Does your choir sing a Benediction every week? Mine does during the program year, although it’s called a “Benediction Response,” since it comes immediately after the pastoral Benediction.
It’s been surprisingly challenging to find pieces that work for my choir, since the pieces must be a cappella, as well as relatively short and easy. For us, easy means SATB with no divisi and nothing too high, since the choir walks up a flight of stairs to sing from the loft.
Interested in pieces appropriate for introits? Here’s a list of ten introits that my choir is singing this year.
With those criteria in mind, here are the nine pieces my choir will sing as Benedictions this program year:
9 Choral Benedictions
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1. The Benediction – Knut Nystedt
A setting of the blessing “The Lord bless you and keep you” found in Numbers 6:24-26. This is the most challenging piece on this list.
Sheet music here.
Listen here.
2. Lord God You Now Have Set Your Servant Free – Rae E. Whitley (text) and Orlando Gibbons (music)
This English versification of the Nunc Dimittis is set to Orlando Gibbons’s Song 1. It’s in several hymnals, including Hymnal 1982 and the Presbyterian Hymnal (1990). Check out the full list here.
3. Send Me, Lord (Thuma Mina) – Traditional South African
The version we’re using is transcribed by David Dargie and available in the collection Halle, Halle: We Sing the World Round. There are different versions available on Hymnary and One License.
4. Lead Me, Lord – Samuel Sebastien Wesley
This setting of Psalm 5:8 is on Hymnary, as well as in choral collections like The New Oxford Easy Anthem Book. Some versions have organ accompaniment, but it also works well unaccompanied.
Listen here.
5. Amen siakudumisa – Attr. S.C. Molefe as taught by George Mxadana
A four-part piece that can also work for congregational song. (Maybe use the Benediction as a chance to teach the congregation a new hymn?)
Sheet music on Hymnary and One License.
6. May the Road Rise Up to Meet You – Ron Hall and Matthew Stewart
An unpublished piece by the former director of the choir I lead. I love it when I can program pieces that are close to a community’s heart – and I hope you are able to have similar piece in your choir’s repertoire.
7. Your Will Be Done on Earth, O Lord – South African Traditional, as taught by George Mxadana
Sheet music on Hymnary and One License.
8. & 9. Two Short Benedictions (Wait for the Lord / And Remember) – Jacqueline Ng
These Benedictions are specific to Advent, Ascension, and Holy Trinity. They are also appropriate for congregational singing.
Sheet music here.
Listen here.
What are you favorite choral Benedictions?
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