Brand new for 2024! Christmas is a special time for your singers and congregation, filled with cherished memories of classic carols and the thrill of introducing new anthems. These 10 new selections offer a variety of options guaranteed to inspire your choir this Christmas season. Featuring organ or piano accompaniment with optional orchestrations and available in SAB or SATB voicings, these anthems range from reverent and contemplative to upbeat and joyful – perfect for a variety of Christmas services. Of course, these are just a few of our standout favorites – there are plenty more great options on our website!
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Artist: VOCES8 arr. Taylor Scott Davis – MorningStar Music Publishers
Your audience will appreciate being part of this gorgeous arrangement of a Christmas classic. Traditional harmonies and orchestral interludes make this unforgettable. One of the featured carols in the VOCES8 album A Choral Christmas.
Starts at 1:02
Sussex Carol
arr. Davide Mutti – Shawnee Press
Dancing off the page and into the heart, this delightful arrangement of the beloved English carol is marked by staggered vocal entrances and a few brief a cappella sections. The dazzling organ accompaniment is light and supportive of the well-crafted SAB voices.
Starts at 1:47
Of the Fathers Love Begotten
arr. Trevor Manor – Beckenhorst Press
An ancient plainchant is brought into the 21st century with lush harmonies and beautiful lines. Intuitive meters are carefully crafted to make this setting clear and useable. It will be a lovely ancient–modern addition to your Christmas programming.
Starts at 2:32
The Christmas Lamb
Brian L. Hanson – Choristers Guild
This poignant 19th-century text tells of God’s redemptive work, beginning with Advent and Christmas and finishing with Easter. The setting is crafted with swelling choral cadences and supported by a resonant piano accompaniment. A wonderful selection for Advent 4, Christmas Eve, and Christmas programs.
Starts at 3:20
Love, You Spoke a Word
Ken Medema – Jubliate Music Group
Incorporating the cherished carol What Child Is This?, the anthem’s text tells the story of Christ’s coming and His many symbolic roles as a light, a tree of respite, and a river. With delicate weaving of text and tune, the setting concludes with a feeling of hope. The optional harp accompaniment is available as a free download on the publisher’s website.
Starts at 3:57
Behold the Rose
Chaz Bowers – GIA Publications
Painting with both text and tone, this piece is set for choir and keyboard with very effective optional flute and string quartet. It opens with a short introduction followed by upper voices in unison and a rising eighth-note pattern. The men then join with hums to support the text, leading to a decisive final verse with descant.
Starts at 4:38
Brightest and Best
arr. Vicki Tucker Courtney – Celebrating Grace, Inc
This spirited setting of the early American folk tune STAR IN THE EAST will engage choir members and congregations alike! The creative choral writing is supported by an accessible piano accompaniment. The lively refrain is punctuated with rhythmic energy, concluding with a flourish. Score and parts for flute 1, flute 2 (sub. oboe), percussion 1 & 2, violin 1 & 2, viola, cello, and piano are available separately.
Starts at 5:28
Love Is Born
Joseph M. Martin – Hope Publishing Company
Envisioning the promise of Christmas as a time when “all sounds of hatred cease,” this lovely original opens with optional solo voice or unison choir before opening to an SATB texture. It is ideal for Christmas worship, concerts, and high school programs.
Starts at 6:10
Still, Still, Still
arr. Mary McDonald – Medallion Music
Creative composition shines through beautifully in this fresh arrangement of the Austrian carol. With choral refrains of “still” and part writing that shares the melody throughout different voice parts, this arrangement is perfect for a reflective yet dramatic moment in a Christmas service. Absolutely lovely!
Starts at 7:00
Sing Your Praise to God on High!
arr. Lloyd Larson – Lorenz Publications
This thrilling medley arrangement begins and ends with an expansive fanfare. The anthem deftly takes your choir through While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks; On Christmas Night All Christians Sing and Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. Your congregation is given an opportunity to join in the final carol, and an exciting orchestration rounds out the offering.
Starts at 7:45
