Comfort and Peace

Lloyd Larson’s "Comfort and Peace" is a striking choral anthem that bridges the expectant waiting of Advent with the joyous arrival of Christmas. The piece draws its text from the prophetic books of Isaiah, opening with the familiar call to "make straight what long was crooked" and to bring solace to a people burdened by sorrow. For a choir, this opening section offers a gentle, steady proclamation, setting a mood of hopeful preparation that fits perfectly into Advent services.

As the anthem unfolds, it seamlessly transitions from the wilderness cries of repentance into a brilliant incorporation of George Frideric Handel’s "For unto us a Child is born." The shift from the quiet anticipation of the opening to the majestic, polyphonic announcement of the Messiah’s birth is thrilling to sing. The voices layer together to declare the titles of the newborn King—Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Choirmasters will find this piece especially powerful for a Christmas concert or a late Advent Mass, as it captures the entire arc of the season in one continuous movement. It closes by returning to the gentle opening refrain, leaving the congregation with a lingering sense of the profound peace that the newborn Christ brings to the world.