Advent at Jubilate
by Ruth Elaine Schram
I met Mark Cabaniss on a visit to the Brentwood Music offices in Nashville where I was working on projects for children. He was developing a Traditional Sacred Music Catalog, "Designer Music Group," and invited me to submit some songs for publication.
This began a decades-long friendship and collaboration which has been one of the most important - and precious - of my career.
Mark is not only an editor and publisher, but a wonderful writer. Together we have written anthems for adult choirs, and seasonal and non-seasonal musicals for children. He is hilariously funny, and this is abundantly obvious in his script writing for children. He is also the author of two very entertaining books, Miracle of the Music Man and Confessions of a Shameless Name-Dropper.
A YouTube interview follows below. I enjoyed talking with Mark about two Jubilate Advent songs, my writing process, and some fun anecdotes about my early publications.
When Will the Little King Come
I was raised Baptist and was not familiar with the season of Advent. When I learned about it and that liturgical churches did not actually sing Christmas carols until December 24, I discovered I loved writing about the longing for a Savior. It was fun and challenging to imagine that I didn't know the circumstances of His miraculous birth, but was wondering when and how it would happen. This train of thought brought me to the different seasons, imagining when He might arrive and what it would be like to greet Him in the springtime, summertime, or autumn, each with its own unique beauty.
Listen: "When Will the Little King Come" (2-part mixed)
We'll Welcome Him
One thing I love to do is incorporate hymns, carols, or folk songs in my choral music. This is a partner song of an original tune, paired with "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." The two work beautifully together, as the singers make a promise to God that when the Savior comes, when the darkness ends, when the prophecies are fulfilled - we'll embrace Him, we'll welcome Him.
Composer Spotlight
I hope you enjoy this interview with my dear friend Mark Cabaniss.