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Choral Anthems for Lent and Easter Recommended by Dan Sharp
Search by season: Lent • Holy Week • Palm/Passion Sunday • Eastertide
Pie Jesu (from Requiem), Andrew Lloyd Webber SATB—Hal Leonard HL 08603519 Need exceptional soprano I and II (youth) for duet. Choir part is easy. I have also orchestrated it per the recording with Sarah Brightman.
Beneath the Cross of Jesus, arr. David McIntyre SATB—Thomas House Publications 1C298508 Variation on the gospel tune. Need medium to large choir. Two piano. Need skilled pianists! Very nice piano writing. Divisi (to six parts). Creative piece.
Bach (Again) Come Sweet Death, arr. Rhonda Sandberg SATB—Aberdeen Music #1064 Very unique setting. Choir signs as they sing. Then all sing their parts at different speeds as they sign individually. I have used this piece several times and it has been spell-binding each time and well worth the time it takes to teach it. Choir sings 4-part Bach chorale. Works with any size choir but need solid four part singing.
Cross Cry, Gilbert Martin SATB—Hinshaw HMC-471 Powerful text in a very dramatic setting. An excellent piece for Good Friday or Tenebrae service. Not hard but need solid four part singing. Will work with any size choir, though a larger choir will help the dramatic impact. I like it best with piano accompaniment.
Crucifixus (from B Minor Mass), J. S. Bach Tough, for medium to larger choir. Very sustained singing required.
Lamb of God, arr. F Melius Christiansen SATB—Augsburg 0-8006-5259-2 Will work with any size choir. This is classic St. Olaf choral literature.
Lamentations of Jeremiah, Z. Randall Stroope SATB with piano—Alliance Music Publications AMP 0356. O vos omnes text, “O you people who pass this way”). Very dramatic, powerful setting. Need larger choir. Men and women divisi (sop & bass). This is a composer you should notice.
O Sacrum Convivium, Olivier Messiaen SATB—Durand A marvelous piece for Maundy Thursday. Difficult. Free rhythm. Medium or large choir. Chant based. I love this piece.
Peace, Evermore!, Jackson Berkey SATB—Walton Music W3411 Composer is keyboard player for Mannheim Steamroller. Some divisi at the end. Quiet, builds to climax then quiet ending.
Thy Will Be Done, Craig Courtney SATB and piano—Beckenhorst Press BP 1263 Dramatic piece. Lends itself to interpretive dance if you have a very good dancer! Any size choir.
Ubi Caritas, Rene Clausen SATB divisi a cappella—Mark Foster Music MF 2156 Need large, good choir; not easy.
Ubi Caritas et Amo, Morten Lauridsen SATB, a cappella—Peermusic 0060733 Recorded by LA Master Chorale (RCM 19705) “Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna.” Great CD which also has O Magnum Mysterium.
Ubi Caritas, Maurice Durufle SATB a cappella divisi—Durand Need good choir (my favorite chant setting of this text).
Christ’s Entry, Gilbert Martin SATB with organ—Galaxy Music Corp 1.2446.1 For smaller and medium choirs. Dramatic, creative, has a “distant processional” quality, not difficult, effective.
Draw Nigh to Jerusalem, David H. Williams SATB with organ—H. W. Gray No.2410 A classic Palm Sunday anthem suitable for smaller and medium choirs. You could write a timpani part. Has a processional quality
Hosanna, E.W. Leinbach Double choir—Brodt Music No. 100
Hosanna, arr. Hal Hopson 3 choirs: children, SAB, and SATB, handbells and organ—Harold Flammer A-6628 Brass quartet (2 tpt, 2 tbn) also available. Not hard.
Hosanna! (From Requiem), Andrew Lloyd Webber SATB, killer tenor solo, guitar, bass and drums, piano—Hal Leonard HL 08403801 Need EXCELLENT choir. Difficult. Worth the work.
Hosanna in the Highest, David W. Music SATB & opt. children’s choir, percussion and keyboard—Concordia 98-2797 Accessible for smaller and medium choirs. Energetic and sprightly modal tune (mixolydian). Good range for children’s choir. Easy for children to learn.
Hosanna to the Son of David, Daniel Moe SATB with organ—Theodore Presser 352-00212 Well written, quite interesting and different. Medium choir. Would also work with good smaller choir.
Lift Up Your Heads, Gabrieli/James Engel Double choir (or SATB and brass quartet)—Augsburg 11-0690 A delightful piece, medium skill. Solid 4-part singing required.
Lift Up Your Heads, Allen Pote SATB with keyboard, flute, brass quartet (2 tpt/2 tbn)—Hinshaw HMC-344 Includes “All Glory Laud and Honor,” suitable for any size choir. Not difficult.
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates, William Mathias SATB with organ—Oxford 42.380 A304 Medium size choir or very good small choir. Some soprano divisi. Need good accompanist.
The Singing Bishop, Hal Hopson Children and adult choirs—Choristers Guild CGCA-200 This is a delightful 12 minute chancel drama on the story of “All Glory Laud and Honor”. Works well with any size choir. Short speaking parts for adults and children. Simple costumes and sets. Background and suggestions provided. I have done this piece on several occasions and it worked very well.
Easter Fanfare, E. E. Ferguson SATB with brass quartet (2 tpt & 2 tbn) and organ—Harold Flammer A-5025 Marvelous for any size choir. I’ve done it with 15 singers and with 95 and arranged it for double choir with a timpani part. Excellent Easter Call to Worship or for opening of service. 21 measures long.
I Know that My Redeemer Lives, Michael Cox SATB with keyboard—Hinshaw HMC-1221 Any size choir. American folk hymn tune setting of Shout On.
Alleluia! Glorious Word!, Carolyn Jennings SATB with brass quintet—Augsburg 11-2384 Any size choir. 1 minute in length.
Alleluia! In Your Resurrection, Gallus/ed. Edward Klammer SATB—GIA Publications G-2812 For double choir and/or brass (2 tpt/2 tbn). Medium to large choir, though good smaller choir and brass quartet would work fine.
Alleluia! For Christ the Lord is Risen, J.S. Bach SATB—Concordia 98-2101 Brass or full orchestra setting, or winds and strings, or strings. Medium difficulty
All Shall Be Well, John Foley SATB—Epoch Universal Publications No.5690 Congregation, organ, piano or synth, optional 2 tpts. Any size choir.
All Shall Be Well, Libby Larsen TWO PART TREBLE—E. C. Schirmer No. 4261 Keyboard, triangle, recorder
An Easter Gloria, John Leavitt SATB with piano and percussion—Augsburg Pub. 11-10536 Wonderful rhythmic energy and yes, you better count! (Mixed meter).
And They Drew Nigh, Leo Sowerby SATB and organ—H. W. Gray No.2625 Need good choir and good organist. Will take some work but not too difficult.
Christ, He Is Arisen, Arnold von Bruck (1470-1554) SATB optional keyboard—Golden Music Publishers G 38 Need a good four part choir. A wonderful renaissance setting.
Christ Is Arisen!, arr. Crawford Thoburn SATB a cappella—Augsburg 11-10462 Based on 12th century chant. Mostly in 4/4 and 5/4.
Christ Is Now Arisen, K. Lee Scott SATB with keyboard (organ)—Hinshaw HMC-830 Text set to Personent Hodie tune.
Christ Is Risen, Jan Sanborn SATB (SAB) with organ—Fred Bock Music B-G0368 For any size choir. Parts of this will also work for a Call to Worship.
Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!, Tom Mitchell SATB divisi to 8 parts, organ and brass sextet—Augsburg 11-10118 I have also orchestrated this for full orchestra. Highly recommended. Medium to large choir. Mixed meter. Not easy but very workable. Dramatic and dynamic piece.
Christ the Lord Is Risen! Alleluia!, ed. Drummond Wolff (Johan Roman 1694-1758) SATB— Concordia 98-2326 Also parts for 2 oboes, 2 trumpets and strings. Delightful Baroque, classy, Easter piece.
Coronation, Craig Courtney SATB solo part—Beckenhorst BP 1273 Brass quartet plus French horn. For any size choir. Majestic setting. Not hard.
The Day of Resurrection, Thomas Matthews SATB with 3 tpts, timp, organ— H.T. Fitzsimons (Fred Bock Music) F2178 This is the classic setting. Any size choir. A very solid Easter piece.
Entrata Festiva, Flor Peeters SATB with organ—C.F. Peters Corp. NO. 6159 Need a good organ. Any size choir. Call to Worship
Fanfare and Hymn for Easter Morning, arr. Paul Sjolund SATB—Fred Bock Music B-G0490 Organ, brass quintet (3 tpts/2 tbn), timp. & perc. and congregation. Fanfare leads into “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”). Need good brass players.
Fanfare for Easter, Jane Marshall SATB—Carl Fischer CM 7090 Brass and timpani. Medium to large choir. Good smaller choir could do it well.
I Know that My Redeemer Lives, arr. Hal Hopson SATB—GIA Pub. G-5862 Set to Duke Street. Any size choir plus organ and congregation.
I Know that My Redeemer Lives, arr. Ronn Huff SATB with brass and percussion (3 tpts, 4 horns, 2 tbn, tuba, perc (2) and harp Fred Bock B-G2105. With congregation. Need organ accompaniment.
Jesus, Our Lord, Is Risen Today, Vulpius (1560-1615)/ed. Ehret Double choir SATB or choir and brass— This is a classic setting that should be in every library. Not difficult.
Jesus, the Christ, is Risen Today, George Handel/ arr. Hopson SATB with unison treble choir (children’s choir)—Hope Publishing Co. AA 1687 Very workable with any size choir. Definite SATB adult choir.
Now Christ Is Risen, J.S. Bach/arr. Doug Wagner SATB—Harold Flammer A-5880 3 tpts and timp (LB-5038). Any size choir would work. Need very good smaller choir. There is some wonderful polyphonic singing with melismas here!
Now Glad of Heart, K. Lee Scott SATB with organ and brass—Hinshaw HMC-568 Delightful mixed meter. Not easy, medium to large choir.
Lord Is Risen, Ian Pitt-Watson and Geoffrey Atkinson SATB choir, congregation, organ, timp, tpt, children’s choir, reader, baritone solo Hinshaw HMC-361 This is a dramatic opening to an Easter service. “He is risen” is the central text.
They Could Not, Ron Harris and Claire Cloninger SATB—Ron Harris Publications R-H0209 This is an old time “contemporary” Christian anthem.
Thine Be the Glory, George Handel/arr. David Hines SATB, Brass Quintet (3 tpt3, 2 tbn and timp) with congregation Theodore Presser 392-41971 Any size choir.
Today in Triumph Christ Arose, Dietrich Buxtehude/ed. Beverly Scheibert SSATB, 2 tpts. and keyboard—Concordia 98-2578 Medium to large choir. Typical Baroque setting. You’ll do some polyphonic work here! Great piece in 3 short sections.
Two Festival Hymns, John Rutter SATB—Christ the Lord is Risen Today and Rejoice, the Lord is King. Various combinations of instrumentation are available. Choir and congregation. Need GOOD BRASS players.
Victory, John Ness Beck SATB –Beckenhorst Press. BP 1100 Some soprano divisi. Need high soprano I. One of John’s best loved pieces.
Who Is Jesus?, Timothy Dudley-Smith text and Jeffrey Honore music SATB opt. flute—Hope Publishing A 640 This is a marvelous Easter text that centers on Christ from the Incarnation to the exaltation.
Posted February 2007
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