The Remembering: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00139065
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Description
The beloved folksong Long Time Ago sets the stage for a beautiful story that starts in a tiny stable in Bethlehem. Each verse of this lovely choral presents a different tableau in the life of Christ and takes us on a journey through his life and ministry. Ideal for Communion or Holy Week services! Thoughtful!
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00139065
More about this title
About the Arranger: 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 for five years. A accomplished concert pianist, he has performed solo recitals across the United States and Mexico, appeared with major symphony orchestras, and won the Nina Plant Wideman Competition to perform with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His work now focuses primarily on composing and arranging music for worship settings, with performances spanning from Carnegie Hall to hundreds of churches throughout North America.
Martin's gift lies in creating arrangements that serve the church musician without sacrificing musical depth. His prolific output demonstrates remarkable range, from accessible congregational pieces to sophisticated choral works. He continues to live and compose in Austin, Texas, balancing his ongoing concert appearances with his dedication to church music and music education conferences.
Why we love this
Martin's treatment of this folksong creates a powerful theological arc without overstating the material. The orchestration reinforces each tableau in Christ's life while remaining transparent enough to let the choir shine, making this arrangement both musically satisfying and spiritually grounded.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like a candlelit procession through scenes of Christ's life, grounded in the folk melody's timeless simplicity. Each verse deepens the spiritual landscape without losing the song's essential warmth and accessibility, creating space for quiet contemplation.
Who it's for
Church choirs preparing music for Communion or Holy Week services will find this arrangement both theologically substantive and achievable. Directors seeking repertoire that tells a cohesive story across multiple verses, with instrumental support, will appreciate how Martin shapes the familiar folksong into a meditative reflection.
How to get the most out of it
- Allow the opening verse space to breathe and establish the folksong's simplicity before the orchestration builds; this contrast heightens the journey that follows.
- Balance the choir's narrative line against the instrumental accompaniment so that each tableau emerges clearly rather than blending into continuous texture.
- Work with your orchestra to shape the dynamic arc across verses; the orchestration should respond to the spiritual weight of each scene rather than maintain constant volume.
How to use it
Position this during a Communion service's focal moment, or use it as the centerpiece of a Holy Week observance where each verse can be introduced with Scripture or reflection. Its contemplative nature also works beautifully as a closing piece for a service emphasizing Christ's ministry and sacrifice.
Skills your students will build
- Singing varied musical phrases built on a single folksong melody
- Responding to orchestral accompaniment that shifts in texture and density across verses
- Maintaining vocal line integrity while balancing against instrumental color changes
- Expressing theological narrative through subtle dynamic and tonal choices