A Gradient of Easter Hymns

by Gary Penkala

Apart from the "non-seasonal" season of Ordinary Time, Eastertide is the longest season in the liturgical year. Its seven full weeks offer a challenge to music directors, especially in programming hymns thoughout the season, both in keeping the Easter theme going through 50 days and in not getting tedious or overly repetitive. Parallel this with Christmastide, the shortest season at a mere 2-3 weeks, with a multitude of familiar hymns and carols.

So how do we plan Eastertide. Certainly by singing seasonal music throughout. I said in another article:

Celebrate the entire season with festive rejoicing, with exuberant song, and, yes, with Easter hymns. There is technically nothing wrong with singing "Jesus Christ Is Ris'n Today" on Pentecost — it is a day within the Easter Season, and it commemorates the fulfillment of the Easter event.

In theory that's correct, but practically speaking — it may not work. There is a certain progression to Eastertide, beginning with the Exodus at the Vigil and the Resurrection event on Easter Sunday, through the various appearances of the Risen Lord during Easter Week. We always hear of Thomas' incredulity on 2 Easter, Emmaus and the post-Resurrection meals on 3 Easter, Good Shepherd on 4 Easter, followed by the mystic passages from Saint John, the Ascension, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and finally the fulfillment of that Gift.

Couldn't our hymns have a similar progression? Here's my casual interpretation of a Gradient of Easter Hymns. Some of it is clearly understandable: "Through the Red Sea Brought at Last" at the very beginning of the season (Easter Vigil) and "Come, Holy Ghost" at the very end. Other choices are more arbitary, and the order can certainly be altered.

For what it's worth, Hymns for the Great Fifty Days:

1. Through the Red Sea Brought At Last
2. Come and Let Us Drink of That New River
3. Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
4. That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
5. Ye Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing
6. All You on Earth
7. Christ Is Alive
8. Sing We Triumphant Hymns of Praise
9. Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands
10. Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
11. Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing
12. This Is the Lord's Day (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
13. This Is the Day
14. Be Joyful, Mary, Heavenly Queen
15. Hail, O Once Despised Jesus
16. At the Lamb's High Feast
17. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
18. The King of Love My Shepherd Is
19. The Living God My Shepherd Is
20. Now the Green Blade Rises
21. He Is Risen
22. This Is the Feast of Victory
23. Hail Thee, Festival Day
24. Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
25. God Is My Strong Salvation
26. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
27. This Joyful Eastertide
28. A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
29. All Nations Clap Your Hands
30. Ascend Your Throne, O Righteous One (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
31. Go Make of All Disciples
32. God of Gods, We Sound His Praises
33. Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
34. Look, O Look, the Sight Is Glorious
35. Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor
36. Lord, You Gave the Great Commission
37. Praise Him As He Mounts the Skies
38. Rejoice, Angelic Choirs
39. See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph
40. Come, Creator Spirit
41. Come Down, O Love Divine
42. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
43. Come, Holy Spirit, As a Fire (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
44. O Holy Spirit, By Whose Breath
45. Send Forth from the Heaven
46. Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayer
47. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
48. Fire of God, Undying Flame
49. Holy Spirit, Truth Divine
50. Joy! Because the Circling Year