The Rhythm Divine

It's Advent Sunday this weekend, the beginning of the church year for Christians in the West. A time for personal reflection, looking back over the year, and for a sense of hope, looking forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. And so our music this week carries a message of hope, with folk hymns from Sweden and England, an organ work and Advent cantata from J.S. Bach, and to start, Johnny Cash bridging troubled waters.

The album American IV released in 2002 was the last album put out by Johnny Cash during his lifetime.

We also heard one of the best-known works of J.S.Bach, 'Zion hears the Watchmen calling' (Zion hort die Wachter singen) the central chorale from his Advent Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, first performed on the 25th of November 1731 in Leipzig, Germany as part of a Lutheran service. And sung there by tenor Kurt Equiluz with the Concentus Musicus Wien under Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

It's one of Bach's best-loved melodies and certainly Bach himself must have been fond of it because he recycled it, transcribing it for organ (in his BWV 645) some 16 years later, so let's hear that version now. This is Ton Koopman on a period organ of the kind Bach would have been familiar with, from the early 1700s

We heard some musical time-travelling there from Sydney band Resonaxis, using baroque instruemtns including cello, violins and my favourite, the theorbo, a long-necked lute from the 17th century sometimes up to 2 metres long. Brooke Shelley was the songwriter and vocalist. She's a classically trained choir singer. The album relased this year is self-titled, Resonaxis, and you can download it from their website.

This is The Rhythm Divine on ABC Radio National, and with Advent Sunday this weekend, let's head to Sweden for more fine singing, a traditional folk hymn you might hear at this time where Advent is almost as important as Christmas. Sweden's been Christian for a thousand years and the Church of Sweden is Evangelical Lutheran, and so it's not surprising that this hymn, 'Prepare the Royal Highway' (Berenden vag for Herran), is based on a German folk melody. Our soloist is Sara Lilly-Bilen with members of the Church of Sweden in Basle Switzerland. The album is called A Swedish Christmas, kindly lent to me by the Swedish pastor for Sydney and Brisbane, Katja Lin, and many thanks to her. Now you know where Abba got their harmonies from.

And speaking of Christmas, which is not far way at all, I'd love to hear about your favourite Christmas carols. So have a think and either send me an email or a letter with your favourite carols and on the last show of the year I'll play the top 5.

That's The Rhythm Divine, GPO Box 9994 in your capital city, or go to the website and click on the Have Your Say link.

We'll end this week with an Advent hymn with a difference. From Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band with one of Charles Wesley's 900 hymns, 'Lo He comes with clouds descending, using bassoons, oboes and flutes in the style known as a gallery hymn from the late 18th century in England. The album is called Sing Lustily and With Good Courage, which was one of John Wesley's instructions for singing. And probably a good rule for life I think.

Further Information

Can We Sing Christmas Carols During Advent?
A personal view from Dennis R. Bratcher, a professor of Old Testament with a PhD in Biblical studies from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, USA. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene.

Music

CD title: American IV: The Man Comes Around
Track title: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Artist: Johnny Cash
Composer: P. Simon
CD details: American 063 339 2
URL: http://www.johnnycashmusic.com/

CD title: Das Kantatenwerk / Sacred Cantatas Vol. 8
Track title: Zion hort die Wachter singen BWV 140
Artist: Kurt Equiluz/ Concentus musicus Wien/ Nicholas Harnancourt
Composer: J.S.Bach
CD details: Teldec 4509 91762 2

CD title: Bach Organ Works Vol. 2
Track title: Wachet, auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645
Artist: Ton Koopman
Composer: J.S.Bach
CD details: Teldec 4509 94459 2

CD title: Resonaxis
Track title: Travelling Gifts
Artist: Resonaxis
Composer: Brooke Shelley
CD details: Zenith Wa records
URL: http://www.resonaxis.com/

CD title: En Svensk Jul - A Swedish Christmas
Track title: Berenden vag for Herran (Prepare the Royal Highway)
Artist: Sara Lilly-Bilen and members of the Church of Sweden in Basel
Composer: trad. arr. Anders Bond
CD details: Foundation Suisa/ Church of Sweden
URL: http://www.swedesinsydney.org/swchurch.htm

CD title: Sing Lustily and With Good Courage
Track title: Lo He comes with clouds decending
Artist: Maddy Prior with The Carnival Band
Composer: Stanley/ C. Wesley
CD details: Saydisc CD SDL 383
URL: http://www.carnivalband.com/and_maddy_prior.html