TO THEE CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM

When a choir wants to lift the roof in pure, unadulterated praise, Handel's works are always a magnificent choice. "To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim" is a soaring chorus taken from his grand Dettingen Te Deum. The words paint a picture of heaven's own worship, where the angelic hosts sing their unceasing "Holy, holy, holy" to the Lord God of Sabaoth.

For our choirs, mastering a classical piece like this is both a challenge and a joy. The vocal lines weave and overlap, especially when the parts echo the phrase "continually do cry," building up a wall of glorious sound. It requires stamina, bright vowels, and a lot of breath control to keep the energy high from the first measure to the final majestic chord.

We often bring out anthems of this scale for special choir concerts, grand thanksgiving services, or feast days when the liturgy calls for something truly triumphant. When the voices finally unite to declare that "Heav'n and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory," it is impossible not to feel swept up in the sheer scale of the worship.