Each year, I spend some time looking through the new choral releases: studying the scores and listening to recordings. Then, I curate my favorites for you here on the blog.
Today, I’m sharing six new anthem releases for unison/opt. 2-part choirs—several with optional instrumental parts, which creates opportunities to include other musicians, perhaps from your congregation.
I’ll also tell you about a brand-new graded curriculum option for Fall 2022 (for those of you looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one resource) with a theme that really resonates in our world today.
I hope you find something you love for your children’s choir this year!
Fall 2022: New Unison/2-Part Anthems
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
1. Reach Toward What’s Next (Katie Houts)
Unison choir with Piano
An inspiring piece for children’s choirs in church, school, or community settings. This anthem is written in a contemporary style while showcasing the beauty of treble voices, including an optional descant. The text, written about friendship and community, can be adapted for different performance settings.
Won't you come with me?
Be all we can be?
Sharing joy and welcome, hope and courage,
shining light that might encourage
all God's children (alt. all around us)
to reach for what's next.
2. Welcome Here (Bienvenidos) (arr. Ashley Danyew & Angela Leonhardt)
Unison/opt. 2-Part choir with Piano and opt. Orff, Boomwhackers®, and non-pitched percussion
My friend and colleague, Angela and I arranged this traditional Argentine melody for unison/opt. 2-part choir with fun accompaniment options, as well. Optional Spanish text is included for the Chorus.
We can learn to live in peace and harmony,
Building up each other for the world to see.
List'ning to each other with an open mind,
We can learn to help our neighbors and be kind.
3. Waiting! (Toni Sullivan)
Unison/2-part choir with Piano
A wonderfully crafted partner song for young singers for the season of Advent. Featuring minor and major modes and a supportive, Baroque-style piano accompaniment, this anthem includes an optional partner option to help your choir develop their part-singing skills.
4. God’s Love Is Alive in Us (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-part choir with Piano
Featuring a repeating antiphonal chorus, a simple introduction to part-singing, and a stepwise descant line, this anthem would work well for Thanksgiving, All Saints’ Sunday, or any time of year. You might consider it for a multigenerational choir, too.
Like all the saints who’ve gathered here before us,
We come to pray and bless God’s holy name;
But on this sacred (alt. ancient) ground, let glad new praise abound;
God’s love is alive in us today!
5. We Thank You, God (Becki Slagle Mayo)
Unison/opt. 2-part choir with Piano and opt. Handbells (or Handchimes) and Flute
A traditional fall- and harvest-themed text (set in 6/8 time), this anthem names several things we can be thankful for in this season. Optional flute and handbell (or handchime) parts are included.
6. Give Us Hope (Jim Papoulis)
Unison Choir with Piano
This anthem isn’t new, but this 20th-anniversary edition makes it accessible to unison choirs. A powerful anthem of hope for a better world.
Give us hope, my voice is calling
Can you see? Look in my eyes,
Can you feel? My hand is reaching.
Give us hope and we’ll show you the way.
Looking for more?
God Loves the World Children’s Music Curriculum
God Loves the World (based on John 3:16) is the newest curriculum release from Growing in Grace. This curriculum invites children to explore how God shows love to us and how we can respond. God's love envelops all people in all places and we can find purpose and meaning in loving all that God loves.
This 15-week comprehensive curriculum includes fun, creative Songs and Activities from around the world, Hymns, Warm-ups and Energizers, Demonstration and Accompaniment Recordings, KIDPages, Teaching Steps for all materials, Colorful Visuals, and Session Outlines.
I’d love to hear from you:
What are you singing with your children’s choir this year?
