His Reign Shall Never End

A Christmas cantata

  • Cantata with readings
  • Male and female soloists with SATB choir/vocal group and rhythm section
  • Length: 50 minutes
  • Some songs are also suitable for individual presentation

His Reign Shall Never End is a cantata for Christmas. It presents in music the story of the birth of Jesus Christ as found in Luke’s gospel. The musical settings take some liberties with the original words of Scripture, but only as much as required to allow the music to flow effectively.

The story is linked by individual settings of the four verses of the familiar old French carol Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. These verses act as periodic calls to reflect on the significance and wonder of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

His Reign Shall Never End was first performed by the Lilongwe Music Society at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Lilongwe, Malawi in December 1991. Since then it has been presented numerous times in different centres in New Zealand.

This cantata is dedicated to my parents Shirley and Robert Raymond, who blessed me with their love, their Christian example, and their appreciation of music.

Track List

1 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence 2:58
2 Unto us a Child is Born 3:19
3 A Tender Plant 3:28
4 Zechariah 4:33
5 His Reign Shall Never End 4:18
6 Blessed Are You / My Soul Magnifies The Lord 4:18
7 King is He, Yet Born a Servant 1:57
8 Glory to God in Highest Heaven 3:02
9 Come On Let's Go 3:09
10 Rank on Rank, the Hosts Immortal 1:08
11 Now, Can I Take my Leave 4:33
12 At Thy Feet the Seraphs Cluster 2:09
13 Finale text 0:58
14 Finale 4:22

Available Resources

  • Piano-Vocal (SATB arrangements)