Hymn Accompaniment CDs

Our sister site, www.hymncds.com has a wide range of CDs with accompaniments for hymns on organ and worship songs on piano, plus organ voluntaries.

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John Sheppard - Cantate Mass: The Sixteen   

Two discs and only 4 of 20 tracks are the Cantate mass - there's also a good range of motets including many of Sheppard's best known pieces, such as the Christmas motet Verbum caro factus est and the beautiful Libera nos. If you need convincing of Sheppard's genius, just listen to the Amen of Jesu salvator saeculi, redemptis - taken individually some of the lines sound positively 20th century in their modernity, and in combination it takes your breath away - it's hard not to say 'he can't do that!' - but he does. Perhaps the only criticism is that the Sixteen underplay the clashes so they aren't quite as shocking as they could be. Even so, probably the best introduction to Sheppard now on the market.

Adolphe Adam

• O Holy Night - Sop/Tenor Solo, SATB, organ. Arranged by John E. West as an anthem for Soprano (or Tenor) Solo and Chorus with Organ accompaniment.

Richard Rodney Bennett

• Lullay Mine Liking  - though better known for his jazz collaborations, RRB wrote some superb choir pieces, including this unaccompanied SATB carol

Lennox Berkeley

• I Sing of a Maiden - For SATB Choir A Cappella. Version also provided for Unison Voices and Organ.

Benjamin Britten

• A Boy was Born  - For SATB unaccompanied choir. This is the theme from the Britten's larger choral work A Boy was Born.
• Corpus Christi Carol  - Taken from A Boy Was Born: Choral Variations For Mixed Voices, this gentle and quiet carol is written for Unison Voices and Organ
• Shepherd's Carol  - A setting of the text of W.H. Auden for SATB Choir A Cappella

Alan Bullard

• Hill-side Carol - For SATB and piano or organ, with optional flute or treble recorder

Andrew Carter

• A Maiden most Gentle - For SATB and organ or orchestra. This pretty and effortless carol has a winning melody and good variety of texture. Words paraphrased from the Venerable Bede.
• Mary's Magnificat - gentle carol for SATB and organ
• Nomen Eius Emmanuel - SATB and organ joyful carol

Bob Chilcott

Ronald Corp

• There is No Rose - Setting of the medieval text for SATB Choir (divis) and Organ (or Piano)

John Gardner

• Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day - a traditional Christmas carol, composed by John Gardner, for SATB or Unison Voices with Piano Accompaniment and optional Percussion.

Mark Goddard

• Medieval Carol - A Medieval Carol is for unaccompanied SATB and is a setting of a text transferred from medieval English. Originally written for the Headington Singers, the carol has been performed widely by choral societies and school choirs since 1989. Duration: approx 3 minutes

R. Graves

• Calypso Carol - SATB
• Calypso Carol - Unison

Jack Hawes

• Carol for the Nativity - Carol for SATB Choir A Cappella

Kenneth Hesketh

• Angels we Have Heard on High - For SATB Choir with Piano or Organ accompaniment. A lively setting of an English translation of Les Anges dans nos campagnes.
• Christmas Tree Carol -
• Come to the Manger - A lively setting for SATB Choir and Piano.
• Gallery Carol - SATB and piano/organ
• The Holly and the Ivy - An original setting of the text 'The Holly and the Ivy' for Mixed Voice Choir (SATB) with Piano accompaniment.
• Messenger Carol - SATB and piano/organ
• Sleep, Holy Babe - A setting of Edward Caswell's text for SATB Choir and Organ (or Piano).
• Zither Carol - For Children's Choir, SATB and Piano. This is a lively setting of the Czech folk tune incorporating Maclom Sargeant's text

Gustav Holst

• Bring us Good Ale - Holst may be best known for inflicting the Zither Carol on us, but here's something more sophisticated in this SATB a capella setting.

Herbert Howells

• O Mortal Man -SATB with organ - Sussex mummers' carol

John Joubert

• There is No Rose - SATB unaccomp.

Dan Kallman

• Rocking Carol - This traditional Czech carol is here arranged for a capella SATB choir

Philip Lawson

• Noel Nouvelet- arranged by Lawson for the King's Singers and re-arranged here for SATTBB
• Stille Nacht- (Silent Night) arranged by Lawson for the King's Singers and re-arranged here for SSAA

Kenneth Leighton

• A Christmas Carol - Chorus and organ version of this imaginatively titled carol for Baritone and SATB choir.
• A Hymn of the Nativity- a Carol for Soprano Solo and unaccompanied SATB chorus. Words by Richard Crashaw.
• Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child - For soprano solo and SATB chorus (unaccompanied). Yes, it's the Coventry Carol - words from the Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors, Coventry, 15th Century. But spare a thought for the original (see Carols for Choirs 1), magnificent in its simplicity and savagery.
• Ode on the Birth of our Saviour - From 3 Carols Op.25 for SATB choir. Text by Robert Herrick
• O Leave Your Sheep - Arrangement of Old French Carol for Soprano Solo, SATB Choir and Organ.
• Star Song - From Three Carols Op.25 SATB Choir. Text by Robert Herrick.

Stuart MacRae

• Adam Lay Y-Bounden - A setting of this often-adopted text for SATB Choir and Organ. This work was commissioned by the Royal School of Church Music Scottish Committee and first performed at Paisley Abbey on 20th September 2003.

Lowell Mason

• Joy to the World! - SATB and organ carol based on Handel (arranged by Rutter)

William Mathias

• Bell Carol - For SATB and organ with optional percussion
• Wassail Carol - For SATB and organ to a sixteenth-century text

Vaughan Meakins

• Stable Carol - SSA, piano/organ
• Stable Carol - Version for SATB and piano/organ

Boris Ord

• Adam Lay Y Bounden - Accept no substitutes, you can't beat one-hit-wonder Ord's exquisite setting of this carol - simple yet sophisticated, it's one of the best ever.

Harrison Oxley

• The Linden Tree Carol - For SATB and organ or orchestra

C. Hubert Parry

• Welcome Yule! - Ancient 15th Century Carol set by C. Hubert H Parry. SATB

Jocelyn Pook

• The Snow Carol  - A setting of a poem by Andrew Motion for Upper Voices A Cappella. The work was first performed in November 2002

Desmond Ratcliffe

• Gabriel's Message  - SATB

Gregory Rose

• The Sussex Carol - SATB arrangement of well-known carol that the composer says will show of your choir's talents to the full

Edmund Rubbra

• The Virgin's Cradle Song - A beautiful short setting for SATB Choir a cappella

Christopher Ruck

• Sussex Carol - the traditional carol 'On Christmas Night' arranged for piano, vocal and guitar. Digital download sheet music (and you can see a preview).

John Rutter

• Carols Collection - Ten of Rutter's best: Angels', Candlelight, Dormi Jesu, Love Came Down at Christmas, Mary's Lullaby, Nativity, Shepherd's Pipe, Star, There is a Flower and What Sweeter Music. 
• Angels' Carol - A joyful carol of celebration with the refrain Gloria In Excelsis Arranged for SS (or SA) and harp or piano or orchestra
• Angels' Carol - A joyful carol of celebration with the refrain Gloria In Excelsis Arranged for SATB and harp or piano or orchestra
• Candelight Carol - For SSAA and organ, or orchestra - note there is also an SATBB version!
• Candelight Carol - For SATBB
• Carol of the Children - unison/two part and piano - one of Rutter's best children's carols
• Carol of the Children - Unison Voice (Optional 2nd Part), Piano Accompaniment. Gentle and moving carol features simple melodic lines and a delightfully nursery-style Christmas text.
• Carol Collection - ten of Rutter's best, including Angel's, Candlelight, Nativity and Star carols
• Child in a Manger - SATB setting of a traditional Celtic carol
• Christmas Lullaby - For SSA and piano or organ - a slow, dreamlike carol
• Christmas Lullaby - For SATB and piano or organ - a slow, dreamlike carol
• Christmas Night - SATB and organ in Rutter's arrangement of an old French tune
• Donkey Carol - For unison/two part and piano
• Jesus Child - for unison voices and simplified piano, unusually for Rutter arranged by someone else - ideal for schools and children's choirs
• Jesus Child - the full SATB/piano version
• Love Came Down at Christmas - SATB and piano/organ setting of the Rossetti words
• Mary's Lullaby - SSAA and piano - as you might expect, of the tranquil variety
• Mary's Lullaby - SATB and piano - as you might expect, of the tranquil variety
• Nativity Carol - A beautifully tranquil Christmas carol for SATB and Piano or Organ
• Nativity Carol - A beautifully tranquil Christmas carol for SSA and Piano or Organ
• Nativity Carol - A beautifully tranquil Christmas carol for unison voices and Piano or Organ
• Rejoice and be Merry - traditional carol for SATB and piano
• Shepherd's Pipe Carol - Rutter's best known carol for SSA and piano or orchestra
• Shepherd's Pipe Carol - Full orchestral score
• Shepherd's Pipe Carol - Complete orchestral parts for Rutter's best known carol (for both SSA and SATB versions)
• Shepherd's Pipe Carol - Rutter's best known carol for SATB and piano or orchestra
• Star Carol - A bright and joyful Christmas carol for SATB and piano with an optional children's chorus
• Star Carol - Arranged for unison voices with piano reduction accompaniment
• Star Carol - Full orchestral score
• Star Carol - Full set of orchestral parts
• Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - SSA and harp/piano arrangement of this bouncy carol
• The Very Best Time of Year - SATB carol with piano accompaniment
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Rutter's rousing SATB arrangement of the familiar carol
• Wexford Carol - For unaccompanied SATB and optional Baritone solo
• What Sweeter Music - SATB/organ - a slow, tranquil carol

Malcolm Sargent

• Cowboy Carol - For unison or two-part voices and piano. Yee-hah!

Geoffrey Shaw

• How Far is it to Bethlehem - Anthem for Christmas for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. Words by Frances Chesterton.

Robert Shaw & Alice Parker

• Boar's Head Carol - Medieval favourite, arranged for TTBB Choir A Cappella
• Cherry Tree Carol - Arrangement for Tenor Solo and SATB Choir A Cappella

G. Smith

• Coventry Carol - one of the medieval greats, arranged for Soprano Solo and SATB Choir A Cappella

Giles Swayne

• Joseph's Carol - Short strophic carol for unison voice(s) (with optional second part) and piano accompaniment
• Midwinter - A setting of Christina Rossetti's poem for Soli SATB Quartet and SATB (divisi) chorus. Although this work would tax the most accomplished chamber choirs, the composer remains true to rhythmic style and harmonic colour of previous works.

John Tavener

• Christmas Collection includes: A Christmas Round, A Nativity, Apolytikion of the Creation, God is With Us, Ikon of the Navity, O Do Not Move, The Lamb and Today the Virgin 
• God is With Us A Christmas proclamation for tenor (or baritone) solo, SATB choir and organ.
• The Lamb one of Tavener's most approachable pieces, originally came to fame through being used in the Orange TV advert
• Today the Virgin A carol for unaccompanied SATB choir by John Tavener, with words by Mother Thelka

Trad

• Coventry Carol (Lully, Lulla)arranged as a piano solo in the style of Purcell (the mind slightly boggles). Digital sheet music for immediate download (and you can see a preview)
• Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night) arranged for piano and vocal. Digital sheet music for immediate download (and you can see a preview)

Robert Walker

• Adam Lay y Bounden - A modern a cappella SATB setting of the popular medieval words
• In the Bleak Midwinter - A modern a cappella SATB setting of Christina Rosetti's words as used in the ever-popular carol. Written for the choir of Grimsby Parish Church for the Christmas of 1972.

Peter Warlock

• Bethlehem Down - One of the most gorgeous choir carols (unaccompanied SATB) ever written. Sophisticated, but within the reach of most choirs.

Arthur Warrell

• A Merry Christmas - A colourfully vamped up version of We Wish You A Merry Christmas for SATB choir unaccompanied

James Whitbourn

• A Great and Mighty Wonder - A cappella SATB arrangement of Praetorius' carol written for King's College, Cambridge's famous carol service.  

• Carols Collection - Nine carols from the Rutter's rival: Christmas-tide, For Him All Stars, Lullay Lulla, Mid-winter, Nova! Nova!, Remember O Thou Man, Shepherd's Carol, Time of Snow and Where Riches 
• The Angel Gabriel - A charming and straightforward setting for Upper Voices and Piano of the well-known text by Sabine Baring-Gould, this delightful carol is characterized by a simple and effective melody. The voices are in unison for much of the piece, dividing in the latter part to proclaim the marvel of Christ's birth. Bob Chilcott's The Angel Gabriel is for upper voices (SS) with piano accompaniment.
• And Every Stone Shall Cry - This poignant and reflective carol is set to a poetic text by Richard Wilbur, inspired by verses from St. Luke's Gospel. The poem fortells not only of Christ's birth, but also his death. The contrasting, bittersweet emotions it portrays are captured perfectly by the wistful melody which prevails throughout. For SATB a cappella.
• The Child - A lyrical and gentle carol, arranged for unison voices with a smooth and sonorous Piano accompaniment.
• Christmas-tide - SATB and piano, flowing carol from the ex-King's Singer and main contender for Rutter's crown
• For Him all the Stars have Shone - A carol scored for Upper Voice Choir, SATB and Piano
• Put Memory Away - This gentle and enchanting carol for SATB and Piano, set to a poem by Elizabeth Jennings, began life as the forth movement of Chilcott's Christmas cantata And Peace On Earth.
• The Shepherd's Carol
• This Joy - This is the second in a set of three Christmas songs, and is arranged for Upper Voices (SS) with Keyboard accompaniment. A bright and rousing carol.

Carol sheet music

Looking for CDs? Click here for carol CDs with singing on, and click here for organ-only carol accompaniment CDs.