Along with the many festive and sweet Advent customs, there are also joyous musical Advent traditions, such as coming together to sing The Great Advent Antiphons, and the highly popular combination of chocolate, cinnamon, and music known as the feast of Saint Nicholas. Browse our sheet music and scores, and find all the right music for Advent today!
Originally, Advent was significantly longer than today, it lasted from Saint Martin to the feast of the Epiphany. The current order, with four Sundays, was established in the 6th century by Pope Gregory the Great, after whom Gregorian chant is named. Each Advent Sunday has its own character, which differs a little in the Catholic and Protestant churches.
Advent music is strongly influenced by the fact that Advent was considered a “tempus clausum”, a “closed time”, in which lavish celebrations were forbidden, and it was for this reason that Johann Sebastian Bach was not allowed to perform all of his Advent Cantatas in Leipzig.
from: 32 Praeludia zu geistlichen Liedern vor zwey Claviere und Pedal
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 6370
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 4465
for: Oboe [violin], organ [piano]
Score, solo part, audio file (pdf/mp3 download)
Item no.: 1410
for: Mixed choir (SATB), the parish, organ
Score
Item no.: 1093794
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 321229
for: 5 INST (BFL)
Item no.: 169502
for: Singstimme, Instrument
Singpartitur, Spielpartitur
Item no.: 196026
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 116334
for: Organ 4 hands
Item no.: 563587
for: Organ
Ensemble score
Item no.: 558207
for: Organ
Sammelband, Partitur
Item no.: 275606
for: Violin, piano
Score, 2 Single parts
Item no.: 1655078
Piano reduction
Item no.: 233037
for: Gemischter Chor, [Orgel]
Choir book
Item no.: 127771
Cantata for Advent HoWV II.1
for: 2 soloists (ST), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 620227
für 1-2 Instrumente (Stimmen) und Klavier (Gitarre)
Advent in Europa 3
for: 1–2 melodic instruments (C), piano [guitar]
Score, Single part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 671991
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1690491
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1664974
Based on traditional Luxembourgish St. Nicholas folksongs
Symphonic Dimensions Publishing
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1637224
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 327145
Psalm 26
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 613816
Meisterwerke Der Musik Im Faksimile 3
for: 3 soloists (STB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Partitur, Hardcover, Faksimile
Item no.: 274853
für flexibles Ensemble
(Stimmen als PDF zum Ausdrucken auf DVD)
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Solo part(s), DVD
Item no.: 662389
10 Variationen über "Wie soll ich dich empfangen"
A Tribute to Paul Gerhardt
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 498718
5 Wunderlieder
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1019713
Music for Recorder
Oriel Library 186
for: 8 recorders (SSAATTBB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367223
for: Oboe, clarinet, bassoon
Score, Parts
Item no.: 559239
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 458284
for: Singstimme (T), BL gemischter Chor
Item no.: 457396
Kantate zum 4. Advent (Rekonstruktion: Uwe Wolf)
Urform der späteren Fassung BWV 147, entstanden in Weimar
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Study score
Item no.: 233879
Geistliche Zwiegesänge
for: 2 descant recorders
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419382
Musikalische Früherziehung "Tina und Tobi"
Playback-CD (without sheet music)
Item no.: 229400
47 Sätze zum 2. Advent, 1. Weihnachtsfeiertag, Estomihi, Karfreitag, Kantate, Pfingstsonntag, Erntedankfest und Reformationsfest für Chor SAM
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Choir book
Item no.: 214167
für 10 Blechbläser
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 648037
Singt Und Spielt 17
for: GCH VL ORG
Item no.: 333168
for: POS (HRN) ORG
Item no.: 417710
Cantata for the 27th Sunday after Trinity
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 3 soloists (STB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 681842
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score
Item no.: 1652403
for: 2 soloists (SB), mixed choir (SSATB), strings, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 215278
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 660740
for: CHORMUSIK GEMISCHTER CHOR MIT BEGLEITUNG GEISTLICH EINZELN
Score
Item no.: 364258
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 366290
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 565124
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 215944
for: Singstimmen (SSB), Orchester (3 Pommern TTB (3 Fagotte / 2 Violen, Violoncello), Basso continuo, [Instr. colla parte SSTTB])
Score
Item no.: 229812
for: Mixed choir, instruments
Score
Item no.: 187295
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 631779
for: Soloist (soprano), mixed choir (SATB), 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 314159