Spending Out Your 2020 Music Budget? Here Are the 23 Choral Anthems I Bought This Year.

Last week I “spent out” the sheet music budget for the music ministry program I direct. Most of the music won’t be used until we’re worshipping in-person again. so I consider this purchase an act of hope for a future filled with in-person music making!

That said though, I’m planning to do virtual choir anthems for these anthems soon: Karen Marrolli’s Come Before the Table, Mary McDonald’s On That Great, Great Morning, Mark A. Miller’s I Choose Love, and Rosephanye Powell’s He Is Marvelous.

Below I’ve listed the anthems, handbell, organ, vocal solo, and congregational music I purchased this year. And I share a bit about how the “women composer’s challenge” worked out for me.

The 23 Anthems I Purchased in 2020

Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

All are SATB unless otherwise noted.

  1. Hope – Ysaye Barnwell
  2. John 3:16 – B. E. Boykin 
  3. Jesus What a Wonderful Child – Rollo Dilworth (available for SAB, SATB, TTBB and SSA)
  4. Unto Us a Child Is Born – Laura Farnell (unison/two-part)
  5. Love Came Down at Christmas – Jessica French (print, digital)
  6. Caritas Abundat – Nancy Grundahl after Hildegard von Bingen (SSA)
  7. Awake My Soul – Elaine Hagenberg
  8. My Very Own – Susan LaBarr (print, digital)
  9. Come Before the Table – Karen Marrolli (print, digital)
  10. Andrew’s Song (Love Bade Me Welcome) – Sarah MacDonald (SSA)
  11. On That Great, Great Morning – Mary McDonald
  12. The 23rd Psalm – Bobby McFerrin (print, digital)
  13. I Choose Love – Mark A. Miller (SATB, SSA)
  14. Saints Bound for Heaven – arr. Alice Parker and Robert Shaw (SATB print, SATB digital, SSAA, TTBB)
  15. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Elizabeth Posten
  16. He Is Marvelous – Rosephanye Powell
  17. Detroit (Do I Not Love Thee, O My Lord) – arr. Sarah Rimkus
  18. Peaceful, Silent Night – arr. Ruth Elaine Schram (SATB, unison/two-part)
  19. Crown Him – arr. Heather Sorenson (print, digital)
  20. You Say – arr. Heather Sorenson (SATB, SAB, SSA)
  21. Be Thou My Vision – Gwyneth Walker (print, digital)
  22. The Heavens Delight – Gwyneth Walker (print, digital)
  23. Who Do You Say – Deanna Witkowski

Other 2020 Sheet Music Purchases

Here is the other sheet music that I purchased:

Handbell

Organ

Vocal Solo

Congregational

How Did the Women Composers Challenge Go?

At the start of 2020, I challenged myself to buy only music by women composers, at least 30% of which by African American women and other women composers of color. And I challenged myself to use at least one piece by a woman composer on every church service and concert I programmed.

So, how did it go?

In terms of purchasing, I’d give myself a B. Midway through the year I decided to include African American men composers. I also purchased a set of handbell music for congregational singing by Michael Burkhardt because his music was the only I could find that worked for my ensemble. And after Paul Vasile filled in for my maternity leave and taught his “Journey of a Thousand Miles” to the congregation, I purchased a score.

In terms of programming…well…The *beginning* of the year was great! But after the pandemic started, programming women composers dropped in priority as I adapted to online services alongside an extended period of no childcare. Other factors, especially familiarity, became my priority. (And isn’t that one of THE reasons I wanted to do this challenge in the first place?! I want music by women to be familiar!) Hopefully next year will put fresh wind in my sails.

I’m curious – what music purchases have you made recently that I should check out? I always love exploring new music!

Image via.