New Easter Songs for Choir

Devan Jensen brought new Easter lyrics to me and said that he hoped I would consider setting them to a familiar tune for his church choir to sing. I didn't like the tune at all with his nice lyrics, so I asked if I could try my had at an original melody and arrange that for choir. This piece is very successful with choirs and is still popular.

Listen to and see the arrangement and order music here.

Words by Devan Jensen
Music by Daniel Carter

Long ago, within a garden,

Adam tasted of a tree;

Death would be our awful burden;

Only One could set us free.

Chorus:

Alleluia, alleluia,

Jesus came to set us free!

Lamb of God and true Messiah,

Song of joy we raise to thee!

Jesus came to win a pardon

For us in Gethsemane,

Humbly suffering in a garden,

And crucified on Calvary.

Chorus

In a tomb within a garden,

People went to where He lay;

Angels told them, "He is risen"

On that glorious Easter day.

Chorus

Come to Christ and be forgiven;

Taste the fruit of Father's tree,

Sweetest fruit of all His garden,

Dwell with Him eternally.

Chorus

About 1977 I started working on an Easter Cantata based on John 6 of the New Testament. There were several versions and revisions for the next several years. But in 1987 The Bread of Life cantata was premiered and then was performed each year for the next 15 years by choirs all over the US and Canada. One of the most popular pieces from the cantata is That Brightest Dawn. Eventually this piece was published, and music can be ordered here.

Words and music by Daniel Carter

The angel said, "O fear not ye,

For ye seek Christ the crucified.

Come see the place, He is not here;

For He has risen as he said."

That brightest dawn so long ago

Renewed all life because He rose,

And all that stir, and all that breathe

Shall live again because He lives.

They scourged and scorned my loving Lord.

They spat and cast on him platted thorns.

And yet he spake as nails pierced through,

"Forgive them, they know not what they do."

That brightest dawn so long ago

Renews all life because I know

He lived for me and marked the way.

He died, but rose that brightest day

That I may live with Him again.

My publisher approached me in arranging a favorite Easter hymn for choir. It needed to be fairly easy to perform, but also needed to be dynamic and exuberant. 

Order sheet music here.

Words by Cecil Frances Alexander
Music by Joachim Neander
Arranged by Daniel Carter

He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days' prison;

Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free.

Christ has won the victory.

Come with high and holy hymning;

Chant our Lord's triumphant lay.

Not one darksome cloud is dimming

Yonder glorious morning ray,

Breaking o'er the purple east,

Symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen! He is risen!

He hath opened heaven's gate.

We are free from sin's dark prison,

Risen to a holier state.

And a brighter Easter beam

On our longing eyes shall stream.

I Believe in Jesus Christ

An arrangement of the beloved Bach/Gounod Ave Maria, this arrangement provides a different text focused on the life of Jesus Christ.

Words by Daniel Carter
Music by J. S. Bach and Charles Gounod
Arranged by Daniel Carter

I believe in Jesus Christ.

He who paid my debt of sin;

Mercy to mankind extend;

He whose perfect life provides my path.

I believe in Christ divine.

Restorer of the light sublime.

I renew my faith,

Renew my will to follow Him.

I trust in the Savior!

Submit to the Savior;

My Savior shall give me strength to bear my strife,

Guide my footsteps with His light,

Lead me into life, eternal life,

And I shall rest in His love forever more.

For I believe in Christ.

Order music arranged for SAB choir here.

Order music arranged SSA Women's voices here.

Listen to the arrangement, see and order music here.

Words by Henry W. Baker
Music by Daniel Carter

The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faith never;

I nothing lack if I am His,

And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,

My ransomed soul He leadeth,

And where the verdant pastures grow,

With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,

But yet in love he sought me,

And on His shoulder gently laid,

And home rejoicing brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill

With thee, dear Lord, beside me;

Thy rod and staff my comfort still,

Thy light befre to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight,

Thy blessing grace bestoweth,

And on the transport of delight,

With which my cup o'er floweth.

And so through all the length of days

Thy goodness faith never;

Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise

Within Thy house forever.

Listen to the music and see and order the music here.

Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Rowland Pritchard
Arranged by Daniel Carter

Love divine, all loves excelling,

Joy of heaven to earth come down;

Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,

All Thy faithful mercies crown;

Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

Pure, unbounded love Thou art;

Visit us with Thy salvation,

Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit

Into every troubled breast;

Let us all in Thee inherit,

Let us find the promised rest;

Take away the love of sinning;

Alpha and Omega be;

End of faith, as its beginning,

Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,

Let us all Thy life receive.

Suddenly return, and never,

Nevermore Thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

Serve Thee as Thine hosts above,

Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,

Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;

Pure and spotless let us be:

Let us see Thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory

'Till in heaven we take our place,

'Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

Lost in wonder, love and praise.