Rejoice, Ye Pure In Heart (arr. Heather Sorenson): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Arthur H. Messiter / By Tune: MARION / Arranged by Heather Sorenson
Item: 35-PK00540661
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Description
Score and Parts (fl, ob, cl, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn 1-2, tba, chm, bls, timp, perc, pno, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00540661
More about this title
About the Composer: Arthur H. Messiter
Arthur H. Messiter (1834–1916) was an English organist and composer who made his mark primarily through hymn melodies and sacred vocal music. His tune MARION, paired with the text "Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart," became one of the most enduring processional hymns in American churches and schools.
Messiter's strength lay in writing melodies that sit naturally for singers while maintaining harmonic integrity and spiritual weight. His work reflects the 19th-century Anglican tradition, where craftsmanship and singability were not in opposition. For music educators, Messiter represents a composer who understood how congregational and choral singers think about melody.
Why we love this
Heather Sorenson's orchestration opens this familiar hymn tune to full instrumental color without overshadowing the choral line. The arrangement respects the dignity of Messiter's melody while giving every section of the band and orchestra meaningful material. For directors programming sacred music or spring concerts, this delivers sophistication that intermediate musicians can handle with focus.
What to expect
Joyful and ceremonial. The hymn tune's forward momentum and open intervals feel optimistic and processional, while Sorenson's orchestration adds warmth and grandeur without resorting to sentimentality. Singers feel supported by a full ensemble; instrumentalists feel the privilege of lending their voices to something both sacred and celebratory.
Who it's for
Choirs with access to a full band or orchestra, from intermediate high school ensembles through community and college groups. This works equally well for churches with strong music programs looking to upgrade their processional hymn arrangements. The digital format makes it accessible for schools and churches that don't maintain large standing orchestral libraries.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the choir as your primary voice; instruments should support, not cover. Pay particular attention to phrase endings where the choir needs to shine through.
- Check that woodwind doublings on the hymn melody move with the choir's vowel shapes and breathing. Misaligned articulation between instruments and singers creates muddiness.
- Let the brass serve as harmonic foundation and punctuation. Resist the urge to bring them forward; their job is anchoring, not leading.
- Shape the overall arch dynamically across multiple stanzas if your arrangement spans more than one verse. Sorenson's scoring makes this possible without forcing artificial swells.
How to use it
Program this for festival openings, spring concerts, or baccalaureate services where you need music that speaks to communal joy and affirmation. It pairs naturally with other hymn settings or spiritual repertoire, and its length and difficulty scale make it a strong anchor for mixed programs. Consider it for ceremonies where the text's message of rejoicing holds particular resonance.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing choir and instrumental accompaniment
- Sustaining tone quality across full dynamic range
- Coordinating articulation across instrument families
- Interpreting phrase direction in hymn-based material
- Responding to a conductor's shape in sectional and ensemble contexts