Choral directors, organists


Choral VOH


Vernon, OH, and associate professor in the School of Music at Ohio State University.


d Lord of All Life, arr. Richard


Nichols, Shawnee Press/Hal Leonard, HL 35029252, 2013, SATB, piano, $1.90.


Powerful thoughts taken from


Colossians and Hebrews are conveyed here in surprisingly intimate fashion, which makes this anthem perfect for smaller choirs. Patricia Mock’s tender yet contemporary melody is com- fortable for untrained voices; much of the anthem remains in two-part texture with men’s and women’s voices echoing each other. An easy piano ac- companiment helps set a reverent yet personal mood. Easy.


We Are Your Church, O Christ,


Joseph Martin, Shawnee Press/ Hal Leonard 35028024, 2013, SATB, piano, $1.90. As majestic and dramatic as the


previous title is introspective, Joseph Martin provides a useful work for various types of occasions – Pentecost and Consecration Sundays, church anniversaries, and community servic- es. Familiar texts are taken from Acts, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Peter. Although not challenging rhythmically nor ton- ally, this piece does require vocal heſt and is better served by medium- to large-sized choirs. An experienced organist can easily adapt the piano ac- companiment to the organ. Orchestra parts are available separately.


Woven Together, Jacob J.


Narverud, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, SBMP-1151, 2013, SATB, piano, $2.25. Using the well known Appa-


___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 36


lachian hymn tune Beach Spring,


three-staff collection will be as im- mediately familiar as those in the previous collection, all are certainly strong melodies: Boylston, Nun freut euch, Stephanos, Thaxted, and This Little Light of Mine. Just a tad more technically challeng- ing than those in the T ewes set, Nun freut euch unfolds in a fugue-like manner while This Little Light


performed with any of the three instruments listed above. Parts for all three instruments are included in the price. Set in 4/2 time, this is in the


January-February 2014 • WorshipArts • www.UMFellowship.org


R


Recommended by David Tovey, o


m S


M C


organist/choir- master at Gay Street United Methodist


Church, Mount


this twenty-page work spans nearly seven minutes and can be used in various settings including interfaith, civic, and school events since its text (also by the composer) emphasizes the strength individuals can fi nd in living in harmony with one another. A children’s choir can easily take a stanza for contrast. T e tune proceeds at a leisurely pace and is so easy to sing that the congregation (audience) is asked to join in on the fi nal verse, which includes a rather high wordless soprano descant. Some brief divisi phrases thicken the texture beyond four parts. At least thirty singers – preferably more – are needed to per- form this eff ectively. T e piano part is not diffi cult. Optional instrumental parts are also available on rental.


Organ


Recommended by David Tovey. Be T ou My Vision: Five


Hymn Arrangements for Organ, Mark T ewes, MorningStar Music, MSM-10-773, 2014, $12. All fi ve hymn tunes here will


be familiar to United Methodists: Ar Hyd y Nos, Beach Spring, Ein Feste Burg, Slane, and Terra Beata. T ese three-staff settings are not musically contrived and might be used either as hymn introductions or voluntaries in smaller churches. Of particular interest is the setting of Beach Spring, in which the three- beat melody is converted to quadruple meter with persistent syncopations which lend a greater sense of urgency. Easy to moderately easy.


Five Preludes of Praise, Set 8,


John Behnke, Concordia Publishing House, 94-7493, 2013, $18. Although not all tunes in this


surprises by placing the melody in the pedal. Boylston and Stephanos remain gently lyrical while Thaxted is surprisingly march-like. Moderately easy.


Archangel Suite, Craig Phillips,


Selah Publishing, 160-870, 2012, $16. Suitable in its entirety for recital


use, the four movements of this col- lection can be excerpted eff ectively for worship services as well. Subtitles clearly refer the listener to the mytho- logical personalities of diff erent saints. A martial opening in trumpet-tune style portrays St. Michael, the chief angelic adversary of Satan. Contrast- ing is a quietly but steadily fl owing 9/8 movement entitled “Gabriel, Mes- senger of the Annunciation.” T e tone painting for Raphael, the archangel of healing, is a shimmering meditation for celestes, while the fi nale, dedicated to the archangel of light, Uriel, is toc- cata in the French style. Moderately diffi cult.


Organ R


Recommended by Mark Thewes, director of m


M d


music/organist , Westbrook United M


Festival Prelude on “T axted,”


David Pettit, MorningStar Music MSM-20-767, trumpet and organ, $12.00.


Based on the famous tune by


Holst from T e Planets, the organ starts out with the theme followed by the trumpet. Parts for C and Bb trumpet are included. Diffi culty level is moderately easy.


O God, Our Help in Ages Past,


Charles Callahan, MorningStar Music MSM -20-793, organ and French horn or trombone or trumpet (Bb & C), $9.00.


A useful setting as it can be


Methodist Church, Canton, OH.


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