There is a song our choir does every year in the last two weeks of Advent called Christ, Circle Round Us, Come O Radiant Dawn. It is by Dan Schutte and is based on the Advent “O” Antiphons. I love how Mr. Schutte arranged the music—it is a beautiful but simple melody that can be picked up by the assembly very quickly. The song is arranged in a SAB form which really works well with setting the mood of the song. The baritone line sung during the verses is meant more for a singer with a bass voice range, but that just adds to the beauty of the song. While the soprano and altos are singing the verse “O” antiphons, the baritones sing the same words under every verse, “Come O Lord! O come, Emanuel! Come Lord Jesus! Come, O Lord! At the refrain, all sing the melody (see below) in SAB form. The Octavo (# 10782 http://www.ocp.org) is written for piano, guitar and hand bells. The bell part (which we play on orchestral bells) only adds to the beauty of the arrangement.

I’ve probably sung this song during Advent at my church for the past ten years or so. But this year, it was different. I’m sure it’s just because of my life situation—my son-in-law being severely wounded in Iraq. The last weekend of Advent, while I was singing the refrain which I’ve done so many times in the past—the words, “Christ, circle round us. Christ, may your light surround us” just hit my like a ton of bricks. Those words became a prayer that enveloped my soul. I had to stop singing. I just listened to the choir and the assembly sing. They were singing the prayer of my wounded heart. I had to sit down and collect myself…What a mantra for the soul…”Christ circle round us. Christ, may your light surround us”.