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Books > Music > Other types of music > Sacred & religious music
for SATB and piano or orchestra This setting of Adolphe Adam's
beloved Christmas carol employs rich choral textures and a flowing
piano accompaniment to create a rousing overall effect. Opening
gently, the intensity builds gradually towards a stirring, powerful
ending. Also in the anthology, An American Christmas.
for SATB and piano or organ This light-hearted arrangement of
Sussex Carol is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and perfect encore. The
familiar tune comes with a modern twist, with a driving rock beat,
innovative harmonisations, and playful imitation. Accessible for
choir and accompanist alike, Crawford's arrangement is suitable for
all types of ensemble.
for SATB and organ This lively piece sets the first six verses of
Psalm 105 in a song of praise packed with energy and fervour. A
dazzling and spirited organ part is present throughout, featuring
spritely triplet figurations set against long, melodic lines in the
voices. Suitable for both church and concert use, this piece will
inject joyful vigour into any programme.
for SSAA and piano This serene, reflective anthem is a rich
addition to the Choral Evensong repertoire. Chilcott artfully
entwines an original setting of William Fuller's 'Evening Hymn',
most famously set by Henry Purcell, and the plainsong melody for
the Latin hymn 'Te lucis ante terminum', in J. M. Neale's English
translation. Grounded in minor tonalities, the anthem makes use of
a semi-chorus of altos and sopranos for the hymn tune, juxtaposed
with compelling and complementary melodies in the other parts,
building to a resolute final section before a peaceful 'Amen'.
for SSATB unaccompanied Love Incorruptible sets words from
Ephesians that explore the themes of love and kindness. The anthem
begins with the directive 'Let all bitterness and wrath and anger
be put away, awake!', set by the composer in a way that engenders a
mood of reflection and hopefulness. The tender central section is
built around the words 'Be kind, tender-hearted, one to another',
while the closing section presents a compelling contrast of
emphatic 'awake!' declarations in the upper voices and punchily
rhythmic repetitions of the titular words in the lower voices.
for SATB unaccompanied Pete Churchill's thrilling arrangement of
this traditional Cornish carol has a gentle South African feel and
features 'scat' singing and chromatic shifts in harmony. The
traditional melody in 6/8 time is set against a jazz-waltz rhythm,
giving a contemporary twist to this Christmas classic.
for SATB and organ or piano This simple and attractive carol sets a
little-known text by the Rev. Canon John Gray (1866-1934). With an
accompaniment for either organ and piano and optional soprano
solos, this piece is accessible to a wide range of choirs and would
be an excellent addition to either a Christmas concert or service.
for SATB and organ A radiant original setting of familiar words,
this carol displays Todd's characteristically emotive harmonic
language, rich in poignant suspensions. The arching melodies for
verse and refrain will soon become as instinctive as the
traditional carol tune, and the running quavers in the supportive
organ part provide a strong foundation upon which the soaring
choral lines can rest.
for SATB double choir unaccompanied Written for the Choir of St
Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, The Presence sets lines from
Psalms 18, 27, 36, 112, and 119. It was inspired by A. E.
Borthwick's painting of the same title, which hangs in St Mary's,
and the texts chosen are mainly concerned with light. The
performance directions used - 'luminous', 'resonant', 'dark',
'ethereal' - express the setting's intense atmosphere and almost
visual sense of space and lustre. While suitable for services and
concerts throughout the year, The Presence is especially
appropriate for performance during Advent.
for SATB and organ or piano This charming carol tells of the joy
and wonder of the star of Bethlehem and features Chilcott's
hallmark tuneful melodies and carefully chosen harmonic colours.
Epiphany takes for its text a translation of two verses by French
hymn-writer Charles Coffin, augmented by a newly written verse by
Chilcott's long-time collaborator Charles Bennett. The result is a
carol which is both narrative and reflective, with a perfect mix of
traditional and modern.
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Annunciation is an
expressive and expansive Advent carol based on words from John
Donne's Holy Sonnets. McDowall creates a captivating atmosphere as
the voices explore a soundworld that is mystical, reflective, and
bright. The sensitive part-writing and accessible vocal lines will
enable choirs of all types to profess the carol's message of
'salvation to all'.
for SATB and organ This welcome original setting of the much-loved
15th-century Coventry carol text features a compelling interplay
between choir and organ and a contrast of full and a cappella
textures. Archer fully exploits the text's dramatic potential and
has created a pleasing and useful addition to the carol repertory.
for SSSSAATTBB unaccompanied Commissioned by The Marian Consort in
celebration of their 10th anniversary, and first performed in 2018,
Jackson's is one of the most striking modern settings of this
ancient text. With a rich scoring matching that of Scarlatti's
setting of the same text, the composer's trademark diversity of
texture is much in evidence. Passages of rich sonority give way to
intimate soloistic sections, the lines spiced up by fiery rhythms
and occasional arabesques and glissandi. The piece will be a very
satisfying challenge for a proficient choir.
for SATB and piano A dramatic and characterful presentation of
Psalm 68 for mixed voices and piano that is rich in colour and
changes of tempo and style.
for SATB double choir unaccompanied This optimistic and affirmatory
anthem sets a useful service text of general thanksgiving from the
Book of Common Prayer. Chilcott makes full use of the imitation and
antiphonal effects that these forces enable, while keeping the
vocal lines and part-writing well within the capabilities of most
church choirs.
These four splendid anthems were composed for the coronation of
George II in October 1727 and have since retained a position at the
heart of the English choral tradition. The popular anthem Zadok the
priest has been performed at all subsequent coronations, and
Handel's other contributions to the royal occasion - Let thy hand
be strengthened, The King shall rejoice, and My heart is inditing -
have the same majestic grandeur, with affecting contrasts between
different sections of the sacred texts. The editor, Clifford
Bartlett, has corrected various inconsistencies in Handel's score,
and complete details of sources and editorial method, additional
performance notes, and a critical commentary can be viewed in the
companion full score available on hire. This continuo part is also
available as part of the wind set.
for SATB and piano For this appealing arrangement, Howard Helvey
has created the perfect marriage of text and melody. The popular
hymn tune 'Ash Grove' is paired with a beautiful text by Sarah
Doudney that is rich in imagery. The sparkling piano accompaniment
provides the perfect backdrop to the sensitively arranged vocal
parts and reflects the joyful and optimistic character of the text.
for SATB and piano or organ This uplifting setting of words from
Psalms 24 and 118 is bold and energetic, whilst still easy to
prepare. Passages for unison voices flower into harmony over a
supportive accompaniment for piano or organ. The anthem would be
particularly well-suited to a Palm Sunday or Advent service.
for SSAA unaccompanied This lively reimagining of the traditional
hymn is a thrilling a cappella arrangement which pairs the soaring
legato melody with a rhythmic vocal accompaniment. Together, these
elements capture both the gentle hope and the profound joy
contained in the text. Also including moments of tenderness and
reflection, the piece comes to a rousing close with an energy that
engages singers and audience alike.
for SATB and piano This lively and upbeat anthem sets a text by the
composer based on a passage from Thessalonians. The opening and
closing sections feature a catchy melody and recurring syncopated
figure in the piano, enclosing a more subdued middle section.
Simply yet effectively scored and highly accessible in style, this
anthem makes a dynamic addition to a service or concert.
for SATB and organ or piano How excellent is an upbeat and
celebratory work setting the composer's own paraphrase of Psalm 8.
It features exciting and declamatory opening and closing sections
with a contrastingly calm and legato central section, evoking this
well-known scriptural text. The accompaniment should ideally be
played on organ, but piano may be used if necessary.
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