Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy / Arranged by Richard Kingsmore
Item: 35-PK00263276
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Description
Veteran arranger Richard Kingsmore delivers to us this electric version of a favorite Christmas song. This fantastic setting for
choir and congregation will add a new element of musical joy to your Christmas season! Duration: ca. 4:15.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00263276
More about this title
About the Composer: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) was a German Romantic composer whose gift for melody and structural clarity shaped choral music for generations. His sacred works, including the oratorios "Elijah" and "St. Paul," demonstrate his deep engagement with both Protestant hymn traditions and the grand choral forms of his era. The tune we know as "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" comes from his cantata "Christus," and its elegant arch and memorable contour have made it one of the most performed Christmas melodies in the English-speaking world.
Mendelssohn's influence on music education runs through his instrumental works as well as his choruses. He believed that music should communicate directly with performers and listeners alike, and his compositions consistently balance technical demands with emotional accessibility. His approach to orchestration and choral writing remains a model for clarity and expressive power.
Why we love this
Kingsmore's arrangement honors Mendelssohn's gift for melody while injecting contemporary energy that will energize your congregation. The combination of choir and instrumental forces creates a festive texture that feels fresh without abandoning the hymn's essential character, making it an excellent anchor for a Christmas concert that bridges traditional and modern tastes.
What to expect
Bright and celebratory, with a contemporary polish that respects the hymn's contemplative roots. The arrangement radiates warmth and joy while maintaining the quiet dignity that has made this melody endure for nearly two centuries.
Who it's for
Directors seeking a Christmas choral work that engages both ensemble and congregation. The arrangement works for church services, school holiday concerts, or community performances where you want a recognizable hymn tune elevated by skilled arranging.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the congregation's singing against the choir's harmonies by having your singers pull back slightly when the congregation enters; this keeps the tune in the foreground while the choir's parts enrich the harmony.
- Work the rhythmic precision of the accompaniment in rehearsal separately from the vocal lines so both ensembles lock into the arrangement's rhythmic details without lagging.
- Let the tempo breathe at structural points (verse endings, key moments in the arrangement) rather than strictly metronomic throughout; this mirrors how congregations naturally sing hymns and prevents the piece from feeling mechanical.
- Mark dynamic peaks in your score and communicate them clearly to both choir and instrumentalists; the arrangement's electric character depends on shared understanding of where the music swells and pulls back.
How to use it
Position this as a festival closer or the emotional heart of a Christmas concert, where its combination of familiarity and fresh arranging lands with particular impact. It also pairs well in services where you want a major choral statement that includes congregational participation without sacrificing musical substance.
Skills your students will build
- Blending choir voicing with congregational melody lines
- Responding to instrumental accompaniment cues and harmonic support
- Sustaining intonation across longer phrases while maintaining dynamic shape
- Coordinating ensemble rhythm with an arrangement that has independent instrumental parts