Advent Music
Advent is a time of expectation. It’s really a magical time of year when the nights are long, there is a chill in the air, and people are looking forward to friendship and holiday celebrations. The music of Advent, also, has a special feel to it. We have discovered a treasure of Advent music arranged for the harp in one book: A Hymn a Day Volume IV
This book is arranged by Hugh Callison, and is one of five volumes. Volume IV contains hymns for Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Ordinary Time. In particular, the Advent Hymn titles are:
Hark a Thrilling Voice is Sounding (Merton)
Comfort, Comfort Now My People (Genevan 42)
Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es ISt Ein’ Ros’ Ensuprungen)
The People That in Darkenss Sat (Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen)
Lift Up Your Heads’ Ye Mighty Gates (Truro)
Watchmen Tell Us of the Night (Watchman – not Aberystwyth (hymn tune)
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (St. Anselm)
Come Thou Long -Expected Jesus (Hyfrydol)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
The music is not difficult, and is written in a choral harp style and can be used to accompany. The tunes can also be played as a solo. Samples can be seen below.
Another lovely Advent harp solo is Venez Divin Messie (O Come Divine Messiah). It is arranged by Christa Grix and lays really well under the fingers.
And lastly, referring to the above “Watchmen Tell Us of the Night”, free for you is the Aberystwyth version. It is lead sheet and has a whistle part which you can use or ignore.
Enjoy this wonderful season!








For an index of the hymns in all five volumes arranged by Hugh Callison, please click callison indexes.