A Celtic Thanksgiving: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK01273745
$35.00
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Description
Bring the joy of thanksgiving to your choir with this J. Paul Williams and Joseph M. Martin anthem of praise. Written in a robust 6/8 Celtic style, this is something exciting and fresh for your general worship use. Stan Pethel provides an authentic Celtic consort orchestration and lifts this easily learned anthem to new heights. Perfect for youth choirs or limited voice ensembles. Score and Parts (pwhis/flt, gtr, perc, pno, vn, vc) available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01273745
More about this title
About the Composer: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. A seasoned concert pianist and competition winner, he has performed solo recitals across the United States and Mexico, including an appearance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His work has reached audiences from Carnegie Hall to hundreds of churches throughout North America, reflecting his commitment to both concert performance and sacred music.
Based in Austin, Texas, Martin has built a reputation for composing and arranging music that balances sophistication with accessibility. His catalog spans a wide range of styles and settings, demonstrating his versatility as both a musician and a composer. He continues to focus much of his creative energy on church music and works for educational ensembles, earning him recognition among music directors seeking fresh, substantive material for their choirs.
Why we love this
The 6/8 meter and Celtic idiom give this anthem a buoyant energy that feels genuinely celebratory without sacrificing musicality. Stan Pethel's orchestration is restrained but colorful, which means your limited resources won't hold you back from achieving a polished, professional sound. Young singers learn quickly with Martin's straightforward writing, freeing rehearsal time to focus on stylistic authenticity and ensemble blend.
What to expect
Warm and festive with an organic, folk-tinged character, this anthem captures the spirit of gratitude without sentimentality. The Celtic melodic language and rhythmic vitality create an atmosphere of genuine celebration, inviting singers and listeners alike into a moment of shared joy.
Who it's for
Youth choirs and ensembles with fewer than full voice sections will find this anthem both manageable and rewarding. The piece works equally well in worship settings or concert programming, making it a practical choice for directors serving churches, school music programs, or community choruses.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the 6/8 rhythm breathe naturally in your tempo choices; resist the urge to push the pulse forward, which collapses the Celtic lilt.
- Balance the choir's voice parts against the instrumental lines rather than doubling them throughout; the arrangement shines when voices and instruments interlock.
- Emphasize the lifted, lilting quality of the Celtic consort orchestration by keeping articulation clean and phrases shaped with gentle lift at phrase endings.
How to use it
Position this as the highlight of a Thanksgiving service or late autumn worship series, where its fresh energy provides contrast to more traditional seasonal fare. It pairs naturally with other Martin compositions or with spirituals and folk-influenced hymn arrangements, allowing you to build a thematic program around thanksgiving and praise.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in 6/8 meter with stylistic awareness
- Coordinating vocal lines with instrumental parts in a multi-part ensemble texture
- Interpreting Celtic musical idioms and applying appropriate articulation and phrasing
- Building confidence in youth choir ensembles through accessible yet musically substantive material