Best Anthem

George Frideric Handel composed the four Coronation Anthems, HWV 258 to 261, for the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline at Westminster Abbey in 1727. Scored for chorus and orchestra, they use ceremonial biblical texts and large-scale contrasts of choral and instrumental sound suited to...

Imagine remains a powerful anthem for peace and unity. Lennon's simple piano arrangement and evocative lyrics, envisioning a world without conflict or possessions, continue to resonate deeply with listeners globally. Its message of hope and universal brotherhood transcends cultural boundaries, solid...

Zadok the Priest (HWV 258) is a British coronation anthem composed by George Frideric Handel in 1727 for the coronation of King George II. Written for large chorus and orchestra, the piece features a text adapted from the biblical First Book of Kings. The work builds from a slow, tension-filled orch...

Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11, is a sacred choral work by Gabriel Fauré setting a French paraphrase by Jean Racine of a Latin hymn for Tuesday matins. Fauré composed it in 1865 while studying at the École Niedermeyer in Paris, where it received a composition prize. Scored originally for mixed choi...

Thomas Tallis was a prominent English composer of the Renaissance period. He primarily created sacred music, including anthems and polyphonic choral works, for the Anglican church during the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I, and Charles I. His compositions are notable for their complexity and innovati...

Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 27, is an unaccompanied choral work by Benjamin Britten setting a poem by W. H. Auden. Completed in 1942, it is written for five-part mixed chorus and honors Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and Britten's birthday saint. Its three-part design includes recurring invoc...

Crimson Thunder is the fourth studio album by Swedish power metal band HammerFall, released in 2002. The album includes 'Hearts on Fire,' 'Riders of the Storm,' 'Trailblazers,' and the title track, along with instrumental pieces such as 'Lore of the Arcane' and 'In Memoriam.' It was the first Hammer...

Alleluia is an unaccompanied choral work written by American composer Randall Thompson in 1940 for the opening of the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. Rather than adopting a jubilant character, it treats the single word "Alleluia" in a restrained, contemplative setting for mixed voices. Its sus...

Song for Athene is a short unaccompanied choral work composed by John Tavener in 1993, with words assembled by Mother Thekla from Orthodox liturgical texts and passages from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Tavener wrote it in memory of Athene Hariades, a family friend who had died in an accident. Its recurrin...

Herbert Howells composed Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing in 1964 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The unaccompanied choral anthem sets words by the late Roman poet Prudentius in Helen Waddell's English translation, combining solemn declamation with richly divided harmony. It is intended f...

“Fix You” is a prominent 2005 song by Coldplay recognized for its emotionally resonant structure. The track begins with delicate instrumentation evolving into a powerful, layered arrangement. It’s particularly impactful for listeners experiencing feelings of sadness or needing comfort and offers a w...

O Sing unto the Lord, catalogued as Z.44, is a verse anthem by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell. It sets words from Psalm 96 for vocal soloists, chorus, strings, and continuo, alternating intimate solo passages with fuller ensemble writing. The work belongs to Purcell's substantial body of...

Svyati is a short sacred work composed by John Tavener in 1994 for unaccompanied choir and solo cello. Its text draws on the Orthodox Trisagion, whose repeated Church Slavonic invocation begins with the word meaning "Holy." The cello functions as a distinct, chant-like voice against sustained choral...

Phantom Anthem is the sixth studio album by the Pennsylvania metalcore band August Burns Red, released in 2017 via Solid State Records. The record continues the group's established technical metalcore style, characterized by complex guitar riffs, heavy breakdowns, and melodic interludes. It also inc...

Like as the Hart Desireth the Waterbrooks is a sacred anthem by English composer Herbert Howells, setting verses from Psalm 42 in the language of the Book of Common Prayer. Written for mixed choir, the work uses restrained harmony, expressive dissonance, and flowing melodic lines to convey longing a...

Peter J. Wilhousky's arrangement of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is a large-scale choral setting of the American song whose text was written by Julia Ward Howe during the Civil War. The arrangement is known for its forceful rhythmic writing, prominent choral textures, and treatment of the recurring...

Orlando Gibbons was an English composer and keyboard player active during the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. He served in the Chapel Royal and wrote Anglican anthems, consort music, madrigals, and technically refined works for virginal and organ. Pieces such as This Is the Record of...

"Alleluia" is a contemporary a cappella choral composition written by American composer Eric Whitacre in 2011. The piece was originally commissioned for the Louisiana State University A Cappella Choir and is characterized by its slow, meditative tempo and dense, tone-cluster harmonies. Whitacre uses...

Survivor is the third studio album by American R&B group Destiny's Child, released in 2001. The record debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and features the hit singles "Independent Women Part I," "Survivor," and "Bootylicious." The album was the first to feature the final lineup of Beyoncé...

"Earth Song" is a frequently performed secular, a cappella choral work composed in 1992 by the American composer Frank Ticheli. Written for four-part mixed chorus (SATB), the piece features a gently flowing, lyrical texture and original text written by the composer himself. The composition explores...

"Let My Love Be Heard" is a widely performed contemporary American choral composition by Jake Runestad. The piece is a dramatic a cappella setting of the poem "Joy" by early 20th-century American poet Sara Teasdale. It is characterized by its intense dynamic contrasts, rhythmic vitality, and vocal p...

I Thank You God is a choral setting by American composer Gwyneth Walker of a poem by e.e. cummings. Written for SATB chorus, with soprano, alto, tenor, and bass parts, the piece turns the poem’s language of wonder and gratitude into a contemporary ensemble work. It is suitable for choirs seeking an...

Reverence is the sixth studio album by the Australian band Parkway Drive, released in 2018. It broadens the group's metalcore foundation with orchestral passages, cinematic arrangements, spoken sections, and choruses shaped by heavy metal and arena rock. The album debuted at number one on the Austra...

Wherever You Are by Paul Mealor (b. 1975) is a 2011 Welsh choral work that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart when performed by Military Wives and Gareth Malone, a rare chart success for a choral piece.

Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family is the second studio album by American rapper Waka Flocka Flame, released in 2012. The record belongs to the trap and Southern hip-hop traditions associated with the rapper's Atlanta background and Brick Squad affiliation. Its title refers to the three-part phra...