A Mighty Fortress & Other Favorites: New Anthems for Fall

A Mighty Fortress and Other Favorites - New Anthems for Fall-36.png

I love discovering new anthems, don’t you?

I love seeing how composers come up with new ideas or reuse existing material—creating something new from an old hymn tune or setting a hymn text to an original melody.

Over the summer, I shared my “Reading Session Picks” for adult choirs, youth choirs, and children’s choir—new (or new-ish) anthems I encountered in choral reading sessions at Music and Worship Arts Week and liked enough to recommend to you here.

Today, I want to share a few more recommendations, perhaps well-suited for an adult or youth ensemble or an intergenerational group of some kind.

The anthems on this list would be perfect for Fall, either during the Thanksgiving season or during Advent.

A quick note: Some of these anthems may be a little advanced for your adult choir (some divisi, a cappella, more challenging harmonies), but would work great for a pull-out group of some of your best singers.

Likewise, this may be a good opportunity to combine two choirs—there’s strength in numbers, right?!

I hope you find something you can use at your church!

Five New Choir Anthems for Fall, Thanksgiving, and Advent

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (arr. Mark Patterson)

Unison/2-Part or SSA Choir with Piano and opt. Flute or C Instrument

A fresh setting of this well-known hymn, featuring light syncopation, warm harmonies, a lyrical piano accompaniment, and a descant on the last verse. Use both the Unison/2-Part and SSA versions for a combined choir featuring children's and women’s voices.

>> Listen to a recording here

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Neil Harmon)

SATB divisi, a cappella

An original melody gives new life and depth to this familiar carol text. Momentary divisi in men’s and women’s parts. A lovely choice for an intermediate adult choir or small ensemble.

>> Listen to a recording here

We Give Thee But Thine Own (Neil Harmon)

SATB divisi, a capPella

A warm, chorale-style anthem with rich harmonic colors and prayerful text. Very appropriate for Thanksgiving.

>> Listen to a recording here

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (arr. Kyle Pederson)

SATB Choir with Piano and opt. Electric Guitar

A creative and atmospheric setting of this traditional hymn with lush choral writing, gentle, flowing accompaniment (the electric guitar almost sounds like a harp!), and sparkling sonorities.

>> Listen to a recording here