Four Candles: Last Candle, "Let it Be to Me..."

This is the final part of an Advent cantata I composed years ago. Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

"The Angel Came Down to Earth"

for TRIO OF SOLOISTS and CHORUS
text: Luke 1.25ff - The Trio sings over a "ground" in F major; the chorus sings in D major
TRIO:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth.

CHORUS:

The angel came down to earth

TRIO:

--to a virgin betrothed to a man Joseph of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel said:

CHORUS:

Hail O favored one, the Lord is with you.

TRIO:

But she was greatly troubled by this saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.

CHORUS:

"Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God."

TRIO:

Do not be afraid...

CHORUS:

"For behold: You will conceive in your womb and bear a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great and be called the son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

TRIO:

And Mary said, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" and the angel said:

CHORUS:

The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth shall conceive a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was considered barren. For with God...

CHORUS, TRIO:

Nothing will be impossible... Hail O favored one.

TRIO:

And Mary said "Behold, I am your handmaid. Let it be to me according to your word."

CHORUS:

And the angel departed from her.

"Prayer"
text by W. Scott Smoot
inspired by a line from a medieval poem
TRIO and CHORUS:

You planted life
in barren ground,
John heard You speak
in desert air.
Let it be to me according to Thy word.

You raised up land
from stormy seas,
Your angry fire
strips pretense bare.
Let it be to me according to Thy word...
as it was in the beginning.

You sent your angel down to Mary
Two thousand years ago,
To tell her she would grow
with God inside.

What meaning does your Advent carry
Unless I know
Unless even now
I too can grow
with God inside?

Part One | Part Two | Part Three


Let it be to me... (etc.)