Music of Advent

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Friday, December 9th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Up next: the Music of Advent from around the world.

Last Friday, we heard musical selections from Germany. If you missed it, we’ve included a link to it in today’s transcript. Visit WNG.org.

While you’re there, you can also find links to our Advent playlists for Spotify and Apple Music—making it possible to listen to the full versions of the cuts we highlight each week.

BROWN: Well, you’re in for a treat today as we head to the Land Down Under for a few Australian Advent songs and the first one is a real toe-tapper. Here’s WORLD correspondent Amy Lewis.

MUSIC: [Everybody Get Ready]

AMY LEWIS, REPORTER: In Australia, Halloween is minimal, and American Thanksgiving is nonexistent. Stores start filling with tinsel and lights and fur-dressed Santas early in October alongside pool noodles and large bottles of sunscreen, thanks to our upside-down seasons. But it’s never too early to look forward with eager anticipation to the Advent of Christ.

MUSIC: [Everybody Get Ready]

Sydney musician Colin Buchanan has been writing children’s songs since the mid-90s. His song called “Everybody Get Ready” reflects the excitement and energy of the highly anticipated event of Christ’s coming. And it helps us remember to come to him like little children.

MUSIC: [Comfort, Comfort]

South Australian husband and wife duo Robin and Dorothy Mann take the words for their song “Comfort, Comfort” from Isaiah 40.

God gave these words to Isaiah to share with his people living in the dreaded shadow of upheaval and exile. Would God truly deliver them in due time?

MUSIC: [Comfort, Comfort] 

God’s comforting answer to humanity’s despair is found in his own Son, Jesus. In 1599, German Lutheran pastor and composer Philipp Nicolai wrote the hymn known in English as “Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying.” It’s based on the Matthew 25 parable of the virgins with and without enough oil awaiting the coming bridegroom. 

MUSIC: [Wake, Wake, for Night is Flying]

One hundred forty years ago, German Lutheran missionaries taught this song to the aboriginal Arrernte people in their own language. The Central Australia Aboriginal Women’s Choir sings it here.

MUSIC: [Central Australia Aboriginal Women’s Choir melody]

The third verse says in part: “Let all the heav’ns adore you, let saints and angels sing before you…where dwelling with the choir immortal, we gather ‘round your radiant throne.” This song spans time—and continents—to remind us that the multitude around Christ’s throne will come from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

MUSIC: [Central Australia Aboriginal Women’s Choir harmony]

I’m Amy Lewis, celebrating Advent in Geelong, Australia.

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