I can think of many possibilities. Knowing the voicing of your group and the level of difficulty you are looking for would help. "O For A Closer Walk With God" by Stanford SATB with organ would be a nice choice.

 

Installation of a new pastor would also be a great time to consider comissioning a new anthem.

I suggest a setting of: 

 

Jim,

 

We are about to install a new Minister in the Sale Methodist Circuit, near Manchester, UK.  We shall be singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" by John Rutter.

 

Regards,

David

(Conductor - The Sale Methodist Singers)

You might try "How Lovely Are the Messengers" from Mendelssohn's "St. Paul". Our last big installation we used David McK. Williams' "In the Year That King Uzziah Died" ... at the end the whole business quiets down to the text, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us ... then said I, Here am I , send me". 

If I may be so bold, I would offer "Behold My Servant," written for the installation of the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles. Sings easily, sounds nice and big. Episcopal (and Catholic also, I believe) churches count this text among the propers for such days, and there aren't a lot of anthems on that text available. Which is why I wrote it. :-)

 

Available from www.canticanova.com.

 

Robert

robertparkermusic.com

I have two works which would work well for this occasion.  One, Fanfare for the House of God, is published by Yelton Rhodes Music.  Here's a link to their catalog:

 

http://www.yrmusic.com/v2/catalog/listing.php?composerID=365

 

The other, Laudate, Confitemini, is available directly from me.  More info, including sample PDF, available at:

 

http://www.jonathansantore.com/laudate.html

 

All best!

Jonathan Santore

info(a)jonathansantore.com

www.jonathansantore.com

Hey Jim,

Some good ones that come to mind are Mark Hayes' arrangement of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" (an arrangement that can best be described as epic) or Lloyd Larson's "The Lord Desires These Things" ("I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing..."). In addition to an anthem we usually sing new staff members in and out with Lutkin's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You."

Do a search for "Take. O Lord, These Hands for Service" or variations of that sentence.  There are several settings of that text.  I'm on vacation, otherwise i'd look in my files.  Also, I believe Richard Proulx's lovely "Prayer for the City" was commissioned for an installation.

 

Terry Hicks

GSMusicMinistry(a)aol.com

Church of the Good Shepherd

Beverly Hills

"Come Dwell In Solomon's Walls" by Z. Randall Stroope

 

If you're up for a challenge, you could try Perry's "I Was Glad" ;-)

I am a great fan of Leo Nestor's "Strengthen for Service." It was written for the 2007 installation of Rev. William Byrne, St. Peter’s Church (Capitol Hill). Pub. EC Schirmer, I think.

-Cecil Rigby

Liberty, SC

Hi Jim -

One of my choir's favorites for a festival like this would be the Ralph Vaughan Williams "The Old Hundredth Pslam Tune" published by Oxford. It is especially nice with organ, brass and timpani (we've used an arrangement for brass quintet) and very accessible for early in the year.

Best wishes,

Mike

Hi Jim,

I'd suggest Alice Parker's Offerings, which is published by Schirmer. It is more contemplative than festive; however, the text is very fitting, Micah 6:6-8. When I was a student at Augustana College (IL), Alice Parker was commissioned to write this piece for the Center for Vocational Reflection. Anyway, it's a fabulous piece. Even if you don't program it for the installation service, consider it for another time.

 

All the best,

John Hughes

Hi Jim,

 

Living Jars of Clay by Canadian composer Donna Rhodenizer. Available from Red Castle Publishing

full lyrics and a sound clip are available at http://www.redcastlepublishing.com/livingjarsofclay.html

 

partial text:

We come Oh Heavenly Father before Your throne of grace. We ask Your holy blessing on those who gather in this place.

We look to You, the potter, to fashion out of clay, a vessel that is worthy to bring praise and honour to your name.

Hly Father, may we learn to pray

offering our bodies though they are but humble clay.....

and with your spirit's guidance we go to show the way, and spread Your love to all the onew You sent Your only son to save.

With grateful hearts we sing Thy praise, Your church, Your servants, living jars of clay.

 

Music is SATB, contemporary with beautiful harmonies that are not traditional but also not discordant.

Listed on Musica.net

Andy Duinker

I wrote a choral work for the installation of a Rabbi based on the text of Nehemiah 8 (English), but can be used for the installation of anyone leading a Judeo-Christian community, as it talks about Ezra the Scribe bringing the teaching to the people. It's called, "The Teaching of God" and is SATB with organ or piano. Not too difficult, and you can hear a recording at the website. Good luck!

 

Erik Contzius

http://contzius.com/

There's a ChoralNet resource on this topic.

Hi, Jim,

 

I have composed a powerful consecration anthem, titled "This Sacred Space", with the Holy Holy Holy in the middle, and a congregational hymn and big bright fast Alleluia to end. about 5 minutes. Solemn start, brilliant finish. Choir, short alto solo, organ, 4 brass and timpani. Let me know if you'd like me to email you a .pdf perusal score.

 

Best,

David Avshalomov

Santa Monica, CA

davshalomov(a)earthlink.net

 

I wrote an installation anthem for SATB and organ entitled “The Spirit of the Lord” for the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire a few years ago. It is published by E. C. Schirmer (#6335). You can hear a sound sample on my website:

http://www.kevinsiegfried.com/html/compositions.html

 

or preview the entire score on www.sheetmusicplus.com

 

all best,

 

Kevin

www.kevinsiegfried.com