The Season of Easter – Music – 60.1

Congregational Song in Easter

A change in liturgical seasons creates opportunities to use congregational responses unique to the season and to repeat liturgical responses set to new and different music.

Songs with refrains might be sung refrain only, or stanzas might be used week to week either sequentially or cumulatively.

Confession and Pardon

• Alleluia GTG 586, 587, 588, 589
• Be Not Afraid GTG 243
• Bless the Lord GTG 544
• El Señor es mi pastor / The Lord Is My Shepherd SSS 294
• Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! GTG 591
• Hallelujah GTG 590
• Heaven Is Singing for Joy / El cielo canta alegría GTG 382, SSS 13
• I Depend upon Your Faithfulness / Tu fidelidad GTG 831, SSS 40
• In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful GTG 654, SSS 316
• La paz del Señor / The Peace of the Lord SSS 194
• Yes, Lord AAHH 667

Prayer for Illumination

• ¡Aleluya! Señor, ¿a quién iremos? / Alleluia! To Whom Shall We Go, Lord? SSS 548
• Listen, God Is Calling GTG 456
• There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (stanza 1) GTG 408, AAHH 326

Anthems for Children’s Choirs in Easter

• “Savior, King!” Katie Houts, CGA, uni, pno, opt hb/hc (E)
• “Do You Hear the Shepherd?” Kimberly Ingram, CGA, uni, pno, opt hb/hc/orff (E)
• “The Fruit of the Vine,” Can’t Wait to Sing! 2, Mark Patterson, CGA, uni, pno, opt perc (ME)
• “Seeds,” Mark Burrows, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno, opt vc (ME)
• “Praise Ye the Lord,” Victor C. Johnson, SHAW, uni/2 pt, pno, opt hb/hc (M)
• “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” arr. Victor C. Johnson, CGA, SATB and uni, pno/org, opt brass/timp/cong (MA)

Ideas for Using the Suggested Anthems in Worship

The following anthems contain short, memorable refrains that can be incorporated into the worship liturgy (seasonally or monthly). A children’s choir might introduce the refrain to the congregation, and in the following weeks it could be led by soloists, small groups, or other vocal ensembles from your congregation.

Prayer Response / Gospel Acclamation: “Guide Us, Lord,” Mark Patterson (CGA); “Do You Hear the Shepherd?,”Kimberley Ingram (CGA); “May My Light Shine,” Lynn Shaw Bailey & Becki Slagle Mayo (CGA)

Call to Worship/Introit: “Room in My Heart,” Mark Burrows, CGA

Palm Sunday and Easter: Two suggested anthems contain a choice of text for Palm Sunday and Easter, giving choirs the option to sing on either festival day—or on both. Take advantage of these flexible options for “Open the Gates” and “Savior, King!”

Anthems for Youth Choirs in Easter

Resurrection of the Lord / Season of Easter

• “Stay With Us,” Michael John Trotta, Hampton Roads Music Group, SAB, keybd, hb (E)
• “Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven,” Jason A. Heald, AF, SAB, pno, tpt (ME)
• “Ride On, King Jesus,” Philip Kern, SHAW, SATB, pno (M)
• “Sing Hallelujah!” Mark Burrows, CGA, 2 pt, pno (ME)

Pentecost

• “African Spirit Song,” Victor Johnson, SHAW, SATB, acap, perc (M)
• “Holy Spirit, Come,” Douglas Nolan, SHAW, SAB, pno (ME)
• “On the Day of Pentecost,” Douglas Nolan, SHAW, 2 pt, pno (ME)

Piano Music in Easter

• “Because He Lives,” RESURRECTION, Gospel Greats, Phillip Keveren, HAL (MA)
• “Christ Arose,” CHRIST AROSE, Crucified and Triumphant King! Cindy Berry, LOR (M)
• “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” EASTER HYMN, Symphonic Hymns for Piano, Phillip Keveren, HAL (M)
• “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise,” LLANFAIR, What Can I Play on Sunday, Book 3, Cindy Berry, ALF (M)
• “Hymn of Promise,” PROMISE, Today’s Hymns and Songs for Piano, John Carter, HOPE (M)
• “I Will Rise,” Wondrous Praise, James Koerts, ALF (M)
• “Jesus Lives, and So Shall I,” ZUVERSICHT, Hymn Tunes A to Z, Larry Shackley, LOR (M)
• “Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious,” BRYN CALFARIA, Morning Has Broken, Penny Rodriguez, LOR (M)
• “Morning Has Broken,” BUNESSAN, Glad Hymns of Praise, Lloyd Larson, LOR (MA)
• “Oh Happy Day,” Jazzy Hymns and Spirituals, Paul Johnston, ALF (A)
• “Shine, Jesus, Shine,” SHINE, JESUS, SHINE, Big Purple Book of Praise and Worship Piano Solos, Carol Tornquist, WORD (M)
• “The Day of Resurrection,” LANCASHIRE, Sunday Morning Holiday Companion, Victor Labenske, ALF (M)

Vocal Solos in Easter

• “Jesus Died on Calvary’s Mountain,” New Songs of Gladness: Vocal Solos for Worship, K. Lee Scott, AF (ME)
• “Osterlied,” Sacred Songs for the Soloist, Edvard Grieg, BH (MA)
• “All Good Gifts,” Godspell, Stephen Schwartz, HAL (E)
• “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” The Deep River Collection, Moses Hogan, HAL (ME)
• “By the Grace of the Spirit,” Oxford Solo Songs: Sacred, Andrew Gant, OUP (MA)
• “Rise Now, My Heart, with Gladness,” New Songs of Gladness, Vocal Solos for Worship, Johann Crüger, J. S. Bach, AF (M)
• “Regina Coeli,” Sacred Songs for the Soloist, Josef Rheinberger, BH (MA)
• “Laudamus te,” Mass in C Minor, K. 427, W. A. Mozart, BV, sop (A)
• “The Trumpet Shall Sound,” Messiah, G. F. Handel, NOV, bass (A)
• “I Shall Not Be Moved,” traditional, www.musicnotes.com, variety (E)
• “Not Lucky, I’m Loved,” Jonathon McReynolds, SMP, variety (M)

Handbell Music for Easter

• “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” DIADEMATA, arr. David Angerman, 2–3 oct, ALF, 12388, Level 1
• “He Is Exalted,” Twila Paris, arr. Michel Ryan, 2–3 oct, LOR, 20/1609L, Level 1+
• “Alleluia, Give Thanks,” Donald Fishel, arr. Sondra K. Tucker, 3–5 oct, opt hc, HOPE, 2461, Level 2
• “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” RESIGNATION, arr. Diane McAninch, 2 oct, High Meadow Music, HM-01-026, Level 2
• “The Spirit’s Love,” IVERSON, ST. MARGARET, MORECAMBE, arr. Michael W. Joy, 3 or 5 oct, 3 oct hc, GIA, G-11258, Level 2+
• “The Holy City,” Stephen Adams, arr. Patricia Hurlbutt, 3–5 oct, LOR, 20/2099L, Level 3
• “Now the Green Blade Riseth,” NOEL NOUVELET, arr. Kevin McChesney, 3–6 oct, HOPE, 1892, Level 3
• “This Joyful Eastertide,” VRUECHTEN, arr. Jason W. Krug, 3–7 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, opt 2 tpt, BP, HB517, Level 3
• “He Lives,” ACKLEY, arr. Mitchell Eithun, 3–5 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, ROP, RO3382, Level 3
• “Lord of the Dance,” SIMPLE GIFTS, arr. Kevin McChesney, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2099, Level 4-