All My Heart This Night Rejoices

Use: Christmas
Required Resources: SATB choir, organ
Language: English

John Rutter frequently sets familiar Christmas carol texts to new music. John Sittard has done the same in his anthem, All My Heart This Night Rejoices. His mildly angular melody is deftly arranged for SATB choir and organ, exploring the various textures available to the ensemble.

Sopranos and tenors sing solo lines as sections and women and men sing in canon. The choir sings in unison and of course in four-part harmony. The organ accompaniment is independent, yet supportive. This relatively easy anthem can be used with great effect throughout the Christmas season.

At a time when kitschy Christmas music is becoming the norm in most churches, it's refreshing to see a good, solid setting of a familiar Christmas text. Your choir and congregation will thank you for choosing music of integrity.

Mr. Sittard received degrees in Organ Performance from The Eastman School of Music (Rochester) and Indiana University (Bloomington); currently he is Director of Music and Liturgy at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he also serves as Diocesan Choir Director. Previously he was Director of Music at North Christian Church (Columbus IN) and Conductor of the University Choir at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Assistant Organist of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington DC),and Music Director at the Cathedral of Saint Paul (Worcester MA).