New Church Anthems for Spring Friday, February 01, 2013
It may still be cold and snowy outside, but it’s certainly not too early to be planning your choral anthems for this spring – especially with Easter arriving so soon this year! Stanton’s Sacred Choral Music staff has carefully chosen these pieces to be appropriate for a variety of worship styles and services throughout the coming months.
For the Lenten season and Holy Week, Lenten Chorale is a sturdy setting of a Charles Wesley text. Along with original musical material by Claude T. Bass, it incorporates “Passion Chorale” by 16th century composer Hans Leo Hassler. The strong part-writing is most sensitive to the text and is well supported by a flowing keyboard accompaniment and an optional oboe part, included in the score. What Love Is This is a moving anthem that traces the final steps of Christ’s earthly life leading to His crucifixion. The text and tune explore the deep love of a Savior who would sacrifice His own life for the redemption of humanity.
Hosanna Loud Hosanna is a cheerful rendition of the time-tested ELLACOMBE tune set in a rolling 6/8 meter. The effect is compelling and one can almost see the swaying of palms and the celebrating crowds that followed Jesus into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday. Effective with piano or the orchestration, this anthem makes a great processional or special music to observe the triumphal entry.
What a great idea to write resurrection words for the traditional Christmas tune, “I Saw Three Ships” to create a festive anthem for Easter morning! And, what an even better idea to also include the traditional Christmas text so that this anthem may be used for both high points in the church year! Philip Kern begins Easter Day in the Morning with a drum-like introduction that calls the voices to “frolic” through the opening verses. This leads to an a cappella verse, and finally, grand, accompanied verses bring this thrilling anthem to its glorious ending. And, both large and small choirs will enjoy the full sound of the beautiful anthem My Redeemer’s Love. It opens and closes with a glorious choral fanfare, and the stanzas are based on the beloved hymn tune HYFRYDOL, which is perfect for incorporating congregational singing.
For other Sundays this spring, try Arise My Soul, Arise arranged by Dan Forrest. This Charles Wesley text, set to CHODAN, is a tender, yet emphatic statement of faith and commitment. Scored for SATB chorus with piano and optional violin, this anthem is suitable for Lent, communion or general worship during a time of confession and assurance of pardon. Other wonderful choices include How Majestic Is Your Name (Michael W. Smith’s celebrated hymn with a classical feel), Canticle of Promise (an adaptation of Psalm 103 featuring Faure’s “Cantique de Jean Racine) and Built on a Rock (a gospel toe-tapper from Joel Raney).
Did you miss out on our Sacred Choral Music Reading Session? Never fear! If you’re interested in receiving a packet from this year’s clinic (featuring these and many more selections for spring worship), please contact us! You can also click here to view our entire Sacred Choral promotion for Spring 2013, or visit our brand new Virtual Workshop!