First, Vaughan Williams: Five Mystical Songs Since I was a little girl, Easter has arrived for me with the opening Rise, Heart (skip to 25 seconds in to avoid annoying announcer). The rest of the five are here. If I ever understand atonement, it will be because of “Love Bade Me Welcome.”
Or, for baroque types, some Schütz: Die mit Tränen Säen and Selig sind die Toten (These are texts made famous by Brahms, of course: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”, and “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord”)
Rutter sets the same text, and follows it with the 23rd Psalm.
No Easter should be without Bach; here’s the requisite chorale. If you’re impatient with recitative, skip to 1:10.
And Fauré: Pie Jesu and Agnus Dei–I have a deal worked out with God that if I’m a willing and diligent church musician all my life, I get to be a good soprano for two hours in heaven, and this Pie Jesu is definitely on my recital program. Bonus points to anybody who can tell me who the soprano is in this recording–I can’t figure it out.
Tavener: As One Who Has Slept and
Eternity’s Sunrise
Happy Easter!
By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog 
Margaret, if I were guessing, I’d pick the Rutter The Lord is My Shepherd as one that RS sisters would like best.
Can I sneak in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu with Anna Netrebko: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAC9vJr–Us
Thank you Kristine. This will be a blessing to me tomorrow when I am sitting in unneeded PEC and ward council meetings rather than worshipping.
I think the soprano is Elin Manahan Thomas.
Thank you from me as well. I declined my dh’s invitation to sit in on his daily dose of South Park, and listened to these instead. They weren’t all easy for me either, it helped to do a little googling. First thing in the morning is our bony little ward choir warmup, and I am much better prepared for it after this.
I was completely unfamiliar with the Five Mystical Songs, Kristine; no longer. What a beautiful gift for Easter morning! Thank you–and happy Easter!
Wow, love that tenor in the Bach piece.
Happy Easter! I have yet to meet a Vaughn Williams piece I didn’t like, and these were no different. Also, Thomas Allen’s voice: wow.
This morning I got to sing Surrexit Christus Hodie by Samuel Scheidt with six others in Sacrament Meeting. Our first rehearsal was at 8:15, but it turned out quite nicely anyway.
Thanks for both, Kristine.
Good pick, Ben. Wish I could have heard it!
Last night, while driving home from the parents’ place after Easter dinner, we turned on KBYU. I was saddened to hear non-Easter classical music being played, especially given the many pieces they could have played. Thanks, Kristine, for filling in some of the emptiness left by that experience.
Thank you, thank you, Kristine. You and I chose the same one for RS and I think people really liked it.
So glad, Margaret. Thanks for reporting :)