Favorite Choral Arrangements

Order the new album from Amazon: http://amzn.to/v4aXdA

Get yourselves into the Christmas spirit with some carols from John Rutter's new album, The Colours of Christmas. 

Featuring new recordings and arrangements of some of the best loved carols and a new carol by John Rutter, The Colours of Christmas.

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Ding Dong Merrily on High (John Rutter, The Colours of Christmas)

My new transcription of Ukrainian Alleluia for men's choir.

Ukranian Alleluia

In the desert, in the wilderness of life,
I am searching for the One who searches me. 
As I wander, hungry, thirsty, lost, alone,
I hear God's call; I hear the whisper of my name.
"Come to the table, your name is written on My hand.
Come to the table, your name is hidden in My heart.
Come to the table, come to the table,
Come to the table and live."
At the table, He prepares for me a place.
He redeems me, I am pardoned by His grace.
He restores me with his rich and lavish love.
In His call, I hear the whisper of my name.

Words by Susan Bentall Boersma, music by Craig Courtney

The Whisper

My new Christmas anthem - availble for SATB, TTBB and SSAA choir.

How Great Our Joy!

Piano duet accompaniment; optional string quartet; orchestration available.

O Come All Ye Faithful- Dan Forrest

This was written in memory of Burke Rice, a vibrant young man who was preparing to join the police force. He was building a "Jacob's Ladder", a piece of machinery (often in the background of a Frandenstein movie with two upraised antennae and a spark zapping back and forth, moving up to the top and then starting over at the bottom) for Halloween. When he was planning to demonstrate it, he touched an ungrounded piece which de-fibrillated his heart. His family asked me to quote the spiritual, Jacob's Ladder, include a solo cello (his best friend was a cellist) and base the lyrics on Genesis 28:15-18. Susan Boersma wrote an amazing poem that brings all of that together. Here are her lyrics:
Lord of the cloud and fire, my heart is in Your hand. 
From the darkness, lift me to the Light.
Your will my soul command.
Lord of the cloud and fire, lead me to worlds unknown.
...Light Eternal, You alone can change the darkness into dawn.
From the darkness to the Light, led by the Lord of cloud and fire, by faith I stand at Heaven's Gate, the house of God.
Rise, shine, give God glory.
Lord of the cloud and fire, I bow before Your throne. 
By faith at Heaven's gate I stand and find it home.

14 The Gate of Heaven (Craig Courtney)

Live concert of "What sweeter music," performed by the Byrd Ensemble & Parnassus Project and actor Nurmi Husa. Sunday, November 25, 2012. 

04 arr. by John Rutter (b.1945) - Cradle song

In my opinion this is the best carol that Rutter wrote...

What sweeter music - John Rutter

New choral music publications for fall, Christmas, and general use from Beckenhorst Press. Downloading is enabled!

Favorite Choral Arrangements

Amy Staiger