Sacred Places: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00369062
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Description
Here is a new major work for Spring programming, based on early American folk songs and hymns. "Sacred Places" explores the story of Christ's ministry, passion and resurrection, all emphasizing the locations where these great moments occurred: The Sea of Galilee, The Wedding at Cana, The Sermon on the Mount, Jerusalem, The Upper Room, The Garden of Gethsemane, Calvary and the Garden of Resurrection. With poignant narrations and scripture, along with the creative orchestrations by Brant Adams, this is a memorable telling of the life of Christ. Two distinct endings are provided, allowing for a presentation during Holy Week that ends with the crucifixion, or an Easter moment that concludes with a joyful affirmation of life. Songs include: "Prelude; Songs from the River; Come and Hear the Wondrous Story; My Song in the Night; Lift Up Your Heads, Jerusalem; The Remembering; The Midnight Garden; A Green Hill Far Away; Sunrise; Alleluia! Christ Is Risen!"
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00369062
More about this title
About the Author: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department. A accomplished concert pianist, he has performed solo recitals across the United States and Mexico, and was awarded the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, leading to a featured performance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His solo work was broadcast nationally, and his compositions and arrangements now reach audiences from Carnegie Hall to church sanctuaries across North America.
Martin's career has evolved from the concert stage toward the church musician's calling. He continues composing and arranging extensively for worship settings and choral conferences, creating music that balances artistic sophistication with accessibility for congregational and ensemble singing. Based in Austin, Texas, he remains devoted to expanding what sacred music can express through both traditional hymnody and contemporary composition.
Why we love this
Martin crafts this narrative with real dramaturgical weight, moving beyond simple hymn medley territory into something that actually tells a story worth telling. The choice to provide two distinct endings transforms this from a single seasonal work into flexible programming that serves both Holy Week introspection and Easter proclamation, making it genuinely useful rather than a one-performance wonder.
What to expect
A journey through landscape and faith told in the language of American hymnody and folk idiom. The music feels both rooted in tradition and freshly orchestrated, moving between intimate moments of reflection and broader choral affirmation without sacrificing emotional specificity.
Who it's for
Choirs with moderate to advanced capabilities and access to accompaniment resources (whether orchestra, piano, or recorded tracks). This works for worship settings, community choirs building toward Easter programming, and high school or college ensembles looking for substantive spring repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the narrations as integral to the musical arc rather than transitions between songs. The interplay between spoken text and orchestration creates the emotional journey, so rehearse them together from the beginning.
- Lean into the specific geographical and emotional geography of each location. The Sea of Galilee should feel different from The Garden of Gethsemane; use dynamic range and instrumental color to make each sacred place distinct.
- Decide on your ending well in advance and shape the rehearsal process accordingly. The choice between crucifixion and resurrection affects how you voice the penultimate moments and build toward your conclusion.
- Balance the folk idiom with choral precision. These melodies have vernacular roots, but Adams's orchestrations demand rhythmic accuracy and blend that honors both the source material and the composer's voice.
How to use it
Position this as your anchor work for the Lenten or Easter season, building rehearsals across several weeks to absorb both the musical and narrative content. The flexibility of the dual endings means you can program it as the centerpiece of a Holy Week service or as a triumphant Easter concert closer, depending on your church or community calendar.
Skills your students will build
- Expressive use of dynamics and tempo variation within hymn-based textures
- Coordination between choral parts and orchestral accompaniment across multiple movements
- Historical awareness of early American hymn traditions and folk melody
- Sustained narrative performance across a 30+ minute work
- Sensitivity to text painting and the relationship between lyrics and musical character