Lament Of The Cross (from "A Time For Alleluia"): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph Martin
Item: 35-PK00279053
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Description
Uses: Good Friday, Holy Week
Scripture: Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11; Matthew 26:21-22; John 3:16-17; Galatians 2:20 A moving choral lamentation for the crucified Christ is presented in this anthem for Good Friday. From the shadows of Golgotha, this poignant paean weeps with emotion through expressive music and cries of "Kyrie Eleison." The anthem is dependent on two soloists that soar above the dramatic choral. The classic chorale "Ah, Holy Jesus" is a sensitive ending to the piece.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00279053
More about this title
About the Composer: Joseph Martin
Joseph Martin stands among the most performed sacred choral composers in North America, with a catalog spanning liturgical settings, seasonal anthems, and extended works for worship. His compositional voice combines accessibility with emotional depth, making complex theological concepts singable for church musicians of all experience levels.
Martin's output emphasizes practical artistry. He writes idiomatically for both voices and instruments, understands the constraints of volunteer ensembles, and creates pieces that serve genuine liturgical functions while remaining musically substantial. His prolific output has made him essential to the repertoire of countless churches and schools.
Why we love this
This anthem trusts its soloists to carry genuine emotional weight while allowing the choir to build a rich harmonic foundation. Rather than overloading the texture, Martin lets the text breathe and the two solo voices create intimacy within a structured choral frame. The concluding chorale integration feels earned, not tacked on, giving your singers a moment of resolution they've genuinely arrived at.
What to expect
The piece moves through shadow and sorrow with a kind of aching honesty. Two voices rise from darkness as if asking questions the choir answers through layered harmonies and repeated supplication. The final turn to the familiar chorale feels like stepping into candlelight after standing in profound darkness.
Who it's for
Church choirs preparing Good Friday or Holy Week observances, particularly those with capable soloists and access to instrumental accompaniment. This works well for intermediate to advanced amateur choirs seeking liturgically grounded, emotionally direct sacred music without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the dynamic arc of the opening carefully; soloists need room to develop their lines without the choir overwhelming them early on, even in full texture sections.
- The repeated cries of "Kyrie Eleison" function as textural pillars. Keep them rhythmically unified and ensure precise cutoffs so they land as emotional moments rather than becoming static.
- Treat the final chorale as a gentle settling of emotion. Resist the urge to build it; instead, let it emerge with clarity and warmth after the intensity of what precedes it.
- Rehearse the soloists with full instrumental accompaniment early and often. Two voices above a choir need confidence and independence to project without strain.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece for a Good Friday service, perhaps following a readings section or as the emotional core of a Tenebrae liturgy. It pairs well alongside simpler unaccompanied hymn settings and longer passion narratives, anchoring the service through its balance of vulnerability and faith.
Skills your students will build
- Singing sustained emotional phrases without sacrificing tuning or breath control
- Listening to and supporting independent solo lines while maintaining choral integrity
- Executing precise rhythmic unisons on repeated textual phrases ("Kyrie Eleison")
- Transitioning from dramatic, dissonant harmonies to consonant resolution with the chorale
- Responding to expressive conducting nuance in sacred music contexts