Choral Music for Advent -- Epiphany

The choral music listed on these pages (all hymn anthems) is appropriate for use in worship during Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany. All the tunes appear in one or more of the three new Reformed hymnals: Rejoice in the Lord, Psalter Hymnal, and The Trinity Hymnal. All entries are SATB a cappella unless indicated otherwise.

Our choir has discovered that the hymn-anthem is an effective way of introducing new songs to the congregation. We follow a process similar to the following:

Week 1: The choir sings the hymn-anthem.

Week 2: The director of music teaches the song to the congregation.

Week 3: The choir sings one stanza of the hymn, using portions of the hymn-anthem; the congregation sings the other stanzas. You'll notice that many of the arrangements listed below contain stanzas actually written for the congregation.

ADVENT
MERTON
-Hark, A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding
Augsburg, 11-1798
organ, tenor solo, descant, congregation, ad.lib.
easy Cassier
NUN KOMM DERHEIDEN HEILAND
-Savior of the Nations, Come
Fortress, 3-8305
SAB, flute, organ, congregation
medium Busarow
Concordia, 97-5441
2 flutes, oboe, organ, congregation
easy Manz
O HEILAND REISS
-O Saviour, Throw the Heavens Wide
G. Schirmer, 854.5 difficult Brahms
PICARDY
-Let All Mortal flesh keep Silence
Augsburg, 11-1844
SA or TB, congregation
easy Busarow
Stainer & Bell, 2309 
organ
easy Hoist
PUER NOBIS
-Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth
Concordia, 98-2429
unison, organ, with optional handbells
easy Haan
GENEVAN 42
-Comfort, Conmfort if on Ye My People
Concordia, 98-1388
string quintet and organ (or organ alone)
easy Bunjes
VENI EMMANUEL
-O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Concordia, 98-2022
SAB, descanr, organ
easy Lenel
Oxford, 84.194
organ, baritone solo
easy Rutter
CHRISTMAS
ANTIOCH
-Joy to the World
Hinshaw, HMC785
piano (orchestral accompanimentavailable)
medium Rutter
AWAY IN A MANGER
-Away in a Manger
Augsburg, 11-2049
organ, violin
easy Pelz
DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
-Of the Father's Love Begotten
Hope, A454  easy Wohlgemuth
ES IST EIN ROS
-Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming
Concordia, 97-4849
seven movemems, one with alio solo, one for double chorus
difficult Distler
Arista, AE109
two movements
medium Distler
IN DULCI JUBILO
-In dulci jubilo
Concordia, 98-1500
SAB with instruments
medium Buxtehude
Novello, 020730 medium Pearsall
-SATB/SATB
King, 606 
brass or organ
easy Practorius
-Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Augsburg, 11-9196
two violins, organ, and congregation ad lib.
easy Nystedt
REGENT SQUARE
-Angels from the Realm of Glory
G.I.A., G-2513
organ,two trumpets, congregation
easy Englert
RENDEZ A DIEU (GENEVAN 98/118)
-Christians, Sing Out with Exultation
Concordia, 98-2594
organ
easy Wolff
RESONET IN LAUDIBUS
-Sing with Joy, Glad Voices Lift
Concordia, 97-5111 
three movements, one in SA
difficult Distler
Concordia, 97-4883
two choirs, SA and SSATB
medium Praetorius
Concordia, 98-20165
flute, violin, and cello (or organ)
easy Schroeder
STILLE NACHT
-Silent Night
Walton, W2345 
organ or piano, optional oboe or flute, alto solo
easy Sjolund
VON HIMMEL HOCH
-From Heav'n Above
Augsburg, 1471
SSATB
medium Schein
EPIPHANY
CRIMOND
-The Shepherd Psalm
Hinshaw
organ, alto solo
easy Martin
DEO GRACIAS
-O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
Concordia, 98-1524
optional 3 trumpets, organ
easy Schalk
DUKE STREET
-Jesus Shall Reign
Augsburg, 11-2107 
organ, trumpet, congregation ad lib.
easy Engel
OLD HUNDREDTH
-The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune
Oxford, 42P953
organ, trumpet, congregation
easy Vaughn Williams
WIE SCHOEN LEUCHTET
-There Shall Be a Star Come Out of Jacob
Schmitt, Hall, & Mc Crcary.
SGHCH 1903 
organ
medium Mendelssohn
-How Brightly Beams the Morning Star
Lawson-Gould 51200,
HMC-787 
4 settings, SAB to SSATB
easy to medium Praetorius

Howard Slenk is director of music at Woodlawn CRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

Reformed Worship 5 © September 1987, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.