Orchestral Arrangements of Communion Hymns Needed
  • jmiraflorjmiraflor
    Posts: 4
    Does anyone know of or are in possession of any orchestral arrangements of communion hymns that do not need organ or piano?

    I've listened to the Philadelphia orchestra do an arrangement of Gift of Finest Wheat, but I've searched online and couldn't find a way to obtain/purchase a copy.

    Context: I am directing a choir and 14-piece chamber orchestra for an ordinations in June and the church where we are having the ordination Mass no longer has a pipe organ and I refuse to just use piano for sacred music in such a big church.

    Here's the make-up of the orchestra:
    Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Bass
    Trumpet I, Trumpet II, Trombone I, Trombone II, French Horn
    Flute, Oboe, Clarinet
    Timpani
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,295
    Look on GIA's website under Worship 3rd Edition:

    Hymns for Instruments
    How often have you transcribed a hymn for brass quartet, string quartet, groups of mixed instruments? Never again! Over 80% of the hymns in WORSHIP (337 hymns in all) have been transcribed from the organ accompaniment for instruments. Now you can have ensembles of any size--yes, even an entire school band--assist in accompanying the hymns. Ten part books cover all band and orchestral instruments.

    https://www.giamusic.com/products/P-W3.cfm
    Thanked by 1jmiraflor
  • mattebery
    Posts: 14
    This might be the arrangement of Gift of Finest Wheat you heard.
    https://www.ilpmusic.org/product/INS201906-DL.html
    It was arranged by Peter Latona and he did a wonderful job.
  • ghmus7
    Posts: 1,464
    I have many such arrangements up on my SMP Press site - let me know more specifically which hymns or what you may be looking for...