A Playlist for the Next Few Weeks

My husband prefers we not listen to Christmas music  until Guadete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent when we “Rejoice” that our Savior is near.  On that day we not only light the pink candle but plug in our outside lights, put up our tree, and break out my favorite Christmas albums: Jars of Clay’s Christmas Songs and A Merry Christmas with  Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters.

But until then, as I try to get into the spirit of Advent, I still want some music to listen to – a soundtrack to the season.  I’ve been hunting for a little while and I thought I’d share some of the Advent appropriate songs I’ve found.

Let’s start with something simple.  Sara Groves’  Star of Wonder.  “Guide us,” indeed.

 

Next up we have Audrey Assad singing Winter Snow.  Okay, this song is probably more of a Christmas song, but I’m letting it slide because its atmosphere is more like Advent, still and pensive.

 

Often mistaken for a Christmas song (gasp!), Amy Grant’s Breath of Heaven: Mary’s Song is much better suited for Advent.  Listening to it will almost feel like cheating!

 

If you’re scandalized or disappointed by my Amy Grant choice, let me try to win you back with O Sanctissima.

 

Still, Still, Still is an absolutely gorgeous song, and I love the line “one can hear the falling snow”.  That kind of silence and calm is exactly what I crave during Advent so I can focus on preparing my heart.

 

You can’t go wrong with Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.  What a great song.

 

Maybe you like Sting’s version of the traditional madrigal, Gabriel’s Message:

 

Ave Maria is another Advent standard.  J.Q. Tomanek suggested Jewel’s version and I think he’s spot on.

 

Love, love, love the song People Look East.

 

And of course it wouldn’t be Advent without O Come O Come Emmanuel.  But which one to chose?  There are so many great renditions of this song I didn’t know which one to feature.  So I decided to ask my fellow IT writers what their favorite version is.

Amanda Mortus prefers this one:

 

Jason Hall’s pick is:

 

Julie Robison doesn’t have just one favorite.  She couldn’t decide between this one:

 

and this one:

 

Elizabeth Hillgrove went for:

 

While Sarah Babbs wanted everyone to hear:

 

but strongly recommended this one, too:

 

And in the end, I really like this one:

Bonnie Engstrom

Bonnie Engstrom

Bonnie Engstrom is a cradle Catholic and stay-at-home mom. She married her dashing husband in 2006 and they now have five children: one in Heaven and four more wandering around their house, probably eating pretzels found under the couch. Bonnie lives in central Illinois and gets excited about baking, music, film adaptations of Jane Austen books, and the Chicago Bears. She was a cofounder of The Behold Conference and she blogs at A Knotted Life.

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5 thoughts on “A Playlist for the Next Few Weeks”

  1. Thank you so much! I’ve been trying to compile a good Advent playlist, but have been having the hardest time. I always listen to Enya’s CD “And Winter Came” for Advent, but I didn’t have much else. This is an awesome list full of songs I had never heard before; and it’s great the hear that someone else loves “People Look East”!!!

    I just put all these songs into my Grooveshark “Advent Playlist” file, and am enjoying them.

    Thanks again, and God bless!

  2. This came out a few days ago and it’s now my favorite version of O Come O Come Emmanuel (ThePianoGuys). There’s just so much longing, hope and beauty all wrapped up in an incredible instrumental package. The “Christmas version” video had me tearing up even more than this one did!

  3. Pingback: A Playlist for the Next Few Weeks | cathlick.com

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