Sacred Music Recordings

If you’re interested in building or supplementing your music library with some sacred music recordings, these ideas might get you started. It certainly is not a comprehensive list and you might have your own favorites.

Why would you want to listen to sacred music? Read Soundtrack of Life to find out more.

Suggested Recordings

  • Bach, J.S. Complete Works. I would say to go out and get this collection of 155 CDs for about $150.00. Less than a $1.00/CD — truly a bargain.
  • Behnke, John. For All Seasons 1, 2, and 3. Hymn based organ settings.
  • Blersch, Jeffrey. Resounding Alleluias. A collection of organ only, organ and instruments, and choral compositions. Many are based on hymn tunes.
  • Burkhardt, Michael. Hymn Improvisations 1. The composer playing some of his organ compositions.  Burkhardt is one of my favorite modern composers.
  • Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. The Psalms of David. Anglican chanting of selected Psalms.
  • Cramer & Resch at Kramer Chapel – A CD from Concordia Theological Seminary featuring the chapel’s Schlicker organ played by Craig Cramer and Richard Resch.  Available directly from the Seminary bookstore.
  • Evening & Morning – the Music of Lutheran Daily Prayer – The daily prayer offices from Lutheran Service Book sung by the Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary.
  • Heirs of the Reformation – A 4-CD set of sixteenth and seventeenth century Lutheran hymns in choral and instrumental settings, historic and modern.
  • Hymns for All Saints.  A series from CPH that covers hymn based choral settings. Each set includes 2-CDs.
  • Hymns of Comfort & Peace: Hearing God’s Promises in Times of Need – A collection of hymns sung simply by the Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary, St Paul’s Children Choir (Fort Wayne, IN), and other singers.  Produced by the Good Shepherd Institute. Note: If you have any of the Kantorei or St. Paul’s Children Choir CD’s, you will notice that some tracks are repeated on this CD, BUT there are some new recordings and it is convenient to have them all in one place.
  • Leavitt, John. Leavitt composes choral, organ, piano, and handbell music.  A small factoid is that he composed the organ introduction on A Mighty Fortress for the Lutheran Hour.
    • Jubilee – spirituals
    • Requiem – choral
    • Shall We Gather at the River – OUT OF PRINT(?) – orchestrated settings of hymn and free-tunes.
    • What Child Is This – Christmas music including a children’s cantata.
    • Wonder, Love, and Praise – orchestrated settings of hymn and free-tunes.  Piano sheet music is available.
  • The Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary – Fort Wayne, IN – have a number of great CDs that are a collection of hymns, choral pieces, and organ and brass.  These are some of my favorite CDs.  Many, but not all, of them are available from Concordia Publishing House.  You can get all of them from the bookstore at the Seminary.  If you are buying more than 10 copies (they make great gifts), get in touch with the Chapel office and I think they offer a reduced price.
  • Luther, Martin. Martin Luther: Hymns, Ballads, Chants, Truth – A 4-CD set of the hymns of Luther.
  • Manz, Paul. Hymn Improvisations 1, 2, and 3.  His organ compositions. What more needs to be said?
  • Ore, Charles. From my Perspective 1, 2, 3, and 4. The composer playing his own organ compositions on mostly hymn tunes. Some are accompanied by choir and/or instruments.  These are creative “modern” sounding compositions employing a number of compositional techniques.
  • St Paul’s Lutheran Church Children’s Choir. It’s a joy to hear children singing hymns and these voices are quite good. It is a great teaching tool for younger children to acquaint them with hymnody. CPH sells these as a 4-CD set or each CD can be purchased individually.