Email Link
Facebook
Twitter
DiggNew Liturgical Music
There’s nothing like the sacred music you know — except for the sacred music you don’t know yet. Musical suggestions, old and new, for livening up your services from Trinity Wall Street organist Robert Ridgell.
Everyday Service Music
Gloria from Mass for the City–Richard Proulx
Richard Proulx was one of America’s premier liturgical composers after Vatican II. This versatile setting of the Gloria is great for congregations large and small. And it has great brass and organ parts for festival days. GIA Publications.
Sanctus from Missa Archangelus– Larry King
Larry King was organist and music director at Trinity Wall Street from 1968–1989. He was cutting edge for his time, employing the use of synthesizers and sound effects in his liturgical music. This setting of the Sanctus uses synthesizer, bells, gong, organ, choir, and congregation. GIA Publications.
Lord’s Prayer–Marilyn Haskel
Marilyn Haskel is music associate at St. Paul’s Chapel and a music editor with Church Publishing. Her setting of the Rite II version of the Lord’s Prayer is effective and kind, and is particularly useful for choirs and congregations that would like to learn music a cappella. MusicRiteAway, Church Publishing.
Agnus Dei from St. Anne Mass– James MacMillan
James MacMillan is known to many in the choral world as being one of the preeminent Scottish composers. The simple St. Anne Mass is a setting that a congregation can learn quickly and easily. Much of the Mass has a very traditional Scottish feel. The Agnus Dei is dreamlike and sets the mood for a fraction anthem in Lent or Advent. Boosey & Hawkes.
I Saw Water–Leo Nestor
Music that accompanies a liturgical action such as sprinkling holy water on the congregation is often called ritual music. This setting can be reduced to cantor/congregation or choir/ congregation. Its familiar refrain encourages congregational participation. music.cua.edu/faculty/leo-nestor.cfm.
Advent
Advent Litany–Peter Hallock
I highly recommend this litany for the opening procession on the First Sunday of Advent. The use of handbells, choir/cantor, congregation, and organ creates the right tone for the beginning of the season. Ionian Arts.
Christmas
Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night)–Philip Ledger
Too often, church musicians burden themselves with the complexities of the Christmas season. I say, keep it simple and effective. The “Sussex Carol” is famous for its jolly tune and it’s perfect for the Midnight Eucharist offertory moment of “razzle dazzle.” Oxford University Press.
Epiphany
This Little Light of Mine–arr. Moses Hogan
The trained musician often shudders to remember the Sunday School moments of holding a finger up and singing the old favorite, “This Little Light.” The late Moses Hogan brings the tune to life with a brilliant setting that displays the choir humming and a soloist in a cool baby blue style. Hal Leonard.
Lent
Gregorian Introits–Bruce Ford
Tracing our roots back to Gregorian Chant is so important, not only for historical and musical reasons but for mood and ambiance. If you choose to sing the Gregorian Introits every Sunday in Lent, they offer a thread aligning each week with the next. Mind you, these are tricky and they take awhile to perfect. But they are hauntingly beautiful and worthy of the discipline to make the sound great. The American Gradual, St. James Music Press.
Palm Sunday
Hosannah to the Son of David– Thomas Weelkes
This motet is accessible due to the form and repetition of rhythm and theme. Weelkes is best known for his madrigals and for being drunk and a notorious swearer. Perhaps it’s that energy that is best heard in this fine motet. Tudor Anthem Book, Oxford University Press.
Maundy Thursday
I Give You A New Commandment– Gregory Glenn
This piece is perfect for the foot-washing ritual on Maundy Thursday. The harmonic structure of the antiphon is followed by modal chants based on the text of John and Corinthians. It lends itself to repetition, which makes it particularly useful for the foot washing, a ritual that can take a lot of time. gglenn@madeleinechoirschool.org.
Easter
Joy to the Heart–K. Lee Scott
To some, Easter is an egg hunt. To others, it’s the wearing of hats. To me, it’s both! This anthem represents festivity, creativity, children, youth, hymns, brass/organ — there’s even a spare glockenspiel part. It is rare to find an anthem as effective as this for Easter, in large part because it involves the congregation as well. Concordia Publishing House.
Ascension
Great Day–Warren Martin
Composers have transformed the moving and soul-filled melodies of African-American spirituals into choral masterworks. This is one such work. “Great Day” is a cappella and worth learning because it’s the type of piece that once in a singer’s head, will stay there forever. Theodore Presser Company.
Pentecost
Come Thou Holy Paraclete –David Hurd
One of the best traits of this pieces is the flourishing organ part, simulating the Holy Spirit at work, and the bold declamatory nature of the text. Brilliant, with a middle section that will tear your heart out (in a good way)! Hope Publishing.
Trinity Sunday/Ordinary Time
Te Deum in B-flat–Charles Villiers Stanford
If there is one piece that can be said to describe what it means to be Anglican, it’s this one. This is the “Hallelujah Chorus” for the Anglican Church. In a time when there may be great divisions in the Church, I can see once again where music unites us. It has been the custom at Trinity to sing this at least once a year. This year, we sang it on Trinity Sunday as the canticle for the Song of Praise. Encore Music Company, Inc.
Return to:
Comments
Share Your Comments Below: