Whitehead's music is tonal and sometimes modal; his output of motets and anthems was extensive and he took particular pride in the anthems "Alleluia, Sing to Jesus" (with organ accompaniment),"Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem", "Now God Be with Us", and "O Light Beyond Our Utmost Light", the short motets "Bread of the World", "Grant Us Grace", and "Almighty God, Whose Glory". Leo Sowerby, a leading American cathedral organist-composer, described Whitehead's "Benedicite", based on the Gregorian Tonus peregrinus, as the "best Benedicite" he knew. Whitehead's eight-part motets "Watch Thou, Dear Lord" (words by St Augustine) and "Love Unknown", the Brahmsian organ "Prelude on Irby", and his many short carols for Christmas, are also noteworthy.