SKU: A0.926660

During the late spring of 2017, I began composing a new choral piece based on the 1 Timothy 3:16 text. I was studying Paul's first letter to Timothy at the time when this particular passage jumped out at me. Not only was it an efficient summary of the Gospel message, but it was also a textual grouping, or form, such as might be found in a traditional hymn. What I was reading were indeed lyrics to an actual 1st Century Hymn to Christ, the music of which has since been lost. I entitled my piece, Great is the Mystery. I composed the anthem for SATB (a cappella), and set it to the ESV translation of the scripture. Based on its context, I suspected the song would work great for Ascension Sunday. Our choir sang the piece beautifully, crescendoing at the finish to the words, Believed on in the world and taken up in glory!

Later that spring, I played the piece for a dear friend of mine who is Pastor at Immanuel Church in Manchester, New Hampshire. What he told me was actually a bit stunning. He informed me that there were (at least) seven specific known Hymns to Christ written into the New Testament Scriptures, whose text is found among the writings of the apostles’ Paul and John. The 1 Timothy 3:16 verse that I had selected for my piece was indeed one of those texts. At that moment, Pastor Don and I made a pact. If he were to supply me with the literal Greek translations of the other six known Hymns to Christ, I would set out to compose brand new anthems for them all. A new musical collaboration had begun. 

With this short introduction serving as the genesis of my new song cycle, I offer you these new Seven Anthems to Christ based on the seven known ancient ‘Hymns to Christ' texts found in the New Testament.  

SKU: A0.741923

It is difficult to find Christmas music that focuses on the role of Joseph, Christ’s foster father. That is one of the reasons I chose to set this text, it is a part of the story that is often left out. The other reason is that this it contains one of the first New Testament prophecies concerning Christ, the revelation that Jesus will save his people from their sins. That seems to be what Joseph needed to know at the time. Joseph was perhaps the third convert, after Mary and Martha. Demo: https://mryantaylor.bandcamp.com/track/joseph-thou-son-of-david-demo . . . Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

SKU: A0.784836

ACT 2: Song 10. The King, by Dennis McCorkle, is a contemporary pop-rock musical of the first two kings of Israel, Saul ben Kish and David ben Jesse and explores the contrasting lives and outcome of each man’s choices in life. [2 Samuel 12:24 - And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and called his name Solomon. And Yahweh loved him;] [1 Kings 2:1-4 - Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 2 I go the way of all the earth; be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; 3 and keep the charge of Yahweh your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and whithersoever you turn yourself; 4 that Yahweh establish His word which He spoke concerning me, saying: ‘If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, said He, a man on the throne of Israel.’] BATHSHEBA becomes pregnant again and DAVID a son, SOLOMON is born to them [The Kingdom has a New Son – Elders]. Also included with your order is our new 20 page catalog of over 150 titles at no additional charge.

SKU: A0.774722

Brisbane Ladies, sometimes known as Augathella Station, is an Australian folk song based on an English naval song titled Spanish Ladies. The song probably dates from the time of the War of the First Coalition (1793-96) when the Royal Navy carried supplies to Spain in support of that country’s resistance to revolutionary France. It then probably gained further popularity during the later Peninsular War when British soldiers were transported to Spain to assist rebels fighting against the French occupation by the forces of Napoleon. Spanish Ladies is a tale of British naval personnel sailing north from Spain and along the English Channel to their home port.

Due to its popularity, several variants of Spanish Ladies later appeared in various parts of the world. American whalers sang a version called Yankee Whalermen. In Newfoundland it appeared as We’ll Rant and We’ll Roar. Special lyrics were written to the tune for the Bluenose, a famous Canadian sailing ship plying out of Nova Scotia. 

In Australia, around 1880, another set of lyrics appeared, written by Saul Mendelsohn who was a storekeeper in the small Queensland town of Nanango. Brisbane Ladies tells about the drovers who bring the herds of cattle overland from western Queensland to the markets in Brisbane. There the drovers spend most of their money and time with the ladies before setting out for home in search of the next herd of cattle for market. 

The places mentioned in Brisbane Ladies are mostly small towns along the stock route that stretched some 750 kilometres north-west of Brisbane towards the small town of Augathella, on the banks of the Warrego River. Augathella, at that time, marked the convergence of three major bullock tracks from Morven, Tambo and Charleville.

SKU: A0.926671

My dear friend, and Pastor Don Colageo and I cut our teeth together with this piece when we decided to dive headlong into this cycle of Seven Anthems to Christ. It was the second song of the (SEVEN ANTHEMS TO CHRIST) cycle that I had composed, but the first using his Greek translation(s). It eventually would become the last piece to grace the cycle of seven in order of my musical presentation sequence. In fact, this known 1st century Hymn to Christ spans 18 verses of the first chapter of the Gospel of John. My setting of the anthem is seven plus minutes long in performance length. The song's length was not on purpose, but the number seven does have Biblical significance (seven days of creation, seven golden lamp stands, etc.) The number seven is also known among Biblical scholars as the number of Holiness and Perfect Creation.  

Since this rather long, yet theologically complete Hymn to Christ already existed in the 1st century, it is no wonder the Apostle John opted to begin his Gospel with it, probably quoting the entire text. Consequently, he converted this particular Hymn to Christ’s lyrics into what would later become canonized Scripture.

The anthem is composed for SSATB with solo SSA trio, and Solo Soprano and Solo Baritone lines, accompanied by Flute and Bâ™­ Clarinet. The key signature of the anthem is Bâ™­ Major. However, a lot of time is spent weaving and bobbing around the Dominant chord, (F Major).  The Flute and Clarinet introduction play seven different motifs, interweaving with counterpoint, musically connoting the dual natures of Christ--fully God, and fully man. An SSA trio opens the piece recounting the creation story. A bass solo shortly follows, introducing John the baptizer's story and purpose. Soon, the anthem breaks out into full SSATB illustrating Christ's life and purpose for our salvation. The final coda is the great Doxology, sung in 5 parts, accompanied by the Flute and Clarinet, and the entire congregation (or audience) is invited to sing along with the familiar tune. 

SKU: A0.909976

Sing Glory Hallelujah - Anthem - Score (A3)
A universal praise anthem for most denominations and for all times of the year.
To be performed by a full orchestra and two choirs. The larger, the better.

In section A almost a marching rhythm is started by the contrabasses and cellos with an underlying drone sound from the synthesizer.
In section B one alto flute begins with the verse.
In section C the altos of the SATB 1 choir sing the verse.
In section D the bass pattern changes slightly and the sopranos and altos sing together with an echo by the tenors+basses, then the SATB 1 choir sings in unison.
4 Bars before section E the bass pattern changes completely, the SATB 2 choir and more instruments join in and in section E the SATB 1 choir sings the chorus of the piece.
In section F more instruments join in and finish in a magnificant chord that plays 4 bars and reverb afterwards in another 4 bars rest.
In section G the bass line returns to the first theme and the verse is sung again by the SATB 1 choir with the alto flutes playing a counter melody.

SKU: A0.1080353

A bold, dramatic, sacred hymn. Music composed by Kevin G. Pace. Text written in the 1500s by Martin Luther. Text: 1 Now praise we Christ, the Holy One, The blessed virgin Mary's Son. From east to west, from shore to shore Let earth its Lord and King adore. 2 He who himself all things did make A servant's form agreed to take, That he as man mankind might win And save his creatures from their sin. 3 The grace and pow'r of God the Lord Upon the mother was outpoured; A virgin pure and undefiled In wondrous way conceived a child. 4 The noble mother bore a Son -- For so did Gabriel's promise run -- Whom John confessed and leaped with joy Before the mother knew her boy. 5 Upon a manger filled with hay In poverty content he lay; With milk was fed the Lord of all, Who feeds the ravens when they call. 6 The heav'nly choirs rejoice and raise Their voice to God in songs of praise. To humble shepherds is proclaimed The Shepherd who the world has framed. 7 All honor unto Christ the Lord, Eternal and incarnate Word, With Father and with Holy Ghost, Till time in endless time be lost.

SKU: A0.1245807

This is the four-part hymn-style edition of this Eucharistic hymn, to facilitate congregational singing. As far as I am concerned, you may purchase the minimum amount of copies that SheetMusicPlus will allow, and then freely duplicate the song sheet for inclusion in worship bulletins. 

Other editions are available:

A FESTIVAL CHOIR arrangement of this hymn is available here: https://www.arrangeme.com/title/436143
A PIANO/ORGAN Duet of the hymn is available here: https://www.arrangeme.com/title/436144

Here are some program notes:
 
Johann Franck (1618-1677) was born in Guben, Germany, the son of a lawyer. 
Like his father, Johann studied law at the University of Konigsburg, where–in 
addition to his studies–he developed a warm friendship with a group of hymnists 
and poets. Returning home, he began his law practice and eventually became 
mayor of Guben. As an avocation, the Lutheran politician wrote poems–and soon
became known as one of the leading hymnists of his time, ranked only behind 
Gerhard. He is credited for the creation of a group of so-called Jesus hymns, 
building the foundation for the pietistic hymn movement that would later sweep 
through Europe. Franck once wrote that poetry should be the nurse of piety, the 
herald of immortality, the promoter of cheerfulness, the conqueror of sadness, 
and a foretaste of heavenly glory. Indeed, his hymns echoed his own spirit of 
encouragement.

Lyndell Leatherman (b. 1953) was born into a Nazarene parsonage in southeast Kansas. After studying church music and composition at Olivet Nazarene University (Kankakee, Illinois) and Illinois State University (Bloomington-Normal, Illinois), he launched into a life of music ministry. Since 1977 he has enjoyed a diverse career as church musician, editor, accompanist, composer, and arranger. In 1998 he became aware of Franck’s eucharistic / Advent hymn, translated either Deck Thyself with Joy and Gladness (Mattes) or Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness (Winkworth). Because the text was unique in its unusually exultant treatment of the sacrament of holy communion, Lyndell felt that the hymn was worthy of renewed consideration in the third millennium of Christian worship. So he updated the language and gave it the new musical setting used here.
 
************
It has long been my passion and privilege to create customized arrangements for the churches and schools with whom I have been associated. Many were published; some were not. During the 2020 slowdown caused by Covid-19, I finally had the time to start posting the unpublished resources on Sheet Music Plus. If you are curious about what else is available, please navigate to my publisher page here on SMP < https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/leatherman-music-services/16718 >  or slip over to Facebook < https://www.facebook.com/leathermanmusicservices >, where you can see and hear many of my published works. Thanks for your interest!   

God bless!

Lyndell Leatherman, ASCAP.

SKU: H1.C5431DP

By James Montgomery & Henry T. Smart. 1 Kings 8:27 - 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - Isaiah 60:3 - John 1:14 - Job 19:25 - Matthew 1:23 - Matthew 1:1 - Matthew 1:2 - Matthew 1:3 - Matthew 1:4 - Matthew 1:5 - Matthew 1:6 - Matthew 1:7 - Matthew 1:8 - Matthew 1:9 - Matthew 1:10 - M.

Christmas hymn by James Montgomery & Henry T. Smart Larry Shackley has taken this Christmas hymn and its tune Regent Square, and done a full-bore gospel treatment, inviting everyone to Come and worship Christ, the newborn King. A solid, swinging piano introduction sets the stage for Brooklyn Tabernacle-style vocal writing, with the basses frequently involved in lively call and response with the rest of the choir. An original bridge asking the congregation, Oh, won't you come and worship? leads into the triumphant final verse that celebrates the second coming of the Messiah as well as the first.

SKU: H1.C5284DP

1 Kings 8:27 - 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - Isaiah 60:3 - John 1:14 - Job 19:25 - Matthew 1:23 - Matthew 1:1 - Matthew 1:2 - Matthew 1:3 - Matthew 1:4 - Matthew 1:5 - Matthew 1:6 - Matthew 1:7 - Matthew 1:8 - Matthew 1:9 - Matthew 1:10 - M.

Classic hymn tune In this dynamic setting from Jack Schrader, the traditional REGENT SQUARE hymn tune by Henry T. Smart receives a creative, exciting treatment, full of text-painting and climatic moments. This Christmas favorite for SATB choir and organ with optional brass is a splendid way to invite everyone to come and worship.

SKU: H1.C6048DP

Words by Marcus Aurelius, tr. John M. Neale & Henry W. Baker. Revelation 21:6 - Revelation 22:13 - John 1:1 - John 1:2 - John 1:3 - Matthew 1:18 - Matthew 1-19 - Matthew 1-20 - Matthew 1-21 - Matthew 1-22 - Matthew 1:23.

Words by Marcus Aurelius, tr. John M. Neale & Henry W. Baker.