The music of Epiphany

January 8th, 2019

And so our journey through the Christmas season leads us to Epiphany – perhaps we’ve already packed away the tinsel, but let’s remind ourselves that we are still in the Christmas season.

I sometimes feel that there seems to be a beautiful, inherent nobility which permeates some Epiphany music – as we move away from the shepherds’ excitement and the actual narrations of the Nativity of Jesus, the Gospels lead us to meditate on the mystery of the manifestation of Christ in our human history beginning with the visit of the Magi commemorated on the Solemnity of the Epiphany – and our treasury of music reflects this with a somewhat more noble feel to our music.

Let’s take the well-known carol ‘The First Nowell’ – even though it’s in triple metre, when played/sung at the right tempo this piece can have a feeling of serene nobility and devotion. And the equally well-known ‘We Three Kings’, also in triple metre, when not sung too fast this has a somewhat solemn but joyful feel to it.

And let’s take the ever-popular ‘Joy to the world’ – this piece talks of Christ’s manifestation in our history rather than a meditation on the new-born Infant lying in Bethlehem’s manger. On further reflection, this triumphant sounding carol makes no mention of a stable, manger, shepherds – in fact it mentions no star either. It, instead, mentions that the ‘Lord is come’ and exhorts the earth to ‘receive her King’ – perhaps somewhat reminiscent of that great hymn/antiphon of Advent ‘Rorate Coeli’ – its text is brief, yet quite profound and so rich in meaning mentioning the heavens opening and the ‘earth bringing forth a Saviour’.

And what about the richness of the (sometimes forgotten) antiphons the Church gives us to meditate upon – consider the chant Offertory antiphon of the Epiphany: its opening has a distinctive repeated note pattern at its opening and gently undulating figures throughout.

And as musicians, reaching this part of the Christmas season and meditating upon the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus could prompt us to meditate on the giving of our own gifts completely to Him – to Him, who has so lovingly bestowed them upon us…for His service and His adoration…and as a witness to many.