1. "Let Us Love in Deed and Truth" by Larry P. King
#4552, SATB/organTrinitas/Oregon Catholic Press (800-Liturgy)
Larry King, organist and choir director at Trinity Church, Wall Street, for two decades, wrote this anthem for the Family Choir of Trinity. Its text is taken from the First Epistle of John and is one of the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B. "Let Us Love in Deed and Truth" has been recorded by the choir of Trinity Church on The Gothic Label.
2. "This Is the Hour of Banquet and of Song" by Alfred V. Fedak
#410-444, SATB/organ, Selah Publishing Co. (800-852-6172)
This Communion anthem can be used anytime during the year and
would be especially useful for those who keep their choirs singing
during the summer months and want a beautiful and relatively simple anthem to learn.
3. Love Is of God by Alice Parker
#410-696, SATB/organ, Selah Publishing Co. (800-852-6172)
This is a useful anthem when the theme of the lectionary is love--for example, Easter 6B: John 15: 9-17 or 1 John 4:7-21--with text by James Quinn, S.J. Choir directors will find the performance notes provided on the inside cover useful for creating the tone that the composer intended.
4. How Can I Keep From Singing? arr. Alice Parker
HMC398, SSAATB, Hinshaw Music (919-933-1691)
Alice Parker, founder of Melodious Accord, an organization devoted to the promotion of singing, has produced a well-crafted anthem of this popular text and tune from the Quaker folk hymn. Just released this spring, it is a new arrangement for two sopranos, two altos, with a mezzo-soprano solo. Comes with keyboard accompaniment.
SATB/organ, Cantate Music Press (973-627-8881)
Cantate Music Press is relatively new on the publishing scene, and they
have pieces worth perusing. Here is another setting of Psalm 121 that deserves attention and would be useful for summer choirs that can rehearse just before service.
6. Psalm 34 by Craig Phillips
#5364, SS/organ, ECS Publishing (800-777-1919)
Craig Phillips, music assistant at All Saints' Church, Beverly Hills, is
a young and talented composer. Choir directors searching for new works
for treble choirs must check this out for its melodic writing.
7. Panis Angelicus by Pierre Villette
#362-03410, Theodore Presser
Many choral conductors will know this 20th-century French composer
through his motet "Hymne a la Vierge," also available through T.
Presser. This motet is one of three, the others being "O Quam
Admirabilis Es" and "Jesu, Dulcis Memoria." Please note: Those wishing for some challenging new settings of these texts should look no further. The writing is not easy, and directors should be aware that there is some divisi in the men's parts.
8. O Nata Lux by Morton Lauridsen
#61908-121, SATB, Peer Southern/T. Presser (610-525-3636)
Here is another winner from the pen of Morton Lauridsen, chair of the Department of Composition at USC and composer in residence for the Los Angeles Master Choral. This motet is from a larger work, "Lux Aeterna" (#61911-122), which is scored for mixed choir with organ or orchestra. "O Nata Lux" is associated with the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6.
9. A Hymn to the New Age by Lee Hoiby
SATB/organ, Rock Valley Music Company (914-887-4321)
This anthem, with themes of abundance, peace, and fellowship, is particularly suitable for the Sunday nearest July 4. A brass arrangement by Larry King is also available. This anthem is included on a CD of Lee Hoiby's choral music, sung by the choir of Trinity Church, Wall Street, on The Gothic Label.
10. Now the Eleven Disciples by David Hurd
SATB/organ, #420-216, Selah Publishing Co. (800-852-6172)
Here is a useful anthem for Trinity Sunday (June 18). David Hurd, music professor at General Theological Seminary, is one of the leading composers of church music in America. It is a musical setting for the Great Commission from Matthew 28: 16-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
