Advent advice for musicians

“...Music, that is the science or the sense of proper modulation, is likewise given by God’s generosity to mortals having rational souls in order to lead them to higher things.”
​Saint Augustine
Sophy Morely, liturgist extraordinaire, regularly issues the Sale Diocese's liturgy newsletter, 'Living Liturgy'. Essential reading for Australian liturgists!

This quarter, Sophy focuses on Advent and lists four very important tips for musicians planning the repertoire:
  • "The Gloria is omitted during the Advent Season.
  •  When choosing hymns, consider the main themes of the Advent Season. Reflect on the pattern of the lectionary readings as they unfold during each successive week. Using an Advent hymn which can be sung for each week of Advent will help emphasise the connection between the weeks of Advent.
  • Avoid singing Christmas Carols at your Advent Masses. Advent highlights our preparation and waiting for the coming of the Lord, so it is not appropriate to pre-empt the joyful arrival of Jesus by singing Christmas Carols before Christmas.
  • Sing Christmas carols during the Christmas Season which extends from Christmas Day to the Baptism of the Lord. You can keep singing Christmas music for the whole of the Christmas Season!" (Sophy Morely, Living Liturgy, p33). 

As always, consider the three musical judgments when making your choices (from Musicam Sacram, 1967). 
  1. Music quality - are the musicians, instruments, score etc the best the community has to offer?
  2. Appropriateness for the liturgy - is the theology appropriate? Is the music suitable for liturgy? 
  3. The assembly - can the assembly participate? Liturgical music is never a performance!

And finally, 'Liturgia' contains music suggestions for every Sunday in Advent. Email [email protected] for your free trial version.​
James Robinson is Education Officer at Liturgy Brisbane
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