December 1980]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Johann Pachelbel) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co] [Organist's Companion, November 2000]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Max Reger) [Thirty Chorale Preludes - Peters 3980]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (A.N. Vetter) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448]
  • Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (F.W. Zachau) [Organist's Companion, December 1984 & November 1990]
  • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel from Three Preludes for the Christmas Cycle (Robert Farrell)
  • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Beatrice Limmer) [Organist's Companion, November 1996]
  • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set I - Morning Star Music Publ 10-100]
  • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Frank Speller) [Three Organ Settings for Advent - Concordia]
  • Oh Come, Emmanuel (Wilbur Held) [A Nativity Suite - Concordia 97-4461]
  • Of the Father's Love Begotten (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia]
  • Of the Father's Love Begotten (David N. Johnson) [Augsburg]
  • Ostinato on O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Alec Wyton) [Preludes, Fanfares & a March for the Liturgical Year - Flammer]
  • Prelude on Ellacombe (Alfred Fedak) [Organist's Companion, March 1991]
  • Prelude on Veni Emmanuel (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
  • Prélude solennel (Richard Purvis) [An American Organ Mass - Flammer]
  • Quatrième Dimanche de l'Avent (C.A. Chauvet)
  • Reflections on Veni Emmanuel (John Barr) [Organist's Companion, November 1991]
  • Ricercare on Ave Maria klare (J.K.F. Fischer) [Consoliere IV-4 - World Library Publ]
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (J.H. Buttstedt) [Parish Organist, Part 3 - Concordia]
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set I - Morning Star Music Publ 10-100]
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 1 - Concordia 97-5019]
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 4 - Concordia 97-6013]
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (Max Reger) [Chorale Preludes for the Church Year - Carl Fischer]
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (Frank Speller) [Three Organ Settings for Advent - Concordia]
  • Three Preludes for the Christmas Cycle (Robert Farrell)
  • Toccata on Savior of the Nations (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for the Christmas Season Set 1 [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-100]
  • Variations on Ellacombe" [Organist's Companion, September 1996]
  • Variations on Freu dich sehr (Alfred Fedak)
  • Variations on Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Anton Heiller)
  • Veni Emmanuel (Calvin Hampton) [Organist's Companion, December 1982]
  • Veni Emmanuel (Robin Rokey) [Organist's Companion, November 2001]
  • Veni Emmanuel (David Schack) [Organist's Companion, December 1987]
  • Veni Emmanuel from Two Chant Processionals (Kevin Waters SJ)

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

This Sunday points to the imminent birth of Christ. Avoid every urge to use Christmas music — it's still Advent [and with the abundance of hymns, and choral and organ music listed above, there's really no excuse]. Mary appears in the readings and Marian music certainly has a place today; today's Collect echoes the closing prayer of the Angelus.

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