Songs of the Passion [Choir]

Songs of the Passion is an inspiring 4-movement Holy Week suite. It can be presented in its entirety, or as individual movements throughout Holy Week. The work opens with a short meditative introduction quoting the spiritual, "Were You There," then moves into a jubilant Palm Sunday piece: "Hosanna! Christ Is King!" and is followed by the reflective and poignantly beautiful, "How Great the Love of Jesus." The spiritual theme returns, along with original musical content in the third movement, "They Crucified My Lord." The suite ends with a lovely arrangement of the traditional, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" with optional congregational involvement. Narration for two readers occurs between each of the four movements. There is an optional chamber orchestration available for flute, oboe, string quintet, handbells and percussion.