On Monday, December 1, members of the Pennsylvania Northeast Chapter gathered at the First United Methodist Church in Shickshinny for a choral anthem reading session. Five local organists and choir directors presented anthems suitable for small to medium sized choirs. Ordering information can be found below, with links directly to purchasing information, and in some cases sound clips and even score samples.
Love Never Fails
2pt choir, keyboard and cello
J.A.C. Redford
Lullay Alleluia
Incorporating the carols Lullay My Liking and the Coventry Carol
SSA choir, piano and cello
Ruth Elaine Schram
Sussex Carol
SAB Choir and organ
Arr. Robert Lau
Prayer Litany
Based on the Prayer of St. Francis
2pt choir, organ and oboe
Helen Kemp
Wondrous Love
SAB choir, organ and cello
C. Thomas Schwalm
Why seek ye the living among the dead?
SATB choir and organ
Charles Villiers Stanford
CPDL (free PDF score download)
Beloved, God’s Chosen
2pt choir (SB) and keyboard
Robert A. Hobby
O Esca Viatorum
SAB choir and organ
Charles Callahan
Jesus, Son of Mary
2pt choir and organ
Jeremy J. Bankson
Fairest Lord Jesus
SATB choir and organ
Hal H. Hopson
The Lamb
SATB choir and piano
Gerald P. Coleman
Arr. Mark Hayes
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men
Unison choir and keyboard
Ralph Vaughan Williams
I Will Worship
Unison choir and keyboard
George Dyson
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Unsion choir and opt. handbells
Appalachian folk tune
As sung at Washington National Cathedral
O Love of God
SAB choir and organ
Eric Thiman
Most Glorious Lord of Life
STB choir and organ
William H. Harris
Edmund Spenser
An Advent Processional
2pt mixed choir and percussion
Donald Pearson
Morningstar Music, Aureole edition
AE063
Be Thou My Vision
SATB choir and piano
Arr. Dan Forrest
The evening concluded with a sung service of Evening Prayer, found on page 878 the United Methodist Hymnal. Hymns included numbers 700, 226, 892, 483, and 663. Thank you to all who participated!