Make straight the way

Today’s Advent hymn comes to us from 17^th Century France. Charles Coffin was principal of the college of Beauvais and rector of the university of Paris; both cities have astoundingly beautiful cathedrals, so it makes sense that he’d write something like “On Jordan’s Bank”. This piece just cries out for cavernous space to fill up with joyful music.

This hymn is typically sung on Advent 2, Annunciation Sunday, so I’m a little late. You can see why in the opening lines—instead of Gabriel appearing to Mary, we have John the Baptist (son of Mary’s cousin Anne—she who was thought to be too old to conceive) standing at the River Jordan, proclaiming that the Lord is coming. It then goes on to speak directly to the Saviour and urging us all to prepare for him. You know: Advent.

I do not know what space the OCP Session Choir occupies, but this is the best recording I could find, and that includes processionals/recessionals from the Washington National Cathedral and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, also in D.C.