Enabling Transformational Experiences: Repertoire

As a church musician and choir director, I believe that much of one’s success is based on the repertoire and hymnody we select, along with adapting to the needs of the ensemble and the congregation. While I strongly believe in expanding a congregation’s body of hymns they know, if I choose too many unfamiliar hymns, I’m not honoring their history and their beloved favorites. On the other hand, if I strike just the right balance between familiar and unfamiliar hymns, I’m more likely to have buy-in on the unfamiliar hymns, which in time can eventually become familiar. Similarly, anthems need to fit the needs, interests, and skill level of the ensemble. Even if an anthem comes recommended from numerous choir directors, if may or may not fit my context.  

Part of enabling transformational experiences is selecting the right hymns and right anthems for a particular context. As a Director of Music in a church, I always want to strike a balance between favorites and familiar anthems and expanding awareness of less familiar genres and composers. My philosophy is that in a given year, the music should represent the Body of Christ. For example, not relegating music by Black composers to solely Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, or Juneteenth, but by including music by Black composers throughout the whole year. With that in mind, I thought I would do something a little different for today’s blog post. In honor of Black History Month, here are several anthems I highly recommend that can be used throughout the whole year.

Advent

Keep Your Lamps arr. Andre Thomas, SATB, A Cappella, Hinshaw Music, Inc.

Christmas

Jesus What A Wonderful Child arr. Rollo Dilworth, SATB, SAB, SSA, or TTBB, Piano, Drums, Bass, 3 trumpets, Hal Leonard

Epiphany

Walk in the Light arr. Andre Thomas, SATB or Unison/2-part, Piano, Choristers Guild

Lent

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me arr. Rollo Dilworth, SATB with some divisi, Piano, Drums, Bass, Clarinet or Soprano Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Hal Leonard

Oh, That Bleeding Lamb arr. Undine S Moore, SATB with divisi, A Cappella, Augsburg Fortress

Pentecost

Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit arr. William Dawson, SATB with divisi, A Cappella, Neil A. Kjos Music Company

General

Amazing Grace arr. Keith McCutcheon, SATB with divisi, Piano, Earthsongs

Ascribe to the Lord by Rosephayne Powell, SATB, SAB, SSAA, or TTBB, Piano, Gentry Publications

I Choose Love by Mark Miller, SATB or SSA and Piano, Choristers Guild

We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace arr. Undine S Moore, SATB, A Cappella, GIA Music

We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace arr. Moses Hogan, SATB with divisi, A Cappella, Hal Leonard

Except for We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace arr. Undine S Moore, I’ve conducted all the other pieces in worship. In December 2022, the Youth Choir at my church sang the SAB voicing of Jesus What A Wonderful Child. I used piano, drums, and bass and that combo helped create memorable presentations of that anthem. If you have access to a fantastic clarinet or soprano sax player, I highly recommend I Want Jesus to Walk With Me arr. Rollo Dilworth. That setting truly gets at the grief and yearning of the hymn. With that in mind, I thought I’d post a recording of the piece. I hope it inspires you!

Have you conducted any of the pieces on the list? Post below if you have!