Choir Anthems 2008-09
For this year the choir members were asked to list their favorite hymns and Christmas carols on an index card. Choral arrangements of many of those selections were presented throughout the year.
September 7
Majesty, arr. J. Schrader
this anthem uses the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” as a counter-melody
September 14
O Lord, Thou Hast Formed, J.S. Bach
a chorale based on Bach’s melody, “O Jesu Süss”
September 21
Immortal, Invisible, arr. R. Sterling
one of Lou’s favorite hymns
September 28
I’m Gonna Sing, arr. H. L. Smith, II
an arrangement of a spiritual for the ladies’ ensemble
October 5/World Communion Sunday
The Church’s One Foundation, arr. J. Ferguson
one of John’s favorite hymns
October 12
In Paths of Beauty, G. Young
Gordon Young (1918-1998) composed nearly 1000 organ and choral works and also worked as a music critic in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
October 26
Amazing Grace, arr. J. Coates
an arrangement for the men’s choir
* one of David’s favorite hymns
November 2/All Saints
I Sing a Song of the Saints of God, arr. H. Hopson
this anthem incorporates “For All the Saints,” one of Carolyn’s favorite hymns
November 9/Stewardship Sunday
Great is Thy Faithfulness, arr. G. Martin
one of Kevin’s favorite hymns
November 23/Christ the King Sunday, also the Sunday before Thanksgiving
Thanks Be to Thee, O Lord, G. F. Handel, arr. T. F. Ganschow
a setting of a Handel arioso
November 30/Advent I
Celtic Advent Carol, Angerman and Barrett
an Advent anthem in a minor key
December 7/Advent II
African Advent Carol, M. Barrett
from the same composer as last week’s anthem
December 14/Advent III
December 24/Christmas Eve
1st anthem: Pavane for a Silent Night, M. Ravel, arr. P. Liebergen
by the composer of ‘Bolero’
2nd anthem: Still, Still, Still, M. Shepperd
January 11/Baptism of Our Lord
Offertory, J.N. Beck
requested by Carolyn, who preaches this Sunday
January 18
Lift Every Voice and Sing, arr. L. Larson
one of Carol’s favorite hymns
January 25
God, My King, J.S. Bach
a Bach chorale possibly from a lost cantata
February 1
I See You Face to Face, R. Lau
today’s composer was Robin’s professor of music at Lebanon Valley College
February 8
I Walked Today Where Jesus Walks, Gaither and Nelson
Gloria Gaither also composed ‘Because He Lives,’ with her husband
February 15
Notre Père, M. Duruflé
a setting of the Lord’s Prayer written in 1978
February 22
In Dat Great Gittin’ Up Mornin’, arr. J. Hairston
a spiritual before Lent
February 25/Ash Wednesday
Turn Thy Face, A. Sullivan
today’s composer wrote operettas with librettist William Gilbert
March 1/Lent I
A Lenten Meditation, I. N. Gardner
a two-part anthem for the ladies’ ensemble
March 22/Lent IV
Were You There, arr. R. Scholz
a spiritual for the men’s choir
March 29/Lent V
Turn Thy Face, A. Sullivan/Concord, page 152
Arthur Sullivan also wrote ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’
April 5/Palm Sunday
1st anthem: Hosanna, Hosanna, J. M. Martin
a Palm Sunday anthem in the key of e minor
2nd anthem: The Palms, J.B.Faure
April 9/Maundy Thursday
I Will Remember You, L. Larson
April 10/Good Friday/QUARTET
Lamb of God, F. Melius Christiansen
April 12/Easter
Christ is Alive!, arr. J. Holstein
this anthem uses the tune, Truro, hymn 318
April 26
In the Garden, arr. R. C. Wilson
a favorite of several of our choir members
May 3
I Will Remember You, L. Larson
this anthem modulates from c minor to d minor
May 10/Mother’s Day
Ladies’ Ensemble:
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, arr. H. Hopson
based on the hymn tune, Bradbury
May 24/Aldersgate Day
Out of the Deep, H. Purcell
this was the musical selection John Wesley was listening to at the time of his conversion
May 31/Pentecost
African Spirit Song, arr. H. Hopson
a traditional Xhosa/Sotho/Zulu song
June 7/Trinity Sunday/African Thanksgiving
Ni Me Mwano Bwano, arr. M. Sedio
Tanzanian call-and-response with Swahili text
June 14/Choir Recognition – the choir chooses their favorites anthems from this year
1st anthem: Great is Thy Faithfulness, arr. G. Martin
2nd anthem: Offertory, J.N. Beck
3rd anthem: In Paths of Beauty, G. Young
June 21/Father’s Day
Love Lifted Me, M. McDonald
Men’s Choir