Choral Music for Reformation and Thanksgiving

As the new choir season gets under way each fall, many choral groups begin rehearsing anthems for two festive services: Reformation Sunday and Thanksgiving Day. Fortunately, a wealth of material is available for these two events. Many published anthems are based on familiar hymns associated with the Reformation and on traditional hymns of thanksgiving. You'll find some of those anthems listed on this page.

Many of the anthems in this list are hymn concertatos that feature the choir and organ, additional instruments, and congregational participation. Choir directors can use the hymn anthems that are not concertatos either in the usual way or as alternate stanzas during congregational singing.

All of the tunes and texts listed below are in at least one of the three new Reformed hymnals: Rejoice in the Lord, Psalter Hymnal, and Trinity Hymnal. All compositions are intended for SATB choir with organ unless otherwise noted. Those I have used with my choirs and recommend are marked easy, medium, or difficult. The remaining titles were taken from publishers' lists.

REFORMATION
AURELIA
-The Church's One Foundation
Concordia, 97-5346 (choir pan, 98-2282)
oboe, brass quartet, congregation
  Manz
G.I.A., G-2238  
congregation
  Powell
Concordia, 98-2469
two trumpets, congregation
  Schalk
EIN FESTE BURG
-A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Concordia. 97-1412 (choir pan, 98-1417) 
three Crumpets, congregation
  Bunjes
Augsburg, 11-2219
optional brass, timpani, congregation, no organ
easy/medium  Hopson
Augsburg, 11-1441    
trumpet, congregation
  Johnson
Concordia 98-1859
SA or TB, organ, cello
medium Schein
-Psalm 46
Beckenhorst Press, BPII53
congregation
medium Beck
KIRKEN
-Built on the Rock
Concordia, 97-4571 (choir part, 98-1635) 
two trumpets, congregation
  Bunjes
Augsburg, 11-0104 
a capella, baritone solo
  Christiansen
Augsburg, 11-1322 
congregation
  Nystedt
Concordia, 98-2345 
brass quartet, congregation
  Wolff
OLD HUNDREDTH
-The Old Hundredth Psalm-Tune
Oxford, 42 P 953  
trumpet, optional brass, congregation
easy Vaughan Williams
-The Old Hundredth Psalm
Stainer and Bell, 4011 
organ or piano
medium/difficult Vaughan Williams
ST. ANNE
-O How Amiable
Oxford, A 94    easy/medium Vaughan Williams
-Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge
G. Schirmer, 9720
trumpet, added semi-chorus
medium/difficult  Vaughan Williams
ST. CATHERINE
-Faith of Our Fathers
G.I.A..G-2144   
optional two trumpets, congregation
  Goemanne
SINE NOMINE
-For All the Saints
C.Fischer, CM 6637   easy Rosenberg
TOULON
-God of the Prophets
Concordia. 98-1647  
trumpet descant, congregation  
easy Bunjes
THANKSGIVING
DIX
-For the Beauty of the Earth
G.I.A., G-2253
SAB, two trumpets, congregation
  Goemanne
KREMSER
-We Praise Thee. O God
Augsburg, 11-1563   
SAB, trumpet, congregation
  Johnson
Mark Foster, MF 236  
two trumpets
  Wolff
LOBE DEN HERREN
-Praise to the Lord
Concordia, 97-4450 (choir part, 98-1473)
trumpet, congregation
  Bunjes
Arista, AE 109 
a cappella
medium Distler
G.I.A., G-2224 
one of two trumpets, congregation
  Goemanne
Concordia, 97-5296 (choir part, 97-5297)
brass quartet, congregation
easy Manz
Concordia, 97-4423 (choir pan, 98-1448)
flute, trumpet, no organ
  Rohlig
NATIONAL HYMN
-God of Our Fathers
G.I.A., 2240 
SAB, brass quartet, congregation
  Hopson
NUN DANKET
-Now Thank We All Our God
H.W.Gray, 1497  easy Bach
G.I.A., G-2553  
three trumpets, congregation
  Carroll
Peters, 6588   easy Willan

Howard Slenk is director of music at Woodlawn CRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

Reformed Worship 8 © June 1988, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.