There’s no shortage of beloved songs for Christmas, but there’s also no shortage of newer compositions available to help us celebrate this important season. From traditional hymns to contemporary compositions, the Christmas season presents an opportunity to plan for familiar favorites plus introduce new songs to your ensemble and your community.
Songs that bridge Advent and Christmas
Daniel Kantor’s Night of Silence (GIA Publications) fits well with both the fourth Sunday of Advent, with its theme of anticipation, and the Christmas season, with its inclusion of the traditional Silent Night.
Now Is the Hour of Rejoicing by Curtis Stephan (OCP) is another option to bridge from Advent to Christmas with text based on Isaiah 35 and themes of joy and rejoicing.
Matt Maher’s Love Has Come (OCP) is an upbeat praise and worship song that works well for a variety of ensembles. With text inspiration from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, it’s also fitting for the feast of Christ the King just before the Advent season begins.
Songs for Christmas with themes of justice and peace
Dream a Dream by Lori True (GIA Publications) incorporates themes of justice and peace with original lyrics interwoven with a repeating section of dona nobis pacem. It’s a great option for any liturgies that include young musicians as well.
The Work of Christmas (Dan Forrest, Beckenhort Press) is a choral option for the Christmas season that calls us to continue the work of Christmas even after the kings, shepherds, and princes have returned home.
Songs of welcome and celebration
Sarah Hart’s Welcome the Child (OCP) incorporates themes of love and hope and openness to the Savior who will show us the way.
Angels’ Carol (John Rutter, Oxford University Press) is a light and uplifting choral piece that focuses on the celebration of the angels at Jesus’ birth. It’s available in SATB plus alternate arrangements, including many instrument parts.
A King is Born (Sy Gorieb & Tim Hosman, MorningStar Music Publishers) is a spirited SATB arrangement that uses piano with optional marimba, shaker, congas, and bass guitar.
With words by Sylvia Dunstan and music by Bob Moore, Where the Promise Shines (GIA Publications) is a great option for Epiphany.
Beyond Bethlehem by Niles Borop & Rebecca Peck (Hal Leonard Corporation) is a powerful piece that ties the birth of Christ to his crucifixion.
Additional planning resources
As with our songs for Advent, these songs for Christmas represent only a small portion of the liturgical music available to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We encourage you to reflect on the themes of the Christmas season, explore what’s available in your hymnal, and browse the Christmas resources from GIA Publications and OCP.
This article was compiled from suggestions by members of the CLEF community, with the publisher of each song noted in parenthesis. Some may be available in your community’s hymnal, while others are available in print or digital format from the publisher.
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