An Anthology Of Hymns, Songs, And Choruses For The Easter Season

Hymns, songs, and choruses in this section emphasize the finished climax to Christ's once-for-all redemptive sacrifice at Calvary: his resurrection from the dead, his conquest of death, his exaltation as eternal Lord and Savior, and his completed and absolute purchase of the believer from the wages of sin. Consult this list for representative songs for the Easter season.

In the history of Easter liturgical music, some of the earliest settings were tropes or additions to the liturgy of dramatic elements, such as the dramatic dialogue: "Whom do you seek?" "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said." Known by the Latin text as "Quem Quaeritis" plays, these medieval church enactments were the beginning of a larger spectrum of liturgical dramas. The sense of dramatic joy suggested in these early dialogues has been maintained in the vast hymnodic repertory for Easter. The following is a sampling of both traditional hymns and contemporary chorus for worship during the season of Easter, including Ascension Day.

TITLE	AUTHOR/COMPOSER	TUNE	STYLE	SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Alive Forevermore	Anon. (1989)		Scripture Chorus	Luke 24:5–7
All Hail the Power of Jesus Name	E. Perronet/J. Ellor	Diadem	Traditional	Revelation 4:11
At The Lamb's High Feast We Sing	17th cent. Bohemian/ 16th cent. tune	Sonne Der Gerechtigkeit	Traditional	Luke 22:17–20
Because He Lives	G. and W. Gaither	Resurrection	Southern Gospel	John 14:19
Christ Above All Glory Seated	Latin/W. Boyce	Sharon	Traditional	Matthew 28:18
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!	B. Wren/W. Rowan (1986)	Jackson New	Hymn Renaissance	John 15:15
Christ the Lord is Risen Today	Latin/R. H. Williams	Llanfair	Traditional	1 Corinthians 15:54
Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain	John of Damascus/ A. Sullivan	St. Kevin	Traditional	Psalm 68:18
Cristo Vive	N. Martinez/P. Sosa		Argentinian	Luke 24:5b
Crown Him with Many Crowns	M. Bridges, G. Thring/G. Elvey	Diademata	Traditional	Revelation 19:12
The Day of Resurrection	John of Damascus/H. Smart	Lancashire	Traditional	Matthew 28:19
God Sent His Son, They Called Him Jesus	G. and W. Gaither	Resurrection	Southern Gospel	John 14:19
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing	C. Alington/M. Vulpius	Gelobt Sei	Traditional	John 16:33
Hail Thee, Festival Day	V. Fortunatus/R. Vaughan	Salve Festa Dies	Traditional	Hebrews 1:2–4
Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus	J. Bakewell/Christian	Pleading Savior	Early America Lyre	Matthew 27:29; Heb. 10:20
He Is Lord	Anon. (1987)		Scripture Chorus	Philippians 2:11
He Lives	A. H. Ackley	Ackley	Gospel Song	Matthew 28:7–8
He's Back in the Land of the Living	F. Kaan/M. Metcalf (1972)	Easter	Hymn Renaissance	Acts 2:23–24, Acts 8:32b
He's Risen, He's Risen	F. Walther	Walther	Traditional	Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:55
The Head that Once Was Crowned with Thorns	Kelly/attr. J. Clark	St. Magnus	Traditional	Philippians 2:9
Hear the Bells Ringing	A. Herring (1974)	Easter Song	Contemporary	Matthew 28:6
I Know that My Redeemer Lives	American folk	Shout On	Traditional	Job 19:25
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today	14th cent. Latin/London, 1708	Easter Hymn	Traditional	Matthew 28:6
Lo, Judahs Lion Wins the Strife	16th cen. Bohemian/R. Schultz	Bronxville	Traditional	Revelation 5:5
Low in the Grave He Lay	R. Lowry	Christ Arose	Gospel Song	Matthew 28:2
Majesty	J. Hoyford (1981)		Scripture Chorus
Make Songs of Joy	J. Tranovsky/Chorvát 1936	Zpivejmes Vsckni Vesele	Traditional
Night is Over	C. Landry (1979)	Song of Songs	Contemporary Easter Carol	Acts 2:24
O Christ the Lord	R. Brooks/A. Warrell (1984)	Farmborough		Matthew 28:2; Philippians 2:9–11
O Sons and Daughters of the King	J. Tisserand/J. M. Neale	A Filii Et Filae	Traditional	John 20:27–29
Risen Lord	F. Fabing, S. J.			Psalm 150
The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done	tr. F. Pott/Palestrina, arr. Monk	Victory		1 Corinthians 15:54
See the Splendor of the Morning	F. Feliciano (1977)	Tinminago	Easter Carol	1 Corinthians 15:54
Surrexit Dominus Vere	Br. Robert/J. Berthier (1981)		Taizé canon	Mark 16:6
Thine is the Glory	E. Budrey/G. Handel	Judas Maccabeus	Traditional	Matthew 6:13
This Joyful Eastertide	G. Woodward/17th cent. Dutch	Vreuchten	Traditional	1 Corinthians 15:17, 20
Welcome, Happy Morning	V. Fortunatus/English tune, arr. G. Holst	Prince Rupert	Traditional	Ephesians 4:8-10
Wounded for Me	W. Ovens, G. Roberts	For Me	Gospel Song	Isaiah 53:8