A rerun for those of you who like music therapy during the Triduum and Easter season. I originally posted this six years ago so feel free to add more recent offerings and personal favorites in the comments.
Good Friday:
Traditional hymns: “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” “At the Cross Her Station Keeping,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Were You There?”
Bach’s St. Matthew Passion or St. John Passion
Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri
Contemporary: Matt Maher’s “You Were on the Cross,” “Jars of Clay’s “O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile,” and Bruce Carroll’s “Driving Nails”
Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday:
Contemporary: Carman’s “Sunday’s On Its Way”–and for the young at heart, here’s a fun video:
Easter Sunday/Easter Season:
Traditional hymns: “Christ Arose”, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”, “Alleluia! Alleluia!” [Ode to Joy tune]
Classical: Bach’s Easter Oratorio & Widor’s Toccata from the Fifth Organ Symphony in F, Op 42 #1–Here’s a wonderful performance:
Contemporary anthem: Matt Maher’s “Christ is Risen.” Here’s a nice concept video done by a fan:
Contemporary hymn: “Easter Song” (Keith Green performance, although the 2nd Chapter of Acts is good, too)
Vintage anthems: James Ward’s “Death is Ended,” Don Francisco’s “He’s Alive,” and Dallas Holm’s “Rise Again”
Finally, I would be remiss to not include at least a few other year-round favorites that come to mind about the grace of God at work in our lives:
Bach’s Halellujah Chorus
U2’s “Magnificent”
Cat Steven’s version of Eleanor Farjeon’s “Morning Has Broken”
Johnny Cash’s “When The Man Comes Around”
Randy Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses”
Any musical setting and/or performer for “Ave Maria,” although I’m especially fond of Andrea Bocelli and Perry Como’s versions.
Be You Very Well 