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 |