15 Choral Anthems for Advent for SATB Choirs

'Tis the season to be jolly (in July, as you plan music for Advent!)

Am I right?!

As a church musician, you know it's never too early to be thinking about Christmas, so today, I thought I'd share a few favorite choral anthems for the Advent season.

I've mentioned a few of these in previous posts (Favorite Anthems for the Small Church Choir and Fifty More Favorite Anthems for the Small Church Choir), but I thought it might be helpful to compile everything in one post for easy reference.

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

15 Favorite Anthems for Advent for SATB Choirs

No. 1 - The Yearning (Courtney)
SATB Choir with Piano

Exquisite text and beautiful writing—a lovely expression of hope

No. 2 - Of the Father's Love Begotten (arr. Rouse)
SATB Choir with Piano and Cello

A gorgeous setting of one of my favorite Advent hymns (with a great cello part!). On the more challenging side, but still more than accessible for small church choirs.

No. 3 - How Great Our Joy (Courtney)
SATB Choir with Piano

A refreshing contrast from the way this carol is typically heard, Craig Courtney treats the text as if the shepherds are captivated by and in awe of the angel's announcement. "How great our joy" becomes a quiet, sacred moment of inward reflection.

No. 4 - What Star Is This? (Althouse)
SATB Choir with piano

This anthem (focused on the star) works well for the weeks leading up to Christmas, or for Epiphany.

No. 5 - Sing We Noel (Goemanne)
SATB Choir with piano

Upbeat and rhythmic, this is a fun piece to have in the folder at a time of year when we tend to sing more soft, lyrical anthems.

No. 6 - Wake, O My Soul (S. Danyew)
SATB Choir, a cappella

I'm a little biased, I know, but I really love this carol-like anthem Steve wrote. The old hymn text is perfect for a quiet candlelight service, Lessons and Carols, or Christmas Eve.

No. 7 - Thou Who Wast Rich (arr. Molly Ijames)
SATB Choir with piano

Tender and thoughtful, this is a lovely setting of a carol written by Frank Houghton in the 1930s. Based on 2 Corinthians 8.

No. 8 - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Courtney)
SATB, sSAA, or TTBB, with piano

Similar to "How Great Our Joy," this setting features shimmering piano and brilliant chord clusters to depict the glory of that Christmas night. (*Note: It starts with solo men and has some divisi and high tenor parts throughout, so it may be better suited for a medium-size group with a strong men's section.)

No. 9 - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Miller)
SAB Choir with Piano

I love this new setting of the familiar Advent text. Great for youth or adult choirs (or a combined group!), as it's written for SAB.

No. 10 - How Far is it to Bethlehem? (arr. Hayes)
SATB Choir with Piano

Perfect for the Sundays leading up to Christmas, this is a simple, accessible setting of a lesser-known English carol.

No. 11 - Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (arr. Helvey)
SATB Choir with Piano

If your choir is not quite ready to sing the original Praetorius version of this piece, or if you're looking for something a little different, this is a great setting with a simple, but elegant piano accompaniment.

No. 12 - Love Came Down at Christmas (Pote)
SAB Choir with Piano + Opt. Handbells and C Instrument

Great for smaller ensembles or even youth choirs (scored for SAB), this is a lovely setting of one of my favorite Christmas texts—"Love Came Down at Christmas" by Christina Rossetti.

No. 13 - Silent Night (Anglea)
SATB Choir with Piano

If you're one of those people who's over "Silent Night" by the time we get to Christmas, this arrangement is for you: original text, but new tune and new accompaniment. Win-win.

No. 14 - All Praise to Thee (Hagenberg)
SATB Choir with Piano

The text of this anthem is based on a chorale by Martin Luther (Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ). Beautiful melody and lyrical writing for SATB choir and piano throughout.

No. 15 - The Wexford Carol (arr. Helvey)
SATB Choir with Piano

A great arrangement of a Christmas classic, this Irish carol shines with Howard Helvey's sensitive writing for the voice and interesting, yet supportive piano accompaniment.