SACRED CHORAL
My sacred choral music consists mainly of anthems and service music written for church choirs that I have either directed or sung in. The exception is the a cappella set of 3 St. Luke Canticles, which were written for recording by the Kühn Choir of Prague.
The anthems are organized by season and usage, and some of them are available in other voicings besides just SATB.
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Alternate voicings, where available, are accessed from the same link on J.W. Pepper. Separate buttons access the alternate voicings on Sheet Music Plus.
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All of the compositions and arrangements on this page include a link to a YouTube video where you can preview the entire score (SATB only) while listening to a recording.
CHRISTMAS | EPIPHANY | LENT | EASTER | PENTECOST | CELEBRATORY | MOTHER'S DAY | GENERAL
A CAPPELLA CANTICLES
CHRISTMAS
OH COME, OH COME EMMANUEL
Level: ME
Duration: 5:00
Price for Vocal Score: $2.50
Price for Instrumental Set: $15.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB, with baritone solo, organ, handbells, and solo F horn PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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This is a fairly elaborate arrangement of the familiar Advent carol, useful as a Christmas music service processional, or for kicking off the Advent Season.
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Instrumental set, sold separately, includes: 1 full score, 1 solo horn part, 6 handbell parts, 1 organ part
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Read more about Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel
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Download vocal score from Score Exchange
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Download instrumental set from Score Exchange
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Recording by the Bothell, Washington U.M.C. Chant Choir and Chapel Bells
Jeremy Matheis, conductor; Rick Brown, horn; Nola Nelson, organ
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THE GREATEST GIFT
Level: M
Duration: 3:30
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB, SAB, or SA (with soprano solo) and piano | Words by Henry Lebedinsky
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A gentle Christmas/Epiphany anthem with the theme of what gift can we bring to the Christ Child, compared to the gifts of the Wise Men. Composed on Christmas Day 2015.
Also available for high voice solo and piano
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Read more about The Greatest Gift
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB SA
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Lenka Navrátilová, conductor
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Released on Christmas album Dashing - Vol. 3 by Navona Records
A NEW WORLD OF JUSTICE
Level: ME
Duration: 4:30
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and piano | Words by Henry Lebedinsky PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Written for the Christmas Season, but also appropriate for the MLK Holiday or general-purpose use, this anthem is set to an inspiring text by Henry Lebedinsky, which draws striking parallels between the time of Jesus and troubling social issues of our own day.
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Lenka Navrátilová, conductor
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Released on Christmas album Dashing - Vol. 3 by Navona Records
EPIPHANY - GIVING
IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS
Level: M
Duration: 3:40
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB a cappella | Words by John S.B. Monsell (1863) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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All about giving, this modal SATB a cappella anthem is appropriate for Pledge Sunday, the season of Epiphany, or as an offertory anthem any time.
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Read more about In the Beauty of Holiness
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
LENT
KYRIE ELEISON
Level: MA
Duration: 4:20
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB divisi - a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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A modal a cappella setting for divided choir of the traditional liturgical plea for mercy.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Lenka Navrátilová, conductor
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Released on the album Celestial Voices by Navona Records
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I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS
Level: M
Duration: 5:30
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and organ | Music by Thomas Tallis (1567) | Words by Horatius Bonar (1848)
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A varied arrangement of Thomas Tallis' famous Third Mode Melody. This arrangement was written in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of Trinity United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM, where I was the choir director.
My arrangement begins by directly quoting Ralph Vaughan Williams' 1906 re-voicing of Tallis' original a cappella hymn* over a sustained pedal point in the organ for the first verse. Then the organ enters fully and the other two verses are subjected to varied interaction between voices and organ before returning quietly to the a cappella RVW voicing for the last line.
* This was done to move the melody from tenor, as originally written by Tallis, to soprano for inclusion in The English Hymnal, which RVW was editing at the time.
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Read more about I Heard the Voice of Jesus
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
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NEARER, STILL NEARER
Level: M
Duration: 4:10
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB, SAB, or SSA and piano | Words by Lelia Naylor Morris (1862-1929) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
An anthem that is especially appropriate for Lent, but also useful for just about any season. The third verse is a cappella.
Read more about Nearer, Still Nearer
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB SSA
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
SELMA AND STONEWALL
Level: M
Duration: 4:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and piano | Words by Henry Lebedinsky PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Set to a powerful text by Henry Lebedinsky, exploring some troubling issues in Christian life, this anthem is most appropriate for the MLK Holiday, as well as during Lent and for Holy Week services.
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
WHERE WOULD WE BE?
Level: MA
Duration: 4:15
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and piano | Words by Henry Lebedinsky PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
This piece is especially appropriate for Lent and Holy Week, as well as any service concerned with the poor and the homeless. Henry Lebedinsky's thought-provoking words, while they contain some imagery that some might find a bit disturbing, carry a very powerful message.
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Read more about Where Would We Be?
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB
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Recording by the Edmonds, Washington UMC Choir - Henry Lebedinsky, conductor
EASTER
EASTER CAROL
Level: M
Duration: 2:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and piano | Words by St. John of Damascus (8th cent.) - trans. John M. Neale (1818-1866)
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A joyous and lively celebration of Easter, originally written in 2003 as part of an Easter cantata that I co-wrote with the director of a church choir I sang in.
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Recording by the Edmonds, Washington UMC Choir - David Hendrix, conductor
ALLELUIA
Level: M
Duration: 5:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Beginning in a plainchant-like unison and then quickly spreading into parts, this a cappella setting was inspired by Randall Thompson's famous 1940 Alleluia. Like that much-loved work, this is not a joyous paean, but a more introspective treatment. There is a brief nod to the Thompson piece worked into this one.
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Download from Score Exchange
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
WHEN GOD AT FIRST MADE MAN
Level: M
Duration: 3:30
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB and piano | Words by George Herbert (1593-1632) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Although originally written as part of the same cantata as Easter Carol (above), When God at First Made Man is equally useful as a general-purpose anthem.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
PENTECOST
SPIRIT DIVINE, ATTEND OUR PRAYER
Level: M
Duration: 2:30
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and piano | Words by Andrew Reed (1829) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Set to a text by English cleric Andrew Reed (1787-1862), this is a bright and lively anthem for Pentecost. It is also useful for any season when the service is concerned with the Spirit.
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
CELEBRATORY
THIS JOYFUL DAY
Level: M
Duration: 5:00
Price: $3.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB and organ | Words adapted from Frederick W. Goadby (1845-1880) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
A consecration/anniversary anthem adapting a 19th-century text, This Joyful Day was originally written in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of Trinity United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM, where I was the choir director.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
MOTHER'S DAY
MOTHER OF CREATION
Level: M
Duration: 4:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB or SAB and organ | Words by Henry Lebedinsky PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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A Mothers' Day or general-purpose anthem that celebrates God as Mother. The words were originally written to the hymn tune Beach Spring, fragments of which are prominently featured in the organ part for the first 3 verses. Then on the final verse, over full organ and with a descant based on the opening tune, the choir presents it in full.
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
GENERAL
SERVICE MUSIC FOR THE CHURCH CHOIR
Level: M
Duration: <1:00 each/~11:00 total
Price: $2.50
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Introits (4) 0:00 (location on audio track)
Scripture Responses (2) 2:12
Alleluias (3) 2:58
Prayer Responses (3) 4:03
Amens 1-4 5:34
Amens 5-7 6:54
Offering Responses (2) 8:08
Benedictions (3) 8:59
During my many years of singing in church choirs, as well as several years directing one, I produced quite a few short prayers and responses for the choir to sing during services. This gave them an opportunity to take a more active part in the liturgy than merely singing an anthem and leading hymns.
Many of these were published long ago in a booklet that is now out of print, while others have stayed with the churches they were written for. Now I have brought all of them that I could find, from both sources, together in this new collection. I hope you will find it useful for your choir.
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
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COME UNTO ME
Level: ME
Duration: 4:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB, SAB, or SA and piano | Music by Vincent S. Dussair | Words from Matt. 11:25-30
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General-purpose church anthem: my choral arrangement of what was originally a beautiful solo setting of the well-loved text from St. Matthew by a dear friend, now departed. Also available in mixed duet voicing.
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Download from Score Exchange SATB SAB SA
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
JESUS, STAND AMONG US
Level: M
Duration: 2:15
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB a cappella | Words by William Pennefather (1855) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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This polyphonic setting for SATB a cappella of a 19th-century Irish text is short enough to be used as an introit or centering music, but long enough to hold its own as an anthem. It is appropriate for just about any church season.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH
Level: MA
Duration: 2:55
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB a cappella | Words from Psalm 28:6-7 (RSV) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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A polyphonic setting for SATB a cappella of a short, but well-loved, passage from Psalm 28. Useful for just about any season, it can be also sung for Thanksgiving by substituting "Thanks be to the Lord" for "Praise be to the Lord" at the beginning, and "Thank him!" for "Praise him!" at the end.
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Read more about The Lord Is My Strength
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor​​​
A CAPPELLA CANTICLES
THREE ST. lUKE CANTICLES
for the Liturgy of the Hours
Level: MA
Duration: 16:30
Price: $5.95
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB - a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Melodic lines inspired by Medieval plainchant weave in and out of polyphonic and homophonic textures within a contemporary harmonic idiom to unite the ages in this new SATB a cappella setting of three ancient Latin canticles from the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke. These canticles are traditionally sung at prayer services known as the Lauds or Liturgy of the Hours. They are also suitable for non-liturgical church performance as well as concert repertoire.
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The three canticles, with their locations on the audio track, are:
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Benedictus - Morning Office (Matins) 0:00
Magnificat - Evening Office (Vespers) 6:12
Nunc Dimittus - Night Office (Compline) 11:55
Besides this set, each canticle is also available individually (see below).
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Jakub Pikla, Lenka Navrátilová, conductors
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INDIVIDUAL CANTICLES
BENEDICTUS
Level: MA
Duration: 6:10
Price: $2.50
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB - a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Melodic lines inspired by Medieval plainchant weave in and out of polyphonic and homophonic textures within a contemporary harmonic idiom to unite the ages in this new setting of an ancient Latin canticle. Also known as the Canticle of Zechariah, Benedictus is the traditional Gospel Canticle of Morning Prayer (Matins). It is also suitable for non-liturgical church performance as well as concert repertoire.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Jakub Pikla, conductor
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Scheduled to be released on the album Celestial Voices, Vol. II by Navona Records in fall 2025 ​​
MAGNIFICAT
Level: MA
Duration: 5:12
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB - a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Melodic lines inspired by Medieval plainchant weave in and out of polyphonic and homophonic textures within a contemporary harmonic idiom to unite the ages in this new setting of an ancient Latin canticle. Also called the Canticle of Mary, Magnificat is the traditional Gospel Canticle of Evening Prayer (Vespers). It is also suitable for non-liturgical church performance as well as concert repertoire.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Jakub Pikla, conductor
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Scheduled to be released on the album Celestial Voices, Vol. II by Navona Records in fall 2025 ​​
NUNC DIMITTUS
Level: MA
Duration: 4:40
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
SATB - a cappella PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
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Melodic lines inspired by Medieval plainchant weave in and out of polyphonic and homophonic textures within a contemporary harmonic idiom to unite the ages in this new setting of an ancient Latin canticle. Also called the Canticle of Simeon, Nunc Dimittis is the traditional Gospel Canticle of Night Prayer (Compline). It is also suitable for non-liturgical church performance as well as concert repertoire.
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Download from Score Exchange
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Recording by The Kühn Choir of Prague - Lenka Navrátilová, conductor
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Released on the album Celestial Voices by Navona Records ​​