See also my page of introits (short choral works under a minute and a half).
A noisy gong or a clanging cymbal
A true hymne
Alleluia
Alleluia, Let us Rejoice
Arise, O God, and rule the earth
As a hart longs for flowing streams
Bait, The
Because I could not stop for Death (from Needham Psalter)
Blest is the Home
Blow the trumpet in Zion
Bring many names
Called by God
Duration: 2’15”
Instrumentation: SATB, congregation, piano, organ. Also TTBB, piano
Difficulty: Easy
Christ has no body now but yours
Duration: 50 seconds
Instrumentation: SATB choir a capella
Difficulty: Hard
Description: This choral benediction sets a text by St. Teresa of Avila. The texture is homophonic with some polyphonic relief. The work is a miniature continuous variation of the music of the opening phrase, modified on each repetition to fit the needs of the text:Theme Christ has no body now on earth but yours;
Var 1 no feet but yours, no hands but yours;
Var 2 Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Var 3 Christ’s compassion to the world;
Var 4 Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good;
Var 5 Yours are the hands with which he is to bless now.
Christ the Lord is risen again (1974)
Come to me (from Songs of Prophecy)
Come, Let Us Gather
Duration: 1-2 minutes
Instrumentation: SATB, piano
Difficulty: Medium
Description: This piece was written for a Global Mission Conference held in Worcester MA in November, 1993. The choir was composed of participants, who had a little over an hour’s rehearsal to learn this piece and other music for the service.This piece works well as an introit, stopping halfway through, as well as a full-length anthem. It is in 6/8, with a simple two-measure harmonic pattern over a tonic pedalfor much of the work. It can even be turned into a two-voice piece with little difficulty. Choirs like it because, even though it is basically easy to learn, there is some interesting complexity as the various parts are fit together. A unison alleluia section acts as a climax point for each section of the piece:
Alleluia, allelu!
Heart, hand and voice, God, lifted to you!
Easter Alleluia: This is the Day
Eli, Eli
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker
Find Your Rest, Oh My Soul
Duration: 1’30”
Instrumentation: SATB, piano
Difficulty: Medium
Description: As I was planning my spring 2006 anthem list for church, I had six introit slots unfilled in my first pass through the choral library. So I’m thinking that I’ll write a set of six–and what better day to begin than the first day of the year. The piano has a 3-measure ostinato, against which the choir sings. The sopranos have the lead, in the spirit of the cantor, answered by ATB chords. The text is based on portions of Psalm 63:5-12, which is one of the lectionary choices for the day I’m planning to present this introit. The writing is lyrical, and the piece is easy to moderate in difficulty. For a little more background on this piece, visit my January 1, 2006 post on my blog.
For No One
Friendship
Gifts of the Spirit, The
Gilead for Choir
Duration:
Instrumentation: SATB, piano
Difficulty: Medium
Description: This is a choral realization of a textless movement for mezzo-soprano, cello and piano, which itself is based on an earlier variation for flute and piano.
Gloria
Great Soaring Spirit
Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord
Hear This: All you Peoples (from Needham Psalter)
Here with a loaf of bread
Holy, holy, holy
House of my Soul, The
I shall keep singing!
I Was Hungry
Duration: 2’30”
Instrumentation: SATB, piano
Difficulty: Easy to medium
Description: Based on Matthew 25:31-46, this work starts by having the sopranos and altos tell the story (I was hungry and you fed me…) while the tenors and basses emphasize the ending (So the King said to them: Come, enter in). After a brief interlude midway through the piece, all singers ask “when did we?” and finish with a flowing, mostly unison response to the question.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord
I will give thanks, O God
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live
If to be
Isaiah’s Call
Jesus Prayer
Duration: 1 minute
Instrumentation: S solo, SATB, keyboard
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Through-composed vocal solo over choral ostinato written by Jaques Berthier (Jesus, Remember Me)
Joy shall be ours
Let me tell you a story
Let us rejoice
Life is short
Lord is my Shepherd, The
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing
Duration: 1’30”
Instrumentation: SATB, optional T solo or soli, piano
Difficulty: Easy to medium
Description: A choral benediction response . A choir favorite.
May the Words of my Mouth
Duration: 1’40”
Instrumentation: T solo, SATB a capella
Difficulty: Medium
Description: Inspired by African choral music, this short anthem requires a strong tenor soloist. Works well in blended worship. Medium difficulty.
Moved by faith
Music expresses
None other lamb
Now thank we all our God
Now the green blade riseth
O be joyful in the Lord
Only begotten, Word of God eternal
Our Church’s Wider Mission
Pictures from Breughel: From the Nativity
Pictures from Breughel: Landscape with the Fall of Icarus
Pictures from Breughel: Peasant Wedding
Pictures from Breughel: Self-portrait
Prepare ye the way
Psalm 111
Psalm 127
Psalm 131: My Heart is not lifted up
Psalm 139: O Lord, you have searched me
Psalm 23 (1973)
Psalm 23 (1989)
Psalm 63
Psalm for Good Friday, A
Redemption
Rejoice in the Lord always
Ressuscitou: Christ is risen
Shall I silent be?
Simple Gifts
Sing to the Lord
Song of Abandonment
Song of Promise, A
Song of Simeon
Standing in the Need of Prayer
Duration: 2’45”
Instrumentation: SATB a capella
Difficulty: Medium
Description: Upbeat arrangement of spiritual.
Storm is Passing Over, The
The cry of the poor
The Dawning
The heavens are telling
The Lord Your God is in Your Midst
Duration: 2 minutes
Instrumentation: SATB, piano
Difficulty: Easy to medium
Description: Based on Zephaniah 3:17 and 3:20. In ABA form, with the A section in a spirited 6/8 (lots of unison and simple chordal writing). The B section is in 4/4, with a richer texture. The closing A section brings us back to the opening material. The piece learns easily and works well in choirs where sections aren’t of equal strength.
Three Hymns of Faith
Though I May Speak
Duration: 2 minutes
Instrumentation: S solo, SATB a capella
Difficulty: Medium to hard
Description: A choral arrangement of the English folk tune O Waly Waly, setting the 1972 text by Hal Hopson paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 13 Medium difficulty; primarily homophonic; mixture of jazz and classical styling.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul
Trickle Drops
Water
Duration: 2’30”
Instrumentation: SATB, piano
Difficulty: Medium to hard
Description: This piece draws on Gospel, African and Western European traditions in setting the text by LOPC Associate Pastor Gail DoeringWater falls down like rain
and pours upon my soul
to soak the drought of faith…