THIS JOYFUL EASTERTIDE

"This Joyful Eastertide" is a bright and triumphant hymn that captures the absolute thrill of the Resurrection. For a choir, it is a true Easter morning staple. The melody bounds forward with a lively, rhythmic energy, carrying words that brush away the gloom of Good Friday. When the voices declare, "Away with sin and sorrow! My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow," it brings a palpable sense of victory to the congregation.

The arrangement shines brightest in its refrain, where the parts echo and build on the word "arisen." It is a wonderful moment in the choir loft, as the sopranos soar and the lower voices drive the harmony forward, affirming that without the empty tomb, "our faith had been in vain." It is a perfect piece for the Easter season, reminding everyone listening that death's chill has been broken once and for all.