Arise Shine

This second edition of Laster's Catalog combines in one volume the listings from the first catalog with the voluminous material that has appeared since 1973, more than doubling the number of citations. It is designed as an aid for the church musician and/or pastor seeking to plan unified worship services. It will also be of use to those church musicians who follow the Liturgical Calendar and plan music appropriate to the appointed lessons, as well as a source for non-church choir directors who would like to locate choral settings based on a particular passage from Scripture. Entries are arranged from Genesis through Revelation. Each main entry citation provides the biblical reference (book, chapter, and verse), as well as a reference to additional passages from Scripture used in the anthem. The composer, arranger, or editor and the title are listed as they appear on the octavo. Information on voicing, solos, and instrumental accompaniment is noted; the name of the publisher, the most recent date of publication and the octavo number appear at the end of each citation, where information on instrumental parts, other versions of the same title, and collections where the work might appear are also listed. Composer and title indexes round off the work.

All the treasures and truths men have searched for across the ages would be found in Him, if they would but look. The search ends and the greatest treasure found, once He becomes the object of our seeking. Are you walking through life unfulfilled, or are you seeking God’s plan and purposes for your life? Have you struggled with your faith and with living it out daily? How do you view God? So many people have read about God, or have even sat on church pews for years hearing about Him, but have yet to experience Him. He is a supernatural God and loving Father, yet so few of us experience Him relationally, experientially. It is His strong desire that we do so. Arise Shine is a journey which takes you to the heart of this amazing God and guides you into the power of His presence, finding the inexplicable peace, unspeakable joy, and overwhelming love He longs to give us.

Christmas Cantata is a 100-minute-long oratorio—a fusion of choral pop, R&B gospel, jazz, and lounge music, with hints of plainsong, Renaissance opera, and Bollywood—all in the great tradition of Western oratorio. It’s great for schools, churches, and choral groups, any time from Advent to Candlemas. It sings the story of the birth of Jesus, from the eternal pre-existence of the Logos, through the annunciation, the incarnation, the shepherds and magi, the presentation in the temple, the slaughter of the innocents, the proclamation of the gospel, to the coming messianic kingdom. It’s all about voices: choruses, solos, duets, trios, quartets, octets, recitatives. You need a chorus who will stick to the notes, and soprano and baritone soloists, who can be a bit freer in their delivery. The singers are backed by a continuo trio of piano, bass, and drums. You can do a great performance with just these instruments, and a flute or trumpet. No musicians? No problem! You’ll love the Backing Tracks! But, if you want to go to town, there are Parts for Orchestra too!