Author Archives: maddg

A folk song from the sixties from Sydney Carter, a songwriter best known for “Lord of the Dance.” His Guardian obituary is fascinating. The kingdom of heaven as a journey is well sung in this allusive song where the repetition … Continue reading →

This is a Marty Haugen song I’ve never got quite right.  This is what it is meant to sound like. I always played it 4/4 instead of cut common and that makes it flounder somewhat. You have to admire the … Continue reading →

This traditional sounding hymn, a setting of Ps 139, was written in the nineties by Bernadette Farrell. Listen to it here. You can hear what an average church sounds like singing it here and here. If you want feel really inadequate listen to this … Continue reading →

Another gentle folk style song from Fr Kevin Bates. You can get the feel of it from the portion available at AOV. You could pick verses for Advent or Eucharist or just sing the whole thing.   Open hearts and … Continue reading →

The snippet at AOV of Christopher Walker’s song, “Jesus Lives!” has a childrens’ choir, organ and brass. I suspect all it really needs is the children. OCP lists Paule Freeburg as a co-author who is uncredited in AOV. The sample music … Continue reading →

When I get to songs by icons like Br Colin Smith, I acknowledge a degree of cheek in attempting his sort of music on Band in a Box. A portion of this stirring song can be heard at AOV here. … Continue reading →

When I get a chance I’ll put up what is to be played each week at our local Catholic church.  We have four liturgy teams that put together music to match each Mass for each week. I’m part of one … Continue reading →

A call and response song from Carey Landry that sounds like a childrens’ song in the AOV snippet. Each line is repeated. It can be purchased in a collection at OCP. My backing has the two melody lines at opposite ends … Continue reading →

Gabriel Anthony Doheny’s setting of Ps 33 has a touch of the show tune about it, so I’m not sure it will necessarily work for the assembly. Listen for yourself here to a slice of it. Refrain Glorify the Lord … Continue reading →

Another folk tune from Fr Kevin Bates, which can be heard in part here. This is a good example of creativity using the voice of God that should not be discouraged. Like many items at AOV, this can be bought … Continue reading →