Recommended Piano Collections for Lent & Easter Tuesday, March 02, 2021
Full many music needs for Lent, Easter, and Spring worship with these 5 collections of Piano solos.
recommended by Caryn G. and Judy S., Sacred Piano Music Specialists
Cherish the Cross arr. Chuck Sinclair
More than a dozen beloved Holy Week hymns receive an inspired, contemporary treatment in Cherish the Cross by Chuck Sinclair. Mostly meditative, and enhanced by lush harmonies, these creative arrangements will fill many musical needs in the weeks leading up to Good Friday. Titles include: “There Is a Fountain (with I Know a Fount),” “At the Cross,” “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” “Cherish the Cross Medley,” “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,” “Jesus Paid It All,” “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place (with My Faith Looks Up to Thee),” “Beneath the Cross of Jesus (with When I Survey the Wondrous Cross),” “What Wondrous Love Is This?,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.”
Crucified and Triumphant King arr. Cindy Berry, Molly Ijames, Mary McDonald, Jay Rouse, and Larry Shackley
Five expert piano arrangers have collaborated on this collection for Easter and Holy Week arranged at an intermediate difficulty. “Crucified and Triumphant King!” features two arrangements from each arranger for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Communion, and Easter morning. Titles include: “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna,” “Ride On, King Jesus,” “Let Us Break Bread Together,” “And Can It Be?,” “My Savior’s Love,” “Near the Cross,” “There Is a Fountain,” “Alleluia! Alleluia!,” “Christ Arose,” and “In the Garden.”
Easter Hope arr. Thomas Keesecker
A mixture of 11 hymn tunes that are used between Easter and Pentecost. These settings have a variety of styles and moods from a buoyant “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” to the reflective setting of ADORO TE DEVOTE. The pieces will fit in many different places in the worship service. Titles include: “Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing,” “Come Down, O Love Divine,” “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain,” “The Holy Ghost Jigs,” “Hope,” “In Memory,” “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today,” “O Day Full of Grace,” “Prelude on Duke Street,” “Thine Is the Glory,” and “Two Meditations on Llanfair.”
Jesus, Priceless Treasure arr. Jonathan W. Lee
Jonathan Lee takes us on a musical voyage of worship and wonder in this book of hymns on the passion and resurrection of Christ. His abundant creativity and harmonic inventiveness make this a book that church pianists will treasure during Holy Week, and the rest of the year as well. Titles include: “Tell Me the Story of Jesus,” “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” “Fairest Lord Jesus,” “Beneath the Cross of Jesus,” “Jesus, Priceless Treasure,” “Jesus Paid It All (with There Is a Fountain),” “Glorious Risen Lord!,” “Jesus Shall Reign (with He Is Lord),” “Holy, Holy, Holy (Holy Is the Lord),” and “When Morning Gilds the Skies (May Jesus Christ Be Praised.”
Meditations on Grace arr. Mary McDonald
Mary McDonald’s new piano book is an exploration of God’s grace, as shown through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. These hymns and Gospel songs area given an artistic treatment that makes them suitable for solo and recital use, as well as to enhance Lent and Holy Week services. Titles include: “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “I Saw the Cross of Jesus,” “Were You There?,” “Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed,” “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Softly and Tenderly.”
See and hear samples from these collections in our Virtual Reading Session for Lent & Easter 2021 below! No matter what your in-person or remote worship requires, shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
About the Authors:
Caryn G. has over 21 years of experience working at Stanton’s in both the Piano and Choral departments. During her career, she has been a church pianist/accompanist and a piano teacher. Her experience makes her a valuable connection for anybody who calls the piano department.
Judy S. has 30 years of private piano teaching experience and 40 years as a church pianist. Her experience makes her a valuable connection for anybody who calls the piano department.