This is a song from Gen Bryant‘s collection Send Us Out that could be used as a reflection in a liturgy with social justice themes or as a prompt to reflection on inequality and loneliness. The reminder and the challenge is that we are the agents of change.
My backing suggests the song is more country than perhaps intended.
This is the next song in Gen Bryant‘s collection Send Us Out.
I’ve actually blogged it already but I am reposting to include it in this series.
The sheet music can be purchased in forms suitable for all the members of your school band here.
The lyrics are where I posted them.
I’m working my way through Gen Bryant‘s collection Send Us Out, available at Willow. It is ideal for schools but some of the songs will work in parish situations.
This is a song of praise and a call to action. It is an acknowledgement that young people (OK and everyone else) have a voice and should use it – and get out and be active in their communities. There is a second vocal line so this might be best for soloist and choir.
The sheet music is available in single sheets in versions for the whole band as well at Willow. In the compiled book you get the very long piano sheet music for these songs and I suspect guitarists in performance will make their own chord charts, as none of the provided sheets are for a singing rhythm guitarist (ie chords over words).
I made a rousing backing, but I could not find the lyrics on her website this time.
Raise it up, raise it up (x3)
Come on, raise up your voice!
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
Come on, raise up your voice!
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
Chorus
Come on, raise up your voice! [Raise it up!x2]
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
Come on, raise up your voice! [Raise it up!x2]
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
1 You know our ev’ry breath. You know our hearts desire.
It’s your love alive in us; it’s your love that lifts us up.
Chorus
2 When darkness falls on us and fear is taking over,
We need your love alive in us: we need your love to lift us up.
Chorus
Bridge 1
[When the chips are down and times are tough]
Raise it up! Raise it up!
[When the sun shines out and you feel that love.]
Raise it up! Raise it up!
[Rain or shining Lord ask that I’ll…]
Raise it up! Raise it up!
[Lord, I promise that all my life, I’ll…]
Raise it up!
Bridge 2 (x2)
We come alive,
a-a-a-live, a-a-a-live, Oh we come alive!
We come alive,
a-a-a-live, a-a-a-live, Oh we come alive!
Chorus (x2)
Let’s raise it up! (x4)
© 2015 Gen Bryant. Published by Willow Publications.
I could only find this solo guitar version by Gen Bryant on YouTube and I can’t find it on Spotify, but you can purchase the Mp3 at Willow.
When we all looking for new mass settings 12-13 years ago I looked at a lot of them on this blog.
I looked at Ed Bolduc’s Mass of St Ann here. I don’t think it is used much in Australia.
I have had a request for the backings without the lead line. These are the BIAB files from 2011 with the melody removed rendered to Mp3:
Gloria
Gospel Acclamation
Holy Holy
When We Eat This Bread
Great Amen
Lamb of God
This is a dance banger from Gen Bryant that could be used as a song of praise or for gathering at a school mass. It has lots of woo-oohs. It was written for the Catholic Youth Festival and is based on one of the Beatitudes.
The sheet music is available in the collection Send Us Out at Willow. It is also available as single sheets for various instruments.
The lyrics are at her website.
My backing is a bit messy.
The original published music for this Mass did not have an Alleluia. A kind correspondent last year sent me a beautifully printed version of music he transcribed from a hand written original sent to him by Paul Taylor.
The refrain uses the motif of the Memorial Acclamations:
Alleluia x5
The verses are chant – the first line pitching the notes as A until the last 3 notes go G, Bb, A and the second line again on A until G, F, F.
We happily use his mass every week and use the Celtic Alleluia instead, as did my last parish. I blogged the mass here.
I don’t know the status of the Alleluia but I figure it must be out there as I have received inquiries.
This is a prayerful reflection in song from Gen Bryant‘s collection Send Us Out.
The collection is available to purchase at Willow. You can also get singles sheets for various instruments as well.
I didn’t mention yesterday that you can also buy her MP3s there, although she is on Spotify as well. The sheet music is augmented with study sheets and reflections for each song making this an even more useful resource for schools.
The lyrics are at her site.
I made a backing on BIAB.
She has two versions on You Tube.
Just like a craft enthusiast who has accumulated more yarn than they can ever use in their remaining life, I suspect I will never finish finding new Catholic songs, even concentrating on Australian artists.
Going through the catalogue at Willow/AOV reminded me about the great Gen Bryant. They sell her collection Send Us Out, which is worth having, especially if you are working in schools. You can also purchase single sheets for various instruments so the whole school band is catered for.
As previously noted, the Catholic school sector is the healthiest part of the the church in Australia, so it is not surprising that so much of the music here comes from people working in schools. That does not mean the songs aren’t usable in a parish setting.
The title track, for example, would work fine as a recessional.
The lyrics are at her site. I made a BIAB backing to sing along with.
She has put up YouTube clips including backing tracks herself.
I’ll close out my latest trawl through the digital archives at As One Voice with a song from David and Dale MacGregor.
This song is a prompt to prayer in the home. I will have to look for more of their songs.
The sheet music can be purchased at Willow.
I made a backing in BIAB.
We’ve lit a candle
We’ve come together
Though separated
we’re joined in Love
The way illumined
Your Word is opened
We’ve brought thanksgiving
for kindness shown.We light a candle
For those defenceless
For all so anxious
… who fall apart
who need Love ’s comfort
from deepest sadness
May all their ailing
have healing comeWe’ll light a candle
In evening’s window
For all who lead us
through this long storm
Lord bless and guide us
We live in new ways
May love for neighbour
“rhythm” our hearts.We’ll light a candle
© 2020 Willow Publishing
We’ll look in hope for
we are your people
who know your Light
May light there shining
know living radiance
in hearts, hands, hoping
through Christ our Lord
This is a gentle song of thanksgiving, especially suitable for children from Patricia Smith. I could see the children doing actions for this, but I also think its direct simple message is fine for us adults as well.
The sheet music can be purchased at Willow.
Sing along with my backing to learn the song:
1 For the work of your hands you created and shaped,
For the wonders that tell of your glory and grace,
For the love that has gathered us here in this place.
Lord, we thank you for all your gifts.
Refrain
And we lift up our hands as we sing you our praise,
And we open our hearts to your goodness and grace,
And we give you out thanks through all of our days.
Lord, we thank you for all your gifts.
2 For Jesus your Son who gave up his life:
And by dying and rising restored us to life:
We are one with him now in the Body of Christ,
Lord, we thank you for all your gifts.
3 For the Spirit of love living deep in our hearts,
Who blesses our gifts and unites us as one,
Giving life to our spirits with the fire of love,
Lord, we thank you for all your gifts.
4 For the gift of our lives, all we have, all we are:
You have formed us and made us your own precious ones.
We are loved beyond time, beyond hope, beyond dreams,
Lord, we thank you for all your gifts.
© 2020 P A Smith. Published by Willow Publishing.
