Disclaimer: I’m writing this in the morning of the day Baby Cambridge will probably be born but he/she hasn’t arrived yet.
As a Music Director, I’m always planning ahead at least one liturgical season and sometimes two. Friday’s mail delivery brought promotional material from some music publishers and, you guessed it, some of it was Christmas music. 
On Saturday, and again this morning I was playing through the pieces in a new Christmas cantata. I had just taken a break to see if there was any news about the birth of the royal baby in London when I went back to the piano to play through the final cantata selection. The introduction is a big, majestic fanfare. My first thought was, “How appropriate to hear this today of all days!” The piece is based primarily on 2 carols: Once in royal David’s city and While shepherds watched their flocks. After a key change (up, of course) and a repeat of the opening fanfare, the choir sings these words by C.F. Alexander:
And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love;
for that Child, so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heav’n above.
I immediately thought of all the reporters camped out at the hospital, and so many others waiting to catch a glimpse, even via photo, of the royal baby. Am I as excited to some day see my Lord as I am to see Baby Cambridge? What can I do through music this Advent and Christmas to help others anticipate our celebration of Christ’s birth?
Maybe you have a great idea you’d like to share in the comment section.
