For as long as I can remember, I have attended an Advent carol service held in an English cathedral. It’s always an opportunity to hear traditional and contemporary carols sung by our finest choirs. Although the structure of the services has not always been the same, the story telling provided in the readings and choral music has been powerful and inspiring.

Often services begin in darkness with the choir singing the Advent Prose from a distance, then, as candles are lit, the sacred building awakens in a glorious golden light. Such forms of worship offer a chance to prepare for Christmas and to reset your thinking about faith at the start of the Church year. For me, the emotional content of Advent hymns and carols seems different from traditional Christmas music. They maintain a freshness of expression and depth of feeling, even when the pieces are well known or widely used. There is a sense of anticipation which can be thought provoking and refreshing. I find myself less concerned about the past, but looking to the future.

In recent years, many choirs have been giving greater prominence to female composers. Carols As We Wait embraces and encourages such a change; every piece in this collection is either written or arranged by a contemporary female composer. Words by Sharon Grenham-Thompson have also been commissioned for this book. The collection includes six introits by the Canadian composer, Eleanor Daley, who is known for writing highly accessible works with melodic charm, harmonic depth and thoughtful interpretation of texts.

Carols As We Wait also contains two descant arrangements by the Australian composer, June Nixon, that will elevate the singing of popular hymns. This volume brings together a varied groups of well-crafted carols offering different styles and moods. There are accompanied and unaccompanied pieces, resourceful use of musical elements, as well as a range of levels for different choirs. Overall, the musical content is convincing and practical. Throughout Advent church choirs renew their commitment to music making. They are receptive to new repertoire that captures a particular mood or focuses on a specific time. I commend this anthology as an indispensable resource, containing imaginative musical works which will enrich carol services or concerts. Timothy Rogers