O Love Divine: Choral Instrumental Pak
By John Purifoy / By Benjamin Harlan
Item: 35-PK00091541
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Description
This resource features choral settings for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. They may be presented throughout Holy Week and Easter or combined as a Passion/Easter cantata with optional service readings included. Arrangements and original compositions feature hymn settings as well as newly composed music to texts of Charles Wesley and Christopher Wordsworth. Titles include "All Glory, Laud and Honor;" "Because You Have Said;" "O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done;" "Amazing Love;" and "Alleluia! Alleluia! (based on Ode to Joy)." Performance length: Approx. 20 minutes.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00091541
More about this title
About the Composer: John Purifoy
John Purifoy has built a reputation as a composer and arranger who understands what works in the church and concert hall. His gift for crafting singable melodies and accessible harmonic language has made his work a staple in choral programs across denominations and performance settings.
Why we love this
Purifoy balances the reverence these texts demand with musical accessibility that engages singers and audiences alike. The mix of familiar hymn tunes (particularly the Ode to Joy arrangement) with newly composed settings gives you programming flexibility, whether you're building a full Passion narrative or dropping individual pieces into a regular Easter service.
What to expect
The collection honors the gravity of Passion week while maintaining musical warmth and accessibility. There's a quality of earnest sincerity throughout, with moments of brightness (especially in the Alleluia finale) balanced against more introspective settings.
Who it's for
Church musicians and choral directors preparing Easter and Holy Week services or concerts will find ready-made solutions here. This works equally well for a full-length cantata presentation or for directors pulling individual pieces to fit a specific liturgical moment.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the instrumental accompaniment carefully during hymn settings; these arrangements often layer instrumental colors that can easily cover the choir if not managed dynamically.
- Treat the Wesley and Wordsworth text settings with attention to text clarity. Purifoy's melodies sit well for singers, but diction will make the emotional arc of each piece land.
- Consider the arc across the full 20 minutes if you're programming multiple pieces. The collection moves through Holy Week themes, so pacing between selections matters for narrative flow.
How to use it
You can present this as a complete Passion/Easter cantata with the included readings, or select individual pieces to anchor your Holy Week services from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. The Ode to Joy arrangement works particularly well as a festive Easter closing, while earlier pieces suit Good Friday observance.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in multiple text styles (hymn tunes, newly composed settings, Wesley and Wordsworth poetry)
- Responding to instrumental accompaniment with secure ensemble blend
- Expressing theological narrative through musical phrasing and dynamic control
- Reading across a connected choral cycle rather than isolated pieces