Holy

When a choir needs a majestic piece to lift the congregation's eyes upward, this arrangement by James Varrick Armaah is a wonderful choice. Dedicated to the Harmonious Quartet, "Holy" takes the familiar, awe-inspiring words of heavenly worship and sets them to a soaring choral framework. It is the kind of anthem that brings a deep sense of reverence to the church, making it especially fitting for Trinity Sunday or a special choir ministration.

The lyrics weave together two great threads of worship. It opens with the grand acclamation of the angels—"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Heav'n and Earth are full of thy Majesty"—before flowing seamlessly into the beloved lines of Reginald Heber’s classic hymn. As the voices sing "Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee," the arrangement shifts focus from the vastness of heaven to the pure, perfect nature of God.

What makes this piece so moving to sing is how it builds toward the end. The final lines, "All thy works shall praise thy Name in Earth, and Sky and Sea," are repeated and layered, driving the anthem to a powerful, joyful close. It gives the choir a chance to truly open up and lead the people in a triumphant declaration of praise.