Singing a Lenten Song

Hardly have church musicians survived the Christmas holidays and helped place the Baby Jesus safely in the creche, when they have to begin planning music for Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Many choir directors already have their "ducks lined up in a row." For those who are still selecting anthems for this season, here are some ideas for consideration.

"This is the Fasting I Ask" - Michael Connolly, G2720, SATB/keyboard accompaniment. GIA This is a beautiful and haunting anthem whose text is Isaiah 58:1-12, the alternative Old Testament lesson for Ash Wednesday.

"Lay Up For Yourselves" - Ned Rorem, M051464449, SATB acappella, , Boosey & Hawkes. This short motet is one of seven commissioned by All Saints' Episcopal Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ned Rorem, one of America's best-known composers, has provided a harmonically beautiful setting of this famous text from the sixth chapter of Matthew's Gospel-which happens to be the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday. Choirs will find this anthem challenging, but will appreciate its beauty when they have mastered its intricacies.

"The Lord Is My Light" - Stephen Sturk, AM119, SATB/organ, Arista Editions. Here is an anthem appropriate for the Second Sunday in Lent in the current Ecclesiastical Year C. Its text is taken from Psalm 27, the psalm appointed for that day. Composed by Stephen Sturk, a young American composer who lives on the West Coast, it was commissioned by the Association of Anglican Musicians and dedicated to Mildred Buttrey, who had been music director at the Episcopal Church in Amherst, MA. It was premiered at Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven in 1988. This is a lush setting scored for soprano solo, SATB choir with organ accompaniment. It is well within the capabilities of the average church choir.

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" - Malcolm Archer, #97732A, 2 part trebles, Kevin Mayhew/Mel Bay Publications. This charming setting of the famous Isaac Watts text is scored for treble choir and organ. Malcolm Archer, currently the organist and master of the choir at Wells Cathedral in England, has crafted a simple setting utilizing his own music rather than using the standard hymn tunes. Children love singing this piece.

Continued on page 2: »