The seventh movement from Handel's Messiah, a full SATB chorus. This orchestral recording follows Handel's original score, featuring strings, winds, harpsichord, and organ. Popular oratorio for Christmas and Easter.
Gm
An acoustic contemporary version of this simple, powerful spiritual about peace and love. The simple text and water metaphors make it deep but still approachable and meaningful for all ages. Acoustic guitar, piano, bass, drums, and organ, four verses.
D F Bb G
Piano, cello, and flute feature in this quiet, traditional hymn of humility and determination. Perfect for Ash Wednesday.
C Eb G Bb
This long, slow, beautiful soprano aria begins the Third Part of Handel's Messiah. Very smooth and legato, this is a common solo for Easter. Tempos and direction are inspired by the well-known London Symphony Orchestra recordings. This is movement 45 of the Messiah.
E
The twelfth movement in Handel's Messiah is a joyous SATB chorus celebrating Christ's birth. The vocal parts alternate between quiet sections of imitative polyphony and strong sections of heroic union fanfares. All parts match Handel's original score, and orchestral direction is similar to the well-known recordings by the London Symphony Orchestra.
G
An upbeat acoustic version of this classic Easter hymn played by praise band and orchestra. Bright and happy, perfect for Easter morning.
F D Ab C
This well-known soprano aria is movement 52 of the Messiah. Follows Handel's original orchestral score. A beautiful number for solo performance.
Gm
Movement 18 of Handel's Messiah is a dramatic and involved aria for soprano. A fast major-key beginning and end require virtuosic singing, and the slow minor-key middle section gives the singer lots of room to be expressive. Orchestral direction reflects the London Philharmonic Orchestra recording.
Bb
Movement 20 in Handel's Messiah is a gentle, flowing double aria for alto and soprano. The text describes how Jesus will protect his people. The alto sings the first half in F, and then the soprano takes over in Bb for the second half. Simple and beautiful. Could be done by one singer with a large range, but really perfect to feature two.
F
An exciting rendition of the American patriotic song by Irving Berlin. Full orchestra with a patriotic marching flavor, led in by gospel piano. Two verses, with the second modulating up a half step. Perfect for Labor Day, July 4th, Memorial Day, etc.
F Eb Ab
A dramatic orchestral rendition of the USA's most thoughtful and beautiful patriotic song, alternately somber, strong, and full of national pride. Easy arrangement to sing along with. Includes two verses, with the usual stretching of the last phrase at the very end.
Ab F C
A stirring arrangement of the USA's national anthem. Natural slowing at the end gives a singer room to show their stuff. Full orchestra captures the drama of the words, with strings and harp in the quieter sections, adding horns and winds as it builds energy, and climaxing with trumpets and marching drums.
Bb G C Ab F
This slow minor-key SATB chorus is Movement 22 of Handel's Messiah, opening the second part. Beautiful and dramatic canonic entrances, with all the choral parts clearly mirrored in the orchestra.
Gm
A slow, moving aria for alto, Movement 23 of Handel's Messiah, describing Christ's sorrows. Strings gently weep in the accompaniment. As the A section is over five minutes in length, Handel's instructions to continue with a bridge and then repeat the A section in its entirety are rarely followed. This recording ends, like most, at the end of the A section; the bridge is available separately as Spiritrax 1209, "He Gave His Back to the Smiters".
Eb
This quiet alto aria about Christ's generosity towards his abusers is the B section of movement 23 of the Messiah. It was recorded separately so that it can be used alone, as a short and simple aria, or as a bridge to "He Was Despised" (Spiritrax 1208) as per Handel's original instructions.
Cm
