Two Advent Anthems
Craig Phillips

Composer Craig Phillips
Text from the Orthodox liturgy
Voicing SATB, organ, and oboe
Lectionary usage Advent
Price $2.95 (U.S.)
Length 3' 00" Released 12/97
Catalog no. 405-146
Difficulty Mod. difficult

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Description
Evocative settings of two liturgical texts for SATB, organ, and oboe. Phillips' music is never predictable, yet always sounds "right." Both pieces are worthy additions to your Advent repertoire.

Text
I
The Creator, the Wisdom of God draws near,
The mist of the prophet's promise is dispersed.
Joy clears the skies, truth is resplendent,
The dark shadows are dispelled,
The gates of Eden are opened,
Adam dances in exultation:
Our Creator and God wills to fashion us anew.

--From the Orthodox liturgy

II
Turn, turn O Lord, turn toward us Lord,
if only for a moment.
Hurry to your servants!
Convertere Domine aliquantulum,
et ne tardes venire ad servos tuos.

--From the Monastic liturgy


review copy

Reviews
"Selah has published Craig Phillips's two fine Advent anthems commissioned by Michael Messina and Trinity Church, Indianapolis. Both have oboe obbligatos, both sustain the uncompromising excellence we have come to expect of Dr. Phillips, and both are glorious additions to the permanent repertory. At the same time, they are remarkably accessible, and choirs of average ability will both sound good and find them deeply rewarding." --Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, October 1998

"Languid lines in the obbligato oboe evoke a 'longing to be comforted' in these two brief anthems on texts from Orthodox and monastic liturgies. Though the choral and organ parts do require some independence, they should seem quite natural. In the first, The Creator, the Wisdom of God, two 'moments' are indicative of the effectiveness of the interplay--the relief of finally arriving on a tonic chord in root position at the words 'fashion us anew' and spinning triplets passed around the choir at 'Adam dances' as if voices and organ are skipping arm-in-arm with delight. Recommended." --CrossAccent, Fall 1999

"Craig Phillips has crafted two attractive anthems for Advent that are bundled together under the title 'Two Advent Anthems.' The first ('The Creator, the Wisdom of God') uses a text 'from the Orthodox Liturgy' and the second ('Turn Toward Us, Lord') 'from the Monastic Liturgy.' Both of these are for solo oboe, mixed choir, and organ. The oboe part is well crafted and within the capabilities of a good high school oboist. The choral writing is interesting and not especially difficult; the accompaniment is well within the reach of all of us. I wish publishers (and, perhaps, composers) would not be so vague about text sources. I would like to know precisely where in the Orthodox and Monastic liturgies the texts occur, and who translated them. With that aside, these are good works for Advent. The second of the two is macaronic, with the last section in Latin, but with no translation." --AAM Journal, April 2000

 



 

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