11 Modern Choral Hymn Settings for Christmas

Church Music

Sep 11

11 Modern Choral Hymn Settings for Christmas-54.png

Fall is in the air: The nights are cool, the pumpkins and mums are out, and Fall cups are back at Starbucks.

This can mean only one thing: it’s time to start listening to Christmas music. Naturally.

If you’re a church musician, you’re used to browsing online music catalogs and listening to Advent and Christmas anthems during the summer months: seeing what’s new, discovering old favorites, and looking for inspiration.

In my own time spent listening to Christmas choral music, I’ve noticed the number of traditional hymns and carols that have been reimagined and creatively set in fresh, modern ways. In this post, I’m sharing a few of my favorites.

Whether you’re in the not-quite-done-with-my-Christmas-planning-yet camp or the I-could-use-a-little-seasonal-inspiration camp, I hope you enjoy listening to and browsing these modern hymn and carol settings. You’ll find a variety of anthems on this list—most are SATB (some with divisi, others without), but there are two SAB and 2-part anthems in the mix, as well.

I hope you find something you can use with your choir this year!

11 Fresh Choral Settings of Traditional Carols

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

1. What Child Is This? (arr. Molly Ijames)
SATB Choir with piano

New and interesting harmonies in the choral parts and the piano accompaniment. Rich and full.

2. O Little Town of Bethlehem (arr. Dan Forrest)
SATB Choir with piano + soprano saxophone (or B-flat clarinet or oboe)

A spacious instrumental accompaniment provides a modern musical landscape for the familiar text and tune (ST LOUIS) of this carol (with a few slight changes). The instrumental obbligato adds color and melodic interest throughout.

3. How Far Is It To Bethlehem? (arr. Molly Ijames)
SATB or 2-Part Choir with Piano

A beautiful, accessible arrangement of this traditional carol, featuring fresh harmonies and an interesting piano accompaniment.

4. How Great Our Joy (While By My Sheep) (Craig Courtney)
SATB Choir (divisi) with piano + opt. string quartet

A captivating, reverent setting of this carol (based on the original hymn tune, JUNGST). Quiet and restrained beauty.

5. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (arr. Howard Helvey)
SATB Choir with piano

If you’re looking for an accompanied version of this piece, here’s one you might consider. Fairly traditional choral parts paired with a new and creative piano accompaniment. Tender and beautiful.

6. Angels in Seven (arr. Philip Kern)
SATB Choir with piano + cello

A fun, rhythmically challenging setting of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (in 7/8 meter) with energetic piano accompaniment and clever part-writing.

7. Silent Night (arr. Peter Anglea)
SATB Choir with piano

Looking for a new, creative approach to perhaps the best-known Christmas carol? Peter Anglea sets the traditional text to a new tune with modern harmonies and flowing accompaniment. The anthem incorporates the traditional STILLE NACHT tune (with a few fresh harmonies) in the middle.

8. Angels From the Realms of Glory (arr. Dan Forrest)
SATB Choir with piano 4-hand + opt. violin and percussion

A sparkling setting of this traditional carol. Constant movement in the accompaniment creates a sense of joy and excitement to underscore the text.

9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (arr. Dan Forrest)
SATB Choir with piano 4-hand or organ and opt. handbells, percussion, and brass quintet

A creative interpretation of this joyful carol with sparkling piano 4-hand accompaniment, majestic brass, percussion, and handbell parts, and rich choral harmonies, including a soprano descant at the end.

10. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Craig Courtney)
SATB Choir (divisi) with piano

Rich choral writing, including a few brilliant cluster chords, and striking, but very lyrical piano accompaniment. A new musical setting of the traditional text. Similar in style to How Great Our Joy (see #4 above).

11. The First Noel (arr. Dan Forrest)
SATB Choir with piano

Light and lyrical choral writing with a music-box-like piano accompaniment in the beginning. Long, sweeping phrases and slow dynamic swells add drama and a quiet reverence to this Christmas favorite.