Augsburg Fortress

National Conference for Sacred Music 2022: Choral Packet

A selection of newly released choral music featured at the Augsburg Fortress Reading Session as part of the National Conference for Sacred Music in 2022.

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You Are the One

Thomas Keesecker is a master at crafting tuneful melodies, and here he pairs a new melody with a Herb Brokering text, creating a graceful and approachable anthem.

Voicing: SAB, Pno
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Christ the King; General; Trinity

Be Not Afraid

In this expressive and moving anthem, Jonathan D. Campbell pairs texts from Isaiah with sweeping melodies and rich harmonies along with a piano accompaniment that adds gentle color.

Voicing: SATB, Pno
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: General; Healing; Ordinary Time

Christ Is Risen! He Is Living!

Brass, organ, percussion, and full choir! John Helgen writes the perfect festival anthem for Easter Sunday.

Voicing: SATB, Org
Difficulty: Medium
Use: Easter

A Woman and a Coin

Paul D. Weber writes a beautiful and graceful anthem with a text by Jaroslav Vajda, reflecting on the Parables of the Lost.

Voicing: 2 pt mxd, Org
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Lent & Holy Week; Ordinary Time

I Would Be True

Augsburg Fortress is delighted to republish this beautiful SAB anthem, originally published in 1979, by Undine Smith Moore with inspiring poetry of Howard A. Walter.

Voicing: SATB, Pno
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: General; Ordinary Time

Before the Marvel of This Night

Published in 1982, this setting of Jaroslav Vajda's wonderful text has become our best-selling seasonal anthem. Also available: instrumental parts by Carl...

Voicing: SATB/4-part mixed
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: Christmas

The Lord Is My Light: Dominus illuminatio mea

In this expressive setting of Psalm 27 by Daniel Nelson, the tenors and basses sing the title phrase in Latin on a reoccurring open fifth pattern while the trebles sing the psalm text in eloquent and soaring lines.

Voicing: SATB, Pno
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: Epiphany; Ordinary Time; Psalms

O Jerusalem!

Wayne Wold wrote the poetry of this dramatic and stirring anthem while visiting the Holy Land and musically captures all the emotion of the Passion story with intense and colorful text painting.

Voicing: SATB
Difficulty: Medium-Difficult
Use: Lent & Holy Week

As the Deer Longs for the Waterbrooks

In his setting of Psalm 42, Robert Benson provides a dramatic, multi-movement choral work masterfully scored for SATB choir and organ with an integral cello part.

Voicing: SATB, Org
Difficulty: Medium
Use: Lent & Holy Week; Ordinary Time; Psalms

Augsburg Easy Choirbook, Volume 3: Music for the Church Year

A collection of unison and 2-part, accessible music for church, school, and community choirs.

Voicing: 2-part mixed; Unison
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Advent; All Saints; Christ the King; Christmas; Communion; Easter; General; Lent & Holy Week; Thanksgiving

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Oh, Love, How Deep

Accessible to choirs of all sizes, Williamson has crafted an anthem that is perfect for Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.

Voicing: 2-part mixed; Organ
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Christmas

Christ the Center

Perfect for the smaller choir and an easy addition for large choirs, this stately hymnlike anthem features a Herb Brokering text appropriate for Christ the King and occasions focused on Christ’s work in our lives.

Voicing: 2 pt mxd, Org
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Christ the King; Confirmation/Affirmation; General; Ordination

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Beauty and flexibility abound in Timothy Shaw’s strophic setting of the beloved Apple Tree Carol. Written in a minor key with a pensive mood, the unison stanzas could be shared by children, soloists, or choir sections.

Voicing: 2 pt mxd/U, Kybd
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Advent; Christmas; Lent & Holy Week

God's Work, Our Hands

Wayne L. Wold’s original text and tune were written to support the ELCA mission of “God’s Work, Our Hands.” Well-crafted and easily mastered, this is the perfect anthem for Rally Sunday or mission- and justice-themed services.

Voicing: SATB, Kybd
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: Praise & Thanksgiving; Stewardship; Thanksgiving

The Time of Singing

Anne Krentz Organ has composed a creative and elegant setting of a text from the Song of Solomon. A beautiful addition to Easter Sunday or anytime during the Easter season.

Voicing: 2 pt mxd, Pno
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Easter

All My Hope on God Is Founded

A new tune composed by Nick Klemetson is paired with a beloved hymn text in this 2-part mixed anthem. Written for smaller choirs, the creative writing and text painting give this anthem musical interest, making it effective for choirs of any size.

Voicing: 2 pt mxd, Pno
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: Confirmation/Affirmation; General; Ordination; Praise & Thanksgiving

Song in the Night

Zach Busch creatively wraps a gentle setting of “Song in the Night” around the hymn “Nearer My God to Thee,” making it suitable for Advent, Lent, or general use. 

Voicing: SAB, Pno
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Use: Advent; Lent & Holy Week

Thanks We Sing to Thee

The familiar tune “Simple Gifts” is paired with a Ralph Waldo Emerson text in this SATB setting by Nancy Grundahl, perfect for Thanksgiving worship.

Voicing: SATB, Pno
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Stewardship; Thanksgiving

Come, Lord Jesus, Come to Earth

Walter L. Pelz writes a beautiful Advent anthem that is well-crafted and inviting. Choirs will enjoy the fluid part-writing of the a cappella third stanza.

Voicing: SAB, Org
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Advent