Discover the right music for your choir with help from the Choral Review Service. Highlighting songs of varying difficulty, instrumentation and style, the Choral Review Service will introduce you to inspiring, seasonal choral works from respected liturgical composers three times per year. Below are just a few examples of the music within the Spring 2025 packet with titles for Advent, Christmas and general use, plus a detailed description and insight on how to use each piece.
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Robert G. Farrell
Difficulty level: Medium
Voicing: SATB Choir
Instrumentation: Organ, Optional Handbells
This arrangement sets the well-known PICARDY hymn tune in lush, sometimes modal harmonies. Short interludes between verses and a clever metric modulation to the final verse add interest to the accompaniment. The text works well for multiple seasons and feast days, including Advent/ Christmas, Epiphany, Transfiguration, Corpus Christi, and Christ the King.
Ten Communion Antiphons for Advent & Christmas
Christopher Walker
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium
Voicing: Unison Choir, Descant
Instrumentation: Keyboard
The genesis of this collection began with a request for simple communion antiphons of easy-medium difficulty that could be sung by a solo voice with keyboard accompaniment when there is no choir present. They can be used while the priest and communion ministers receive the Blessed Sacrament, before the communion processional itself begins. They can also be used as short preludes or for moments of meditation. The optional descant can be added when the antiphon is repeated in order to extend the given liturgical moment.
Christmas Once Is Christmas Still
Ephrem Feeley
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium
Voicing: SATB Choir, Descant
Instrumentation: Piano, Guitar, English Horn, Assembly
With lyrics written by Bishop Phillips Brooks, best known for his Christmas text “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” this far lesser-known hymn, full of highly descriptive imagery, contains all the fervor and insight of its more famous sibling. This text adaptation gives the original text more immediate appeal—especially for contemporary eyes and ears. There are two settings in this octavo, one a concertato arrangement for SATB choir, descant, piano, and English horn. The other is a unison hymn setting.
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
Craig Kingsbury
Difficulty level: Medium
Voicing: SATB(B) Choir, Descant
Instrumentation: Organ, Assembly
This choral arrangement of the classic hymn showcases the full choir: verse 2 is for two or threepart men’s choir, verse 3 is SA, and verse 4 is a cappella SATB. Kingsbury’s skillful part-writing highlights the triumphant traditional text, underscored by an expressive upward modulation to verse 5 for the introduction of the descant. For use during Advent or the Solemnity of Christ the King, this arrangement is compatible with the version of this hymn text found in OCP’s missals and hymnals.
Those Who Eat My Flesh/Los Que Comen Mi Carne
Bob Hurd
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium
Voicing: SATB Choir
Instrumentation: Keyboard, Guitar, Violin I & II, Trumpet I & II in B-flat, Assembly
Linguistically flexible, this song may be sung all in English, all in Spanish, or bilingually. Helpful usage notes give performance suggestions. The refrain is catchy and singable and is supported by SATB choir. The verses, also catchy, are more simply set with a two-part harmonic texture. Parts for violin I & II and trumpet I and II in B-flat can help lend an almost mariachi feel to the song. Note: this song was commissioned in 2012 for the 25th Anniversary of the Diocese of Lexington. In this newly published version, both the melody of the refrain and the Spanish translation of the verses have been revised.
Halina, Emmanuel, Come (A Filipino-American Song for Advent)
Paulo K Tiról
Difficulty level: Medium
Voicing: SATB Choir, Solo(s)
Instrumentation: Piano, Guitar, Assembly
This uplifting, bilingual piece for Advent is a great option for choirs that minister to both English and Filipino communities. Tiról’s musical theater background comes through in its catchy, syncopated melody that captures the anticipation of the Advent season and works equally well in both languages. Although it is of medium difficulty, the piece is very memorable and will have the assembly singing along in no time.
The O Antiphons
Ephrem Feeley
Difficulty level: Medium
Voicing: SSA Choir a cappella
Musical settings of these ancient texts, dating to the sixth century, have been a mainstay of Advent worship for over a millennium. Feeley’s English-language take on the seven antiphons is sophisticated, rooted in chant, organum, and early polyphony but with a 21st century harmonic sensibility. Mixed meter and independence of the three a cappella SSA vocal parts makes this octavo suitable for more advanced treble choirs. These short choral vignettes can be performed as a set, or as individual reflective pieces in liturgy throughout the season of Advent.
Explore more music from this season's edition
Hail Mary: Gentle Woman/Silent Night Medley [Octavo]
Choral Review Service
These songs can be found in Choral Packet 111 from the Choral Review Service. Offering music for traditional and contemporary choirs, children’s voices and intercultural ensembles, the Choral Review Service is the best way to find something new for your choir and community.