With all of these resources to scour for good hymns, I devoted a fair bit of time (and a bit of money) in recent weeks to significantly increase my Easter hymn and classical music collection and creating a great Easter hymns & classical anthems playlist.
So, in case it’s a blessing and encouragement and helpful resource, here is a current list of 70 favorite Easter hymns. For each hymn I provide details for the version that’s in my playlist (artist, album, purchase link). I have not included details on composers, tune or lyrics. In most cases you will find that information at Hymnary.org or the Cyber Hymnal.
For some hymns, I’ve included links to some alternate versions, including alternate tunes, instrumental versions, or contemporary renditions. There are a few modern hymns included ”“ such as In Christ Alone. The majority of these hymns are from the Anglican tradition, but I’ve thrown in a few Evangelical / Gospel type hymns as well.
Thanks for the link, Kendall. I pray this resource is a blessing. I had a lot of joy putting it together. It’s shocking how few good EASTER hymns albums there are here in the U.S., and even how few Easter hymns are sung in our churches. My church growing up had 6 Easter hymns we sang every year, and those were all I knew for many years:
Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Welcome Happy Morning
Hail Thee Festival Day
The Strife is O’Er
He is Risen, He is Risen
Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain
And yet I found at least 50 other great Easter hymns for my playlist, at least 25 of which are really and truly EASTER hymns focused on the Resurrection, while another 25 are more general hymns of praise to Christ (O For a Thousand Tongues, And Can it Be, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, etc…)
There are 71 songs total, but the list includes two or even three versions of a few hymns (choral, instrumental, alternate tunes, or medleys of hymns…)
Enjoy all!
By the way, there is ONE HYMN for which I have not been able to find a recording: [b]Welcome Happy Morning[/b] (tune: Fortunatus). There are one or two instrumental versions at iTunes, etc. There is a YouTube video of a recording of the hymn from St. Bartholomew’s Church in NYC, but there is tons of background noise in that video, so it doesn’t make for a good audio recording. If anyone knows of a CD that includes Welcome Happy Morning, I’d be glad to buy it. Leave a comment with details if you have any suggestions… Thanks.