The Hymnal as a Choral Anthem Book

One of the most cost-effective, and also musically satisfying, means of music for a church choir can be found in the hymnal. I was reminded of this just this week when The Chamber Singers (a 16 voice auditioned mixed voice choir we started last fall) sang “God Be in My Head” (#635) in The Christian Life Hymnal during their Spring Concert Sunday evening at our church.

I first encountered this wonderful setting by Walford Davies (1910) of a prayer from The Book of Hours, 1514 in The Mennonite Hymnal (Herald Press, 1960) several years ago and was keen on including in The Christian Life Hymnal. I added the optional “Amen” because I thought it might be good to have when used as a benediction. Here’s an mp3 recording of “God Be In My Head”.

In the topical index we included a listing of “CHOIR SELECTIONS” (p. 663) that could be used as a choral anthems. Many of these would work well a cappella. A bit of “on the spot” arranging can easily turn a 4 part hymn into a choral arrangement. As an example, consider #50 “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” set to the tune LYNGHAM.

Vs. 1 is sung by the choir in 4 parts a capella

Vs. 2 a soloist sings the melody, while the choir sings parts on an “ooo” sound up until the pickups to the 4th measure on the second page, where the choir reverts to the 4 part lyrics with the men singing “the honor’s…

Vs. 3 can be sung “Faux Bourdon“- this is when the sopranos and tenors switch parts.

Vs 4 begins 1/2 steup up, (moving to the key of F#), all singing unison. (The move to unison can be a good way to incorporate a key change and not worry about every finding their new pitch – the unison will lock it in!)

Sing the first phrase unison (“Glory to God and praise and love”)

Split into the parts written for the next two phrases (“be now and ever given, be now and ever given.”)

Sing the next phrase in unsion (“by saints below and saints in heaven”)

Sing in parts as written until the end

For the Ending, repeat the last line (“the Church in earth and heaven” starting with the sopranos and altos, men joining 2 beats later, and have the first soprano’s sing the tenor part on the last 4 words (“in earth and heaven”)

You’ve just created a full arrangement.

And, if you do this 6 times, you’ve paid for your hymnals by saving $1.75 per octavo 6 times, and utilized the hymnal in a creative and fresh way.

Pentecost Sunday, May 31

This Sunday, May 31, is 50 days after Easter, when we celebrate Pentecost. In my church, we hang large scarlet red cloth banners all around the entrance to the church, that blow beautifully in the wind, to signify the fire of the Holy Spirit that fell at Pentecost. We also all are encouraged to wear red! (That’s why this post is red.)

And we celebrate this Sunday as the birth of the church. Our music is centered on the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission, and the birth of the Church.

In addition to the hymns in the Holy Spirit section (#216-229) and The Church/Foundation & Nature (#316-322), and Renewal (#337-342), the Church Index for Pentecost Sunday (found on p. 661) includes:

Channels Only #498

Hail Thee, Festival Day #187 (Pentecost text)

His Way with Thee #313

O To Be Like Thee #470

Open the Wells of Salvation #494

Shine, Jesus, Shine #348

And, the Church section on the Topical Index (p. 663) includes:

Baruch Hashem Adonai #252

In Christ There Is No East or West #336

Lift High the Cross #203

Onward, Christian Soldiers #438

The Risen Christ #189 (especially note stanza 3)

When in Our Music God Is Glorified #56 (especially note stanza 3)

Pentecost is also a wonderful Sunday to sing and/or speak in different languages. The Psalm could be read by 4 readers in each corner of the sanctuary in 4 different languages alternately – and then at the end repeat the last verse, all together–a cacophony of sound to remind us that at Pentecost people of every nation heard the gospel in their own native language.

Another way would be to sing a common hymn or chorus in 2 languages. Another idea: Have the congregation sing the chorus of “O Come, Let Us Adore Him” (#47). After verse 4, repeat verse 1, with the original Latin sung by the choir (“Venite adoremus, venite adoramus, venite adoremus, Domine.”) simultaneously.

Please feel free to share what you’ve planned for Pentecost in the Comments section.

A prayer for Pentecost:

Father of light, from whom every good gift comes, send your Spirit into our lives with the power of a mighty wind, and by the flame of your wisdom open the horizons of our minds. Loosen our tongues to sing your praise in words beyond the power of speech, for without your Spirit man could never raise his voice in words of peace or announce the truth that Jesus is Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.