Did you know that singing with another instrumentalist (in addition to piano or organ) can help develop musicianship skills?
There are numerous benefits to inviting another instrumentalist to play with your choir. Here are a few worth noting:
It fosters musical independence.
Focusing on your own part while listening to two other instrumentalists helps you develop listening and awareness skills and become a more independent and capable musician.
It’s an opportunity to learn about a new instrument.
What better way to talk about a trumpet than to see and hear one in person! Be sure to leave a little extra time in your first rehearsal with the instrumentalist to talk about the instrument and have them give a brief demonstration for the choir.
It gives you a chance to talk about timbre, high/low, and tone.
Use words the children are learning in choir (high vs. low, strong vs. soft, rounded vs. flat, etc.) and have them describe the sound of the new instrument (and the music being played). Is it bright or dark? Is it smooth or separated? What is special or unique about this instrument?
There are many anthems that include optional instrumental parts - everything from flute and trumpet to oboe, strings, percussion, handbells, and even harp. Looking for a few recommendations? You’ve come to the right place. Today, I’m sharing 58 children’s choir anthems (unison/2-part) that come with an instrumental part (or several!). Let’s get started!
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
58 Children’s Choir Anthems with Instrumental Parts
Note: The anthems on this list have been sorted according to primary instrument for easy browsing. Some titles are repeated from section to section, based on what instrumentation is called for. For those that call for more than one instrument, the additional instruments are listed with a plus (+) sign.
Flute
Come, Sing Your Thanks to the Lord (Terry Taylor) + Maracas, Claves
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (arr. Mark Patterson)
Song of Joy, Song of Praise (arr. James Brighton)
God So Loved the World (John Horman)
Alleluia, Allelu (Susan Naylor Callaway)
Mary Rocking, Gently Rocking (arr. Hal Hopson)
Gentle Mary Laid Her Child (arr. Sondra K. Tucker)
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! (Ken Berg)
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (arr. Ken Berg) + Handchimes
The Children of the World (Terre Johnson)
The Fruit of the Spirit (Becki Slagle Mayo)
Thank You, God, for Loving Me (arr. Brad Nix)
Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (Pat Messick) + Drum, Triangle, Finger Cymbals, Recorder
God Made It So! (Terry Taylor)
A Psalm of Thanksgiving (Timothy Shaw)
Oboe
A New Day of Joy (Larry E. Schultz)
In Thee Is Gladness (Michael D. Costello)
Sing We Now of Christmas (arr. Trevor Manor) + 3-Octave Handbells, Triangle
God Made It So! (Terry Taylor)
A Psalm of Thanksgiving (Timothy Shaw)
Violin
Lord, How Wondrous Is Your Song (Mark Patterson)
God So Loved the World (John Horman)
The First Noel (arr. Trevor Manor) + Chime Tree
God Made It So! (Terry Taylor)
A Psalm of Thanksgiving (Timothy Shaw)
Viola
Guide Us, Lord (Mark Patterson)
Cello
For the Beauty of the Earth (Mark Patterson)
Percussion
Come, Sing Your Thanks to the Lord (Terry Taylor) - Maracas, Claves + Flute
Sing for Joy, Sing Together (Mark Patterson) - Finger Cymbals + Flute
Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet (Joy Webb) + Trumpet
Sing We Now of Christmas (arr. Trevor Manor) - Triangle + Oboe, 3-Octave Handbells
This Little Light of Mine (arr. Mark Patterson) - Tambourine
The First Noel (arr. Trevor Manor) - Chime Tree + Violin
Te Deum (Michael Bedford) - Timpani + B-flat Trumpet
Gloria in Excelsis (Dan R. Edwards) - Claves, Maracas, Bongos
Joy to the World (arr. Mark Patterson) - Glockenspiel
Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (Pat Messick) - Drum, Triangle, Finger Cymbals + Flute, Recorder
The Light of God’s Love (Mark Burrows)
Bwana Asifiwe (Mark Burrows)
Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above (Jody W. Lindh) - Tambourine, Soprano and Alto Xylophone + 3-Octave Handbells, Bass
Wind Song (arr. Helen Kemp) - Glockenspiel, Chime Tree
Trumpet
Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet (Joy Webb) + Percussion
Te Deum (Michael Bedford) + Timpani
We Welcome Glad Easter (arr. Michael Bedford)
French Horn
Teach Us to Love (Mark Patterson)
Harp
Angels’ Carol (John Rutter)
Handbells or Handchimes
Sing We Now of Christmas (arr. Trevor Manor) - 3-Octave Handbells + Oboe, Triangle
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (arr. Ken Berg) + Flute
Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above (Jody W. Lindh) - 3-Octave Handbells + Tambourine, Soprano and Alto Xylophone, Bass
Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor) - 2-Octave Handbells or Handchimes
Lullaby, Holy One (Terry Taylor) - 7 Handbells
Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me (arr. Mary Kay Parrish) - 10 Handbells or Handchimes
Look All Around Us, Then Join the Glad Sound (Hal Hopson) - 6 Handbells
Sing Alleluia to the Lord (Terry Taylor) - 10 Handbells or Handchimes
Sing We Nowell! (Terry Taylor) - 6 Handbells or Handchimes
Hosanna to the Lord (Becki Slagle Mayo) - 3-4 Octave Handbells or Handchimes
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (arr. Trevor Manor) - 3-Octave Handbells
Sing We All Noel! (Allen Pote) - 3-4 Octave Handbells or Handchimes
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (arr. Vicki Hancock Wright) - 7 Handbells
Light of Hope (Mark Patterson) - 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes
Morning Stars Singing Together (Helen Kemp) - 3-Octave Handbells
Amazing Day (Rebecca Thompson) - 6 Handbells
Orff Instruments
Songs to sing with Orff instruments (make your own arrangements using a basic chord progression, or purchase the arrangements from Beth’s Notes):
Here are a few octavos that call for Orff instruments:
Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above (Jody W. Lindh) - Soprano and Alto Xylophone + 3-Octave Handbells, Tambourine, Bass
Joy to the World (arr. Mark Patterson) - Glockenspiel
Wind Song (arr. Helen Kemp) - Glockenspiel + Chime Tree
Have a favorite unison/2-part anthem with an instrumental part that I didn’t mention? Feel free to leave the title in the comments below!
