Music Matters

December 2006

Music Ministry Suggestions for the Smaller Choir

In the bustle of the holidays, we need literature for choirs of all sizes and levels that can be learned with a minimum of rehearsals. The hymnals in your pews (such as Hymns of the Saints for Community of Christ congregations) can be great resources to use. Here are some possible suggestions for using hymns as anthems:

• Perform a hymn in three parts. Use the soprano and alto parts as written and the tenor line either as written or possibly an octave higher. This could be arranged for all voices or all instruments, or a combination of both would be very pleasing! One possible example is to have ladies sing the soprano and alto parts, with a cello, violin, or flute/recorder playing the tenor line in that instrument's range.
   
• Guitar accompaniment can be very effective. The guitar chords are already charted in several hymns.
   
• Compose an ostinato (repeating pattern) for the men to sing while the women sing the melody. For example, with the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," the men could sing open fifths using the words "come, oh come." On subsequent verses, the women could sing the ostinato while the men sing the melody.
   
• Add an instrumental obbligato to a hymn sung by the choir. Some hymnals contain optional descants. There are also many published resources with instrumental parts for holiday hymns.

There are countless possibilities—use your creativity, and share with other musicians!

If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA

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