Christmas Cantata Review: Lord of Glory

Forrest, Dan, Lord of Glory.

Price: $6.95

Publisher: SoundForth, 2007

Length: 112 pp.

Purchase: Book | Spiral-bound | Preview pack | Demo CD | Accomp CD | Rehearsal CD

From the website:

From Dan Forrest:
My desire is for this cantata to communicate the unadorned scriptural story of the incarnation in the fresh light that will cause the listeners and the musicians to have a renewed appreciation of the Christmas story. Throughout, the narration and music are designed to give Christ the preeminence in the Christmas story by contrasting His pre-incarnate glory in heaven with His humility in coming to earth.

The music is designed to be fresh, musically satisfying, and varied, yet accessible for an average church choir. The cantata is also designed to be as flexible as possible. A small church choir can effectively present a beautiful and satisfying program using just piano accompaniment. Churches with a few instruments (flute/violin and trumpet) can use them with the included optional solo parts. A church with larger resources can consider incorporating a children’s choir and a chamber orchestra. (Orchestral parts are available separately.)

The narration text is taken directly from Scripture, and the verse selection and musical context present these truths in a fresh light.

Two selections, “God and Father, We Adore Thee” and “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne/Once in Royal David’s City” (Finale), include optional congregational parts. (Reproducible handouts are included.)

Song List:
1. Once in Royal David’s City
2. On Christmas Night
3. Of the Father’s Love Begotten
4. Emmanuel Shall Come
5. Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love
6. God and Father, We Adore Thee
7. Once in Royal David’s City (Reprise)
8. Cradled ‘Mid the Oxen
9. Angels’ Song
10. O Come Rejoicing
11. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne/Once in Royal David’s City (Finale)

From Scott Aniol:

I enthusiastically recommend this work as a legitimate, conservative, rich Christmas cantata. The fresh, well-written settings of new and old carols combined with appropriate Scripture readings make this a fitting celebreation in a Christmas worship service!

This review originally appeared in InTune, a free newsletter for Christian musicians.

© 2008, Scott Aniol. All rights reserved.

Scott Aniol

Scott Aniol holds a bachelor's degree in church music from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), a master's degree in musicology from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL), and has studied theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN) and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained to to the gospel ministry by First Baptist Church (Rockford, IL) in April of 2004. As the executive director of Religious Affections Ministries, Scott speaks on the subjects of music and worship at various churches and conferences. His most recent speaking engagements include the Preserving the Truth Conference, Central Seminary’s Foundations Conference, International Baptist College, and Bob Jones Seminary. Click here to read and/or listen to important talks from Scott Aniol. Curriculum vitae

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