We had given the fuller text some thought, but landed on our current version. The great thing about these songs is that they lend themselves to multiple versions — I’d love to work on a version with the full text in the future, great idea!

As far as the time of year — our church has used the Gloria during Advent, but we don’t always follow the rules! I agree with you that it’s best used throughout the year and during the Christmas weeks. The thought was to make it accessible to churches that don’t have the same Advent traditions and who blur the lines more liturgical.

Thanks for your comment!
Alex (HSH Director)

(1) Have you considered using the fuller text of the Gloria? Perhaps you might have the congregation singing the “Gloria in excelsis Deo” as a continuous ostinato, with the soloist, cantor, choir etc. singing the fuller text?

(2) I’m interested you say “to sing during the season of Advent”. In many traditions (I’m Anglican) we actually OMIT it during Advent! Part of the reasoning is that we have been singing it for most of the year, but Advent is a preparation season, so we abstain from it, until we recover it in the exploding joy of Christmas Day itself. (This resembles the similar omission of it during Lent (during which we also omit saying “Alleluia”) until the full joy of Easter (resurrection) Day.)

Best,
Alex