St. John the Baptist Preaching, c. 1665, by Mattia Preti
Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3 [Latin]
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Vox clamantis in deserto, by Juan Esquivel (c. 1560 – after 1625)
Performed by the Choristers of the Schola Cantorum of Tewkesbury Abbey, with The Gesualdo Six
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, composed by Michael Wise (1648-1687)
As performed by the Kampen boys Choir
FREE SHEET MUSIC
York Minster church as seen from across the street, York, England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Isaiah 40:6-11 [Latin]
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Vox Dicentis: Clama, composed in 1911 by Edward Woodall Naylor (1867-1934)
Performed by The Choir of York Minster, under the direction of Robert Sharpe and accompanied by David Pipe
FREE SHEET MUSIC
Detail of third window of the south wall with stained glass depicting Isaiah 40:11 He gathers the lambs in his arms. Created by Watson & Co, Youghal, in 1906. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Adapted from Isaiah 40:9-
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
–
Climb to the top of the highest mountain, joyous tidings proclaim to the world,
Lift up your voice, shout the good news: behold, your Lord comes to you.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will carry the lambs in his arms,
He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea,
From time eternal he was God, the Alpha and Omega, he. Behold, your Lord!
He will come in power and glory, he will rule with mercy and truth,
Hope of the nations, light of all the world.
He will love the little children, he will hold them in his arms.
Love him and trust him as a little child. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
—
Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain (1981), composed by Carolyn Jennings (b. 1936)
Performed by Luther College Massed Choirs and Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Jennaya Robison, conductor
SHEET MUSIC