Emmanuel: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Heather Sorenson
Item: 35-PK00341208
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Description
Uses: Advent, Christmas, Youth Choir
Scripture: Isaiah 9:7; Micah 5:2-4
Contemporary Christian artist Laura Story has a singer-songwriter style that is very appealing. Her heart-centric music makes the journey to the choir loft quite naturally, and this arrangement is no exception. The promise of "God with Us" is at the center of the message, and a classic Cecil Alexander text forms the foundations of this house of song. Plenty of unison writing adds clarity to the verse, while richer harmonies define the chorus with beauty, making this anthem a winner. Unforgettable!
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00341208
More about this title
About the Arranger: Heather Sorenson
Heather Sorenson is a Dallas-based composer and arranger whose music spans churches, universities, concert halls, and competition stages across the globe. Her career began as a pianist but evolved into a distinctive voice in choral and orchestral writing, marked by her ability to move fluidly between traditional hymn-based work and contemporary Christian idioms.
Sorenson's teaching history includes elementary music instruction at Grace Academy of Dallas and adjunct work at Baylor University, alongside regular master class panels in piano and songwriting. She maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and speaker at worship conferences and schools nationwide, while continuing to compose commissioned works for institutions ranging from Texas A&M to Carnegie Hall. Her engagement with non-profit benefit concerts reflects her broader commitment to music's power beyond the concert stage.
Why we love this
Sorenson captures the emotional resonance of Laura Story's original artistry while grounding the piece in the timeless Cecil Alexander text. The unison verses provide transparency and directness, letting the theological weight of "Emmanuel" land clearly before the harmonically rich choruses lift the moment into fuller expression, creating natural pacing that works in any liturgical season.
What to expect
The piece carries an intimate warmth that gradually expands, moving from quiet reflection on God's presence to joyful proclamation. Sorenson's arrangement honors the singer-songwriter roots of the original while allowing the spiritual foundation of Alexander's words to anchor every phrase.
Who it's for
Youth choirs and contemporary worship ensembles looking for material that honors both hymn tradition and modern sensibility. Directors seeking a substantial but accessible Christmas or Advent anthem that avoids overly complex harmonies while maintaining musical depth.
How to get the most out of it
- Highlight the text clarity in unison sections by encouraging singers to shape phrases around the lyrical arc rather than bar lines; let the words breathe.
- Balance the shift from unison to harmony by bringing out inner voices in the chorus without losing the sense of forward motion.
- The contemporary style invites a gentler vibrato and closer, more intimate tone than traditional anthem singing; think "singer-songwriter" delivery even in full ensemble.
- Let the instrumental accompaniment guide tempo and phrasing; the arrangement likely supports a conversational rather than ceremonial pace.
How to use it
Position this as a reflective moment in an Advent or Christmas service, or use it as an opening number that sets a contemplative tone before more festive selections. The balance of unison and harmony makes it useful both as a standalone anthem and as an accessible piece for programming alongside more demanding contemporary works.
Skills your students will build
- Transitioning between unison and part-singing with tonal consistency
- Shaping lyrical phrases through text emphasis rather than musical phrase marks
- Blending contemporary vocal styles with choral blend
- Sustaining musical interest through harmonic shifts without dramatic tempo changes
- Connecting theological language to emotional expression in performance