Church Music

The other famous Loreto Sister songwriter from Australia is Deirdre Browne and a song attributed to her, “Gift of Peace” was taken from the collection Throw Open Your Hearts for the Praise to God parish hymn book.

This song is so far out of print it seemed to leave almost no trace on the world.

I found a reference to the original record from 1967 at Discogs.

I found this song from the album to give you an idea of their sound:

I found this uncredited backing:

I made my own backing:

Refrain

His peace he gives to us, his peace he gives to us,

Not for us alone, but that we might give it again to everyone.

1 All who look for God in the depths of their hearts

Will find a hidden quiet, that nothing can disturb or take away.

2 All who see their lives as an open door,

Through which all come and go to love and give again, will know true peace.

3 All whose joy it is to discover the world,

And meet the eyes of God in the beauty that is his, will sing of peace.

4 All who know that God has prepared them a home,

For all eternity to rejoice and to be free, will have true peace.

The text might appear dated but I find it congenial. One problem is that the Dominican Fathers have altered the words in some way, but I found the lyrics to the chorus on Facebook that went:

‘His peace he gives to us, His peace he leaves with us,

Not for us alone but that we might give it again to all men.

and elsewhere:

The man who looks for God in the depth of his heart…

… so maybe they just tidied up the unnecessary maleness.

Then to add to the weirdness and obscurity, I found this song attributed to Sister Germaine Habjan. I also found an old article in The Catholic Transcript, Volume LXXIII, Number 11, 3 July 1970, page 8, alluding to Sister Germaine’s song.

I did check at Godsongs earlier and found nothing but with all this extra information I found Mary’s post on this song and sheet music.

Apart from thanking the Dominican Fathers for dropping the key from G to E, the mystery remains, which nun wrote the song. The sheet music in PTG says by permission of Allan’s Music Australia, so I assume they claimed copyright. Looking back at the Discogs information for the Loreto sisters 1967 record, this song is attributed to the Glenmary Sisters, which is Germaine Habjan’s convent. My best guess is that the error was made by the editor of PTG when transcribing the music and the song is by Sister Habjan.

At this point I was going to have a look at songs from The Comforter album by Paul Gurr, which is largely composed of Brian Boniwell songs, but in the interim I have a come across a copy of the full sheet music to that collection and will do the whole thing together in the future. Since some of the Boniwell songs in PTG are melody line only and I was making up my own chords for the backings, I’d rather revisit them with the proper chords and get it right.

Which leads me to a collection of songs by Loreto sisters, Throw Open Your Hearts, from which PTG picked two songs, including this one from Anne Kelly IBVM. Anne Kelly is Paul Kelly’s older sister so music runs in the family. This is an entrance song conveniently noted to be in march time.

The words and sheet music are at Catholic Utopia.

Neither of these backings is suitable for much more than learning the tune.

This is also a folk styled Peter Kearney song from the collection, Songs of the Lord’s Travellers, which was collected for the Praise to God parish hymn book. Unlike yesterday’s song there is a Bandcamp post so you can listen to how it is meant to go and find the lyrics. He also sells the sheet music at his site.

The other song from this collection in PTG was “Where Is Your Song”, which I have already blogged as it was also in As One Voice.

This is a folk song based on Exodus that Kearney recommends for Lent.

In PTG there is melody line and no chords, so I made them up – I thought there was only two in the whole song initially but I found a third in the chorus. I would suggest you listen to his version and buy the sheet music, rather than rely on my guesses and also the sheet music in PTG is probably inadequate.

I was off work unwell a few weeks ago and when I am ill I do a lot of backings as something to do. That does mean they can be a little odd.

This is a rather obscure Peter Kearney song from 1987 from the album Songs of the Lord’s Travellers, that was selected for the Praise to God parish hymn book.

It is a lovely restful tune, but I can’t find it on any of Kearney’s web sites, so if you want the sheet music it would be best to contact him directly, as I suspect all sources are out of print. I think it is just about my favourite song I have heard from him and it would be nice if he could post it on his Bandcamp site – I could take down the lyrics then!

For the moment you could sing a long with my backing:

1 Come all of you here who are weary,

Who are tired from the journey and long for rest;

Come to me all you weary ones,

And I will give you all the rest you need.

2 Come all of you who are worried,

Who are deep in your troubles and pressed for time;

Come to me all you worried ones,

And I will give you all the time you need.

3 Come all of you who are lonely,

Who are sealed in your living and search for love;

Come to me all you lonely ones,

And I will give you all the love you need.

4 Come all of you here who are falling,

Who are tied to your failings and fear each day;

Come to me all you falling ones,

And I will give you all the strength you need.

5 Come all of you here who are weary,

Who are tired from the journey and far from home;

Come to me all you travelling ones,

And I will give you all the home you need.

While they sourced the anonymous song, ” I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” from the collection, Songs of Praise from the Word of God movement, the Dominican Fathers showed they knew how to play the game by transcribing their own arrangement and claiming copyright.

There are many variations on the text, with word order changing all over the place – below is the PTG version. It may be of Indian origin.

The sheet music is here.

Do we decide?

1 I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back, no turning back!

2 Though none go with me, still I will follow.
Though none go with me, still I will follow.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back!

3 The cross before me, the world behind me.
The cross before me, the world behind me.

The cross before me, the world behind me.
No turning back, no turning back.

The Praise to God parish hymnal found some of their material in collections like Songs of Praise from the “Word of God” movement in the USA.

This song by Donald Kopinski is an adaptation of Isaiah 60, oddly enough. It has a lot of Yahweh’s in it that would need to be substituted for current use. It could be a rousing entrance.

The text is in this booklet. I can’t find the sheet music for sale anywhere, but it has been posted on the internet.

The editors of the Praise to God parish hymn book found another Peter Kearney somg for their book, this time from the eighties and his collection, “Signs of Hope”.

This one is a Irish sounding sung prayer and you can hear his version and get the text at his bandcamp site. The sheet music can be purchased at Kearney’s site.

This is a cover:

In 1977, the monks of Weston Priory were still in folk mode and singing songs by Gregory Norbet. This song, from the album Spirit Alive, was chosen to be in the Praise to God parish hymnal.

The text is at the priory’s site and they will sell you the music book too.

I’d bring it down to F at least from Ab. I suspect there is a useable song/prayer under the monkishness. I wonder if they are still circle dancing.

This was another Peter Kearney selection from way back in 1966 that was used by the Praise to God parish hymn book.

You can hear his version and his updated lyrics at his bandcamp site, where he provides some background information. He sells the sheet music at his website. It’s nice to find songs actually still in print or just available to purchase for download.

My backing follows his instruction “slowly” – maybe too slowly.

Peter Kearney had been famous in the Australian Catholic music scene long before he had songs collected for this hymnal – the Praise to God parish hymn book. The editors selected three songs from Kearney’s album, Songs of Brotherhood from 1966. The one I know is “Beatitudes”, which is in CWB II and GA.

“Fill My House” was apparently even more popular but, having been a Presbyterian and in Grade One at the time, it passed me by and none of the churches I have played at have ever used this song. My wife, the cradle catholic knew it instantly however. Having only guitars as musical options locally, folk songs like this one have appeal.

Peter provides the text at his Bandcamp site, where you can listen to his version. You can purchase the sheet music at his website. Over the years it appears many assemblies have removed some of the bars between the lines.

I made a backing that is faithful to the original arrangement:

I found YouTube clips from all around the world for this one.