Easter Alleluias!

Compiled and edited by Lionel Dakers & John Scott SATB accompanied & unaccompanied-This wonderful collection aims to provide a comprehensive resource-book covering a highly significant part of the Church's year. Its contents span all periods of what is a marvellously rich and uniquely prolific area of church music and it contains much that is not widely available elsewhere under one cover.A major policy in compiling the contents has been to ensure that they are relevant to a broad range of musical traditions with pieces of varying degrees of difficulty to suit the needs and abilities of all choirs. The requirements of the increasing number of small choral groups as distinct from church and cathederal choirs have similarly been catered for inthe choice of material. Presents pieces in order according to the Church's calendar from Ash Wednesday and Lent to Easter with a generous number of pieces for each season or day Includes the best of the standard repertoire for example Byrd's Civitas Sancti Tui and Stainer's God So Loved The World Contains fine less familiar works and new or recent arrangements of well-known tunes such as This Joyful Eastertide Now The Green Blade Riseth and Were You There Contains a number of newly comissioned anthems from well-known church composers Includes important liturgical settings for example two versions of the Litany (BCP and ASB) Vidi Aquam and Easter Alleluias Ranges widely from the sixteenth century to the present day and across all the major traditions

Introit and Benediction-Uses: Easter Eastertide Scripture: Mark 16:6; Matthew 28:6-10 A resurrection flourish is found in this useful service music set. An opening Introit for Easter sets the alleluias free with clariongestures. The choir dialogues effectively with the organ and optional brass. The final Benediction recalls the joy of the opening Introit and adds a festive punctuation of Easter praise. Available separately: SATB Brass (Scoreand parts for Trumpet 1&2 Horn Trombones 1-3 Timpani & Suspended Cymbal) StudioTrax CD. Duration: ca. 3:18.

Uses: EasterScripture: Matthew 28:5-6; Luke 24:1-3This jubilant anthem for Easter day recounts the miraculous story of Christ's resurrection. Unison voices singing “alleluias” with thepeal of optional handbells proclaim together the glorious news that Jesus lives! Available separately: Unison CelebrationTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:31

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Now Let the Heavens Be Joyful and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today-Uses: Easter Eastertide Hymn ArrangementScripture: Matt. 28:5-6This octavo is an Easter gathering of hymns to awaken the “alleluias of praise” in your choir and congregation. Puttingthree time-honored tunes and texts together in a successful musical mosaic the arrangement gives equal treatment to all vocal parts creating rich encouraging harmonies and powerful vocal effects. The final hymn Christ theLord Is Risen Today has a soaring descant that lifts the Easter declaration to the skies. Available separately: SATB Digital Handbells (3 octaves) Orchestration (Score and parts for Trumpets 1-3 (Horn sub. for Tpt 3)Trombones 1&2 Timpani) StudioTrax CD. Duration: ca. 4:04.

Opening with a triumphant fanfare, this celebrative anthem then moves immediately to the classic 'I Know That My Redeemer Liveth' and 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.' Optional congregational participation, additional organ accompaniment, and the dynamic brass/percussion accompaniment will heighten the worship experience. Concluding with Handel's immortal Hallelujah Chorus, this is a powerful Easter offering! / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

Uses: Easter vigil Easter SunriseScripture: John 10:13; Mark 12:10This unique composition is an Easter vigil masterpiece. The listener is taken to the garden along with Mary as she begins her searchfor the crucified Christ. The light of resurrection will soon replace the sadness of the three days of darkness and yet this final moment of reflection is an important prelude to the alleluias of Easter. Unaccompanied voices addto the drama.

A jolly Christmas carol-This lively carol was commissioned in 2005 by Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir (now called the Cathedral Chorus) to celebrate the birth of Hannah Scriven and Holly Mason the daughters of the two cathedral organists at that time. The words were specially written by Tony Barnard the then Canon Chancellor at Lichfield and a member of the choir. This carol whilst not entirely foreign to my normal style touches more ‘country and western’/popular buttons than I am in the habit of touching. But I wanted to write a tuneful piece which swayed and danced and reflected the colourful imagery of Tony Barnard’s text. Recommended recording: Comeout Lazar – The shorter choral works of Paul Spicer (Regent REGCD280) by The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College Cambridge and Claire Innes-Hopkins (organ) directed by Sarah MacDonald. Text: This child of God who’s born on Christmas day whom shepherds view to whom kings homage pay is called to be a shepherd and a king. Sing alleluias praise this wondrous thing. This child of God is shepherd born to lead through pastures green by banks of golden reed; nor left nor right but ever on the way which leads to Calvary and endless day. This child of God this Son of David’s line is root of tree a shoot a fruitful vine it shelter gives to all who see the way which leads them to the cross and Easter day. This child of God this many spangled star is light’ning flash which dazzles near and far; bright light to guide our feet along the way that leads to Calvary and endless day. This child of God is called to save mankind to open eye and ear the heart and mind; to heal and make the lame man leap and play along the road that leads to Easter Day. This child of God let angel voices praise. Give God the glory live his loving ways. Let peace on earth o’er come our worldly strife through all who walk his road throughout their life. Tony Barnard

Uses: Easter Vigil Good Friday Tenebrae Scripture: John 19:38-42 This mournful anthem brings into focus the moments immediately following the crucifixion. Like a dirge this somber song allows us to grieve along with the faithful who witnessed Christ's death on the cross. A simple rising line forms a respectful melody that carries the weight of this dramatic moment and the flowing piano part invokes the bitter winds of Calvary. The piece ends in whispers leaving the worshipper to await for the arrival of Easter's alleluias. Intense!

Uses: General Concert Easter AdventScripture: Isaiah 40:5; Revelation 5:13Raw power characterizes the opening of this festival anthem from the Cathedral Series. Massive chords sweep forwardbringing in fanfare-like choral acclamations of praise. Use of a solo reed adds shine and the martial like theme is a confident call to worship and invitation to prepare the way of the Lord with praise. The church was made forsong and the middle contrasting section celebrates this legacy of praise by increasing intensity until breaking forth with jubilant alleluias. A final canon caps this majestic offering!

A festive introit for the season of lights is unveiled in this new collaborative anthem. Incorporating VRUECHTEN a hymn theme typically associated with Eastertide this re-thinking places a substantial celebrative melodic gesture into your winter sanctuaries. With the cry The Lord is coming prepare the way the anthem starts its journey to worship and adoration. Strong vocal unisons and fulfilling harmonies triumphantly lift the spirit and call us to purpose. The distinctive alleluias are the crowning glory of this tune and so it is in this brilliant new processional. Handbell part (3 oct.) available as a digital download.

Romans 4:24-25 I Corinthians 15 Galatians 2:20-This joyous anthem sings the good news of the risen Lord making it fitting throughout Eastertide. With piano accompaniment and trumpet the catchy refrain filled with ?alleluias? is interspersed with the versesthat proclaim the new life that was given through the risen Christ. (Romans 4:24-25 I Corinthians 15 Galatians 2:20)