Music of Advent, Day 13, Second Friday – Wachtet auf & Macht hoch die Tür

For the first Friday, I recommended a French song, and today, the second Friday, I will recommend two German songs, Lutheran in origin, but close to the Biblical text and in common use today among Catholics (although perhaps not Traditional ones).

First, Wachtet auf! Ruft uns die Stimme, on which a Bach cantata is based. It was sung on the First Sunday of Advent at Saint Patrick’s in New York in 2020 and has been included among Catholic Advent playlists, including this one and this one.

The Wikipedia Entry on the Hymn & the Wikipedia Entry on the Bach Cantata

Text and Translations at Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Recording of the Hymn

Recording of the Bach Cantata

Second, Macht hoch die Tür, from Psalm 23. It is included in Gotteslob, a hymnal for German-speaking Catholics.

The Wikipedia Entry

Text and Translations at Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Recording of the Song

And a recording of the the chant that preceded the song, Tollite portas

Text and Translation of the Chant