PENDER’S PICKS THE BEST NEW SPRING AND EASTER SACRED CHORAL MUSIC
The Pender’s staff has sifted through thousands of titles to identify the very best new spring sacred choral music for 2020. We want to provide outstanding music for your choirs, and we believe these selections are some of the finest.
Below you will find information about why we selected each title, and a few suggestions about possible uses for the piece. As with all of our previous Sacred Choral Reading Sessions, we have narrowed the list to our opinion of the very best. Of course opinions differ, and if you find that all of the pieces of interest to you are from a single publisher, you can search for that publisher on our website and get more ideas! If a piece has your attention, you will probably listen all the way to the end. Just like at any reading session, you may have it marked with a “no” within the first 32 measures. The nice thing here is you don’t have to sing it all the way through. You can stop and go on to the next piece.
You will find an assortment of general, Lent, and Easter titles that were picked with our customers in mind. To those new to us, we welcome you and hope our selections are good for your choirs too. Be looking for information on our website about our “live” Sacred Choral Reading Sessions in Oklahoma City and Denton this summer. We hope you will attend!
Questions? Contact John Staton at 405-842-7825 or jstaton@penders.com
Angel Rolled the Stone Away
SATB – Shackley – 10/5394L
This is an infectious toe-tapper for the Sunday after Easter. The problem will be getting the choir to wait that long to sing it.
Christ Lives and So We’re Free
SATB – Wagner – 00-48009
Excellent Easter anthem with great part writing on the Alleluias. Uses a minimum of handbells to enhance the sound. Easy to put together.
Deep Within
SATB – Hayes – C6262
Very singable Mark Hayes arrangement of this contemporary classic hymn from the 80’s. Really nice solo that interchanges with the choral parts.
Easter Celebration
SATB – Cameron – C6271
This upbeat Easter introit will combine all your resources. Use it as a short introit or insert your own repeat signs for more verses and have an opening hymn.
Garden of Sorrow
SATB – Wright – 810038
Good Friday. This piece effectively travels between g minor and Bb Major to depict sorrow of the crucifixion and the hope for the future.
Gloryland By and By
SATB – McDonald – 00-48006
This arrangement of two beloved old hymns works its way into a real toe-tapper in true Mary McDonald style. Great for gospel Sundays.
God Gives the Song
SATB – Courtney – BP2211
This song is so beautiful I nearly missed the text. A wonderful song of healing for meditative times.
God of the Sparrow
SATB – Courtney – BP2208
Take a deep breath for long phrases and beautiful Alleluias.
Grace at the Cross
SATB –McKibben –10/5387L
This original tune will be ringing in your head. Lyrics are closely related to the easily sung syncopated rhythms. There is a good bit of unison. Harmony parts flow easily from the unison parts making this a quick rehearsal anthem.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
SATB – Forrest – BP2210
It is always a toss-up whether to feature a new arrangement of a hymn that has been arranged many times. This one is too good to miss. It is not the easiest of pieces but there are wonderful surprises on every page.
He’s Got the Whole World
SATB – McDonald – 00-48007
Wow!! The simplicity of this arrangement! Sensitive treatment of the text. Not what you usually expect. Simple part writing with a lot of unison. Quick study. Gorgeous accompaniment.
Hosanna to the King Who Comes
SATB w/ children – Larson – 10/5444L
I like this piece for Palm Sunday because it has a catchy tune with just enough twists to make it interesting. The choir and children’s parts are easily learned which makes it a quick study during the busy Easter season.
How Wonderful You Are
SATB – Mock/Shackley – 10/5396
The chorus soars with “holies.” Excellent part writing. Very singable. General use.
Hymn of Promise
SATB – McDonald – C6265
Using “Sally Gardens” for the melody, Mary McDonald has set this classic Natalie Sleeth text beautifully with highs and lows that highlight the text.
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
SATB – Shackley – 10/5388L
Very useful for Lent.
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
SATB – Raney – C6259
The title hymn and “Footsteps of Jesus” are joined seamlessly into one anthem.
Inasmuch
SATB – Choplin – 10/5399L
This piece has all of the singable writing you expect from Pepper Choplin. If you have a contemporary ensemble available this one would be great to add at least the drummer. A good drummer can make this piece shine.
Jesus Is Alive! Alleluia!
SATB – Shackley – 10/5389L
This is a simple and rhythmic telling of the Easter story. The beauty is it does not quote any of the traditional Easter hymns giving you a totally original anthem to sing on Easter Sunday. It would be great at both the beginning of the service or in the anthem position.
Jesus Is Risen
SATB w children – Koerts – 810034
This Easter anthem includes easy parts for children, original material, a statement from a standard Easter hymn, and optional congregation. Easy to learn.
Let Your Spirit Rise
SATB – Pethel – 10/5390L
This is an invitation for the spirit to come. It has beautiful harmony, lyrical melody lines, and is very meditative. This piece will be useful at Pentecost but will also find its way into many other services when appropriate mediation is needed.
May the Peace of God Dwell in You
SATB – Larson – 10/5398L
Useful for graduation, dedication, retirements, and farewell services.
Mercy’s Promise
SATB – Drennan – 10/5391L
The part writing is the shining star of this anthem. Your choir will sound wonderful as they blend together. Wonderful for Palm/Passion services and Holy Week.
Name of All Majesty
SATB – Raney – C6270
Excellent for the weeks after Easter. “He Is Lord” is beautifully arranged at the end.
On a Hill Far Away
SATB – Martin – 10/5427L
This haunting original melody by Joseph Martin does great justice to text we know so well. Quiet and simple. Useful for Holy Week – especially a Palm/Passion service.
Prayer at Gethsemane
SATB – Raney – C6280
A “quick study” with a minimum of parts to rehearse but lots of the mood needed for Holy Week.
Rise Up My Soul
SATB – Larson – 00-48603
Not just another 6/8 anthem of joy. There are rhythmic and harmonic surprises that make this piece shine.
Risen Indeed!
SATB – Pote – C6272
A lively, rhythmic original anthem for Easter. Easy to put together.
Rock on Whom We Stand
SATB – Berry – 10/5392L
You can always depend on Cindy Berry to be direct and to the point with the message of her anthems, thus leaving a lasting impression on the congregation. This is a great text of celebration.
Salvation Is Our God’s
SATB – Parks – 10/5424L
If you omit the reading from Revelations and start the introduction later, you have a wonderful Palm Sunday anthem that builds as the procession gets nearer.
Shepherd Song
SATB – Bolin – 810035
Such a peaceful piece. The flute part is easy and in a good key in case you have a younger flute player.
Sing Community, Sing Peace
SATB – Hayes – 10/5397L
This is Mark Hayes’ original writing at its best. Beautiful. Written for an ecumenical service. Great for any time love and community is the theme.
Someone’s Walkin’
SATB – Drennan – 10/5393L
A cappella. Very singable. Great part for the basses. Useful for Good Friday or Holy Week.
Still I’ll Rejoice
SATB – Choplin – BP2172
Beautiful choral sounds and the combining of text and musical elements you have come to expect from Pepper Choplin.
These Forty Days
SATB – Dengler – 810039
In this piece you get an anthem for the first Sunday of Lent and a chorus that can call your congregation to Lenten worship all the other Sundays of Lent.
Upon This Altar
SATB – Drennan – 00-48602
Perfect for communion during Holy Week or anytime. Beautiful melodies.
We’ll Join the Everlasting Song
SATB – Larson – BP2216
Very singable. I’m not sure what the hurry is but I would slow it down a little bit.
Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead?
SATB – Choplin – 10/5454L
What a great way to start an Easter Sunday service moving from hushed anticipation to rejoicing Alleluias. Excellent rhythmic use of the text.
With Every Breath
SATB – Hayes – 10/5407L
The composer was not listed on my original copy. The opening riff made me think it might be a new arrangement of a contemporary hit. The voice lines were so singable and the rhythms fit the words so well. Then, I found out it was a Mark Hayes original. Gather your contemporary forces and give your choir and congregation a fun time.
With Waving Palms and Shouts of Praise
SATB w/ children – Christopher 810041
Easy anthem for Palm Sunday with an interesting part for the children and an easy bell part.
Wondrous Love
SAB – Cameron – C6282
With a brief introduction using the well-known hymn tune this original will be a great change to your Lenten pieces.
