I know – that was last week (Dec 8th) – and it’s not even a holy day of obligation in Australia. It is, however, in the US, and some parish selections were posted here.
As a late onset Catholic, I find Mary songs fascinating, having being brought up to believe they are evidence of idolatry and popery. It had appeared to me that Marian devotion was on the wane, maybe no longer the case, and I worry the Marian hymns are of their era – dated and overly sentimental. I am using the suggestions posted here as an education to broaden my appreciation of the full extent of Catholic culture.
Mary’s Song
This song by Mildred F. Reith is not that old (1977) and is a paraphrase of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). The text is at spiritandsong where the sheet music can be purchased for download.
My backing lacks a light enough touch:
Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above
This is much older as is a translation of Salve Regina by Hermannus Contractus (eleventh century) set to SALVE REGINA COELITUM.
Hymnary have the text and sheet music.
This hymn was rewritten by David Haas as Hail, Holy Mary, Queen of Peace, which can be purchased at GIA. I found the text on a fascinatingly snarky and nasty blog post from 2010. I may have mentioned before that now that I am over sensitive to caffeine and cannot drink real coffee, I have been known to resort to right wing catholic blog outrage to wake me up.
Sing of Mary, Pure and Lowly
Written by Roland Ford Palmer and back in the twentieth century, this is set to PLEADING SAVIOUR (nineteenth century). Hymnary again have details on this song. The text is here but I note some minor variations.
Sing We of the Blessed Mother
This is also a song from the twentieth century – so they aren’t all ancient after all – and is by George B. Timms. The tune is OMNE DEI which is also used for Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary. Hymnary are once again helpful with background details. The text is here. My copy is in Worship 714.
Thanks for this post Geoff. I am very fond of Mary hymns and it’s nice to discover some new ones.
Next weekend I am going to sing the following 3 at Eastern Heights mass which I’m doing solo on guitar:
– Frank Andersen’s “My Soul is Joyful”
– Peter Gager’s “Mary’s Song”
– And of course the ever favorite Carey Landry’s “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman”
There is another Mary Song I remember from school days but haven’t been able to find the lyrics or music or a recording. I wonder if some of your blog followers might recognize it? This is what I can remember:
The angel Gabriel announced one day
Hail full of grace your God has smiled your way
And deep within your womb his son will grow
And Mary said amen let it be so
Do exactly as he tells you
These are mother Mary’s words to me
Follow Jesus’ words and his example
Loving one another joyfully.
(The words have clouded over time and that’s all I remember!)
Emma
I don’t know the song you are looking for either.
Can you give me any clues about Peter Gager? The usual sources are silent.
Geoff
Oops, typo, it’s Peter Gagen. All I found on google: http://au.search.ccli.com/search/author?Authors=4294896345&Sorting=Popularity
Hi Geoff – I have a print out of the sheet music for Mary’s Song by Peter Gagen. Would you like me to send it to you? I haven’t had any luck finding a recording.
Hello Emma, would you have a scan of Mary’s Song by Peter Gagen? Thanks from Ming
Emma, I remember this song from my school days, too. It sometimes pops into my head. This is only page online that comes up when I search for the lyrics. Strange there is other sign of it, but I’m glad someone else remembers it!
Have you ever run into Peter Kearney’s setting of the Magnificat? It’s still a favourite of mine, though a very long time since I heard or sung it.
The Admin has blogged it here https://www.sixmaddens.org/?p=1132
Millie Reith was actually Sr. Mildred Reith when she was my 3rd grade teacher. Quite an influence on my Catholic faith regardless of the tumult which has always been there…stay grounded and focus on the good, beautiful, truth and difficult task of living God and neighbor…
Hearing your backing for Mary’s Song by Mildred F. Reith prompted me to look for it online, seeing as the Spirit & Song and YouTube links that you’d used are now dead. I found several recordings on YouTube – I think that this one might be the original recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbDgo2y0-uU – and that recording is also on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music etc.
I also found a recording by Chris Brunelle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-8Fj9-fel8
And the sheet music is available from OCP: https://www.ocp.org/en-us/songs/274/marys-song
Thanks for the help, Sam.
cheers
Geoff