This is a somewhat odd Advent Calendar, in some respects. It’s very Mary-ish, for one thing. And I was having a particularly busy / messy Advent, so my posts got shorter and shorter with every day. And then, on December 20th, my grandfather died, and it all got rather funereal. But this calendar also contains some of my absolutely all time favourite Advent music, and even the bits which aren’t quite Adventy are very beautiful.
December 1 – The Matin Responsory, by Palestrina
December 2 – Magnificat, by H. Purcell
December 3 – Angelus ad Virginem, Trad., Performed by the King’s Singers
December 4 – The Record of John, by Orlando Gibbons
December 5 – Herzlich Lieb hab’Ich dich, o Herr, by Heinrich Schütz
December 6 – Lullay My Liking, by G. Holst
December 7 – Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, by Bairstow
December 8 – For Unto Us a Child is Born, by G.F. Handel
December 9 – The Angelus, plainchant, Anon.
December 10 – Christus Factus Est Pro Nobis, by Bruckner
December 11 – Wachet Auf! Ruft uns die Stimme, by J.S. Bach
December 12 – Alma Redemptoris Mater, by T.L. de Victoria
December 13 – Cherry Tree Carol, Trad., performed by the Greenoch Duo
December 14 – The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came, performed by All Angels
December 15 – Ev’ry Valley, by G.F. Handel, performed by Ian Bostridge
December 16 – In the Bleak Midwinter, Gustav Holst / Harold Darke (yes, both versions!)
December 17 – Christmas Day, by James and Wheeler
December 18 – Ave Maria, by Philippe Rombi
December 19 – I saw a swete semly syght, Trad., performed by Anonymous 4
December 20 – Dona Nobis Pacem, canon by Mozart
December 21 – Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts, by Purcell
December 22 – Rorate Coeli, by Heinrich Schütz
December 23 – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Trad., performed by the King’s Singers
December 24 – Magnificat, by Telemann, arranged and performed by Ensemble Planeta
December 25 – Ecce Mundi Gaudium, Past Three O’Clock, The Shepherds’ Farewell (Berlioz), God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen