Choral Music Magazine

For the past 30 years,I have been the organist-choirmaster at a small Episcopal parish in Somerville, NJ. My adult choir, all volunteers, numbers between 12 and 18 depending on the season, business travel, illness, etc. I am always interested in selecting music of excellent quality for my choir. While we are a choir which has all four parts covered, I look for music which is accessible to the group in Unison, Two-Part Mixed, SAB, and SATB settings. The problem with most SAB music is that it has been edited from SATB originals and lacks the proper voice leading and balance found in full four-part writing. More and more original SAB music is becoming available, but one must look carefully and make sure that it is music originally intended for SAB, not edited from SATB.

The list that I have prepared is one that is accessible for a small church choir of varying abilities. Some of the selections are easy and some more challenging. It is important not to give in to the allure of the quickly-learned, easy anthem and forget to challenge our choirs with something more difficult. The anthems are listed according to the church calendar, starting with Advent through the season of Pentecost.

ADVENT

Ave, Ave, the Angels Sang – Lau – SATB – World Music WL 100016
Come, Jesus, Holy Son of God – Handel – 2 Part – Flammer A-5623
E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come – Manz – SATB – Morningstar MSM50-0001
Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending – Hobby – SATB – Augsburg 11-2540
Lo, How A Rose – Martinson – SAB – Chantry 12-400003
Nations, Hear the Prophets – Honore – SAB – Choristers Guild CGA1002
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Ferguson – SATB – Morningstar MSM50-0015
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Levi – 2 Part - Brilee Music BL213
On Jordan’s Banks – Cherwien – SATB – Summa 2020
People, Look East – Ryan – SAB – Foster MF0598
Rejoice Greatly – Willan – SA/TB – Concordia 98-1113
The Advent Prose – Near – SATB – Aureole AE 131
The King Shall Come – Leavitt – SAB – Alfred 7902
The Only Son from Heaven – Busarow – SAB – Concordia 98-2450
There Shall A Star – Mendelssohn – SATB – Jenson 413-20014
This Is the Record of John – Hurd – 2 Part – Chantry 12-400006

CHRISTMAS

A Child Is Born – Nestor – SATB – EC Schirmer 4389
A Child is Born in Bethlehem – Archer – SATB – Oxford X345
A Lute Carol – Caldwell – SATB – HW Gray 3427
Adam Lay Y-bounden – Ledger – SATB – Oxford – 84.276
Balulalow – Lane – SATB – Ramsey – 1012
Carol of the Gifts – Ehret – SAB – Presser 312-41801
Catalonian Carol – Warland – SATB – Augsburg 11-2358
Christ is Born – Vree – SAB – Presser – 312-40764
Christmas Day – Holst – SATB – Novello 2901-2903
Cradle Song – Rutter – SATB – Oxford 43-408
From Far and Wide – Davis – Warner Bros R3482
Gentle Mary – Busarow – SAB – Concordia 98-2448
Hodie Christus Natus Est – Lees – SAB – GIA G-5059
In A Stable – Callahan – 2 Part – Concordia 98-2958
Jesu, Thou the Virgin-born – Holst – SATB – Concordia 98-2183
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Mawby – SATB – Mayhew MW010
Lo, How A Rose – Larkin – SAB – Belwin OCT 9907
My Dancing Day – Cherwien – SATB – Choristers Guild CGA608
Nova, Nova – Otten – SATB – Broude AB816
Nowell, Nowell – Otten – SATB – Broude AB815
Puer Natus Est – Morales – SAB – GIA G4154
Quem Pastores – Otten – SATB – Broude AB 814
Rejoice and Be Merry – Hinton – 4 Part – Oxford – 40.918
Riu, Riu, Chiu – Greenberg – SATB/B – Hal Leonard 50232820
Sleep In Peace – Haydn – SATB – Schirmer 11043
The Child Lay In the Cloth and Hay – Schalk – SATB – Augsburg 11-2434
The Jesus Gift – Martin – SATB, Solo – Hinsahw HMC 235
There Is No Rose – Joubert – SATB – Novello 29-0171-04
The Lord At First Did Adam Make – Near – SATB – Calvary
What Sweeter Music? – Rutter – SATB – Oxford X319

LENT

As The Dark Awaits The Dawn – Schalk – SATB – Augsburg 11-10951
Ave Verum Corpus – Faure – SATB – GIA G4563
Drop, Drop, Slow Tears – Owens – 2 Part Mixed – Paraclete PPM09509
Have Mercy On Me – Tomkins – SAB – GIA G1899
Jesu, Grant Me This I Pray – Kitson – SATB – Oxford U. Press
Jesus, Jesus, We Adore Thee – Cherubini – SATB – Shawnee – A-893
Lord God Most Holy – Franck – 2 Part Mixed – Northwest Music Publishers
My Song Is Love Unknown – Cherwien – SAB – Augsburg 11-10708
Out of The Depths – K.Lee Scott – SA/TB – Augsburg 11-4644
Parce Domine – Obrecht – SAB – GIA G1900
This Touch of Love – Schalk – SATB – Morningstar MSM508301
Wondrous Love – Collings – SATB – Cambiata Press S97685

EASTER

Alleluia, He Lives Today – Hirt – SAB – Hinshaw – HMC 282
Christ the Lord Is Risen – Roman – SATB – Concordia 98-2326
Easter Bell Carol – Davis – SA- Flammer (Shawnee) 86124
Entrata Festiva – Peeters – SATB (Brass) – Peters – 6159D
Good Christian Men Rejoice – Thiman – Novello (Shawnee) Anth 1231
How Glad of Heart – Scott – SATB (Brass) – Hinshaw HMC568
Lord of the Dance – Carter – SAB – Galaxy – 1.2460
Prepare the Song – SATB – Fedak – Morningstar MSM50-4014
Rise Up My Love – Willan – SATB – Oxford 94P306 (Wonderful but needs rehearsal)
Surrexit Christus – Pergolesi – SAB – GIA- G4300
This Joyful Eastertide – Harris – SATB – Novello (Shawnee) 29-0151-10

PENTECOST

All From the Sun’s Uprise – Tomblings – SATB – Oxford E-18
Awake the Trumpet’s Lofty Sound – Handel – SATB – Alfred 16297
Brother James’ Air – Harris – SATB – Northwest – NW418
Christ Hath a Garden – Near – SATB – HW Gray CMR 3271
Come Let Us Join Our Cheerful – Ritchie – SAB – GIA G-5055
Come My Way, My Truth, My Life – Rawsthorne – 2-part – Mayhew
Come My Way, My Truth, My Life – Archer – SAB – Mayhew KM009
Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness – Handel – SATB – Coronet 392-41707
Gloria Patri – Palestrina – SAB – Hal Leonard – 08720111
God Is the Lord of All – Handel – 2 part mixed – Augsburg 0-8006-4920
I Lift My Eyes to the Mountain – Mendelssohn – 2 part – Flammer – EA5171
I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills – Hurd – SATB – GIA G-3228
I Waited For the Lord – Mendelssohn – SAB – Presser 312-41754
I Will Sing of Thy Great Mercies – Mendelssohn – SAB – Dean HRD 115
Jubilate Deo – Agazzari – SAB – Concordia 98-2362
Let the Heavens Rejoice – Webbe – SAB/SB – Perform CC5
Lord, I Call to You – Mozart – SAB – Hinshaw- HMC 1145
Praise – Rowley – SATB – Oxford 42.013
Praise Ye The Lord – Rutter – SATB/B solo-Oxford 42.357
The Eyes of All – Harris – SATB – Oxford 42.983
Trumpets Sound Forth – Purcell – SATB – Flammer A-6205
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast – Busarow – 2 Part – Concordia 98-2602
O Praise the Lord with One Accord – Couperin – SAB – Concordia 90-2226
O Praise the Lord – Gumpeltzhaimer – SAB – GIA G-2294
O Remember Not – Battishill – SAB – EC Schirmer 2615
O Sing Unto the Lord – Morley – SAB – RSCM
Rejoice In the Lord – Telemann – SAB – Foster MF 2031
Ridin’ the Train – Johnson – SAB- Jenson 446-28010
Saviour Teach Me Day by Day – Cabena – SAB – Jaymar 02.315
Simple Gifts – Strommen – SAB – Alfred 7507
Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me – Scott – SA/TB – Augsburg – 11- 2198

I have found one gem of a collection which is published by Oxford University Press: The New Oxford Easy Anthem Book. This contains a wonderful selection of anthems, many of which are suitable for the small church choir and choirs with different levels of ability. I have found much to use in this book and actually prefer it to The Oxford Easy Anthem Book.

There is a wealth of wonderful music available for the smaller church choir. Make sure you explore all the avenues open to you and only offer music of the highest quality for your choir members. They deserve it.

Brent F. Miller is Co-chair of the Music Commission for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. Miller also serves as President of the Eastern Division American Choral Directors' Association.

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