We sang a lovely seasonal anthem this week, originally arranged for choir, bells, and orchestra, with the congregation joining in for one verse. On this day it was, however, presented instead as a congregational hymn, with the congregation singing all verses and the choir low in the recording mix.
That’s fine, but I don’t post this kind of music as a rule because it tends to come through sounding like a unison hymn for the most part. I choose choral anthems with their harmonies, which usually come through the mix intact (because there’s nobody else singing).
Our December service schedule differs from the rest of the year, and I only see two more opportunities for an anthem this year, on November 26th and December 10th. The regular schedule resumes January 7th. I am scheduleed to run screens (scroll to the bottom) on the 26th, but I will as usual post the anthem if it comes out well.
In my imagination, I hear the traditional congregational hymns being sung in full a capella harmony, Now that is something I would include here, but apart from the choir I don’t think there are too many a capella singers in the congregation.
It’s possible that our choir might, as we do on occasion, sing an a capella piece on December 10th. It’s an unfamiliar composition for us, and not the easiest thing to learn, accompanied or not, but we have been working on it and if we have it together by then, all we should need from our accompaniest is a starting note. (Yes, we cheat.)
[One other note. Some of the older anthem videos posted here are offline. I may or may not get around to fixing them.]
Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 107:1 May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!!