Five Simple Anthems

- Colin Brumby

PDF Sample

Use: General
Required Resources: SATB choir
Language: English

Colin Brumby, CanticaNOVA Publications' most prolific composer, writes masterfully for the average church choir. His music is not only tuneful, with good voice leading, and well within a comfortable range, but it is extremely well-written from a technical standpoint. Choir directors, then, are not sacrificing quality music in choosing pieces that are easy to sing — and that's rare!

These five short pieces span the liturgical year:

1. As Joseph Was A-walking
   for Christmastide
    
2. Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed
   for Lent/Passiontide
    
3. Where There Is Charity and Love
   for Holy Thursday/General
    
4. O Thou, Who through This Holy Week
   for Holy Week/Triduum
    
5. God's Power to Guide Me
   for Ordinary Time

Many of the pieces alternate unison and SATB sections; and the four-part writing is comfortably handled by an average choir. Only one piece has an independent organ accompaniment, but organ can certainly double voice parts on the others, if needed.

The magic of these pieces is that choirs — even those which easily navigate intricate Vittoria polyphony — can enjoy an easy, but good, piece in the repertoire to maximize rehearsal time. Check out these mini-motets from CNP's Australian maestro!