Church Music

This is a sung “Acknowledgement of Aboriginal People and Country”.

There is a guide to these acknowledgements here, which is recommended reading. This sung version by John Coleman lifts the sentiment out of the mundane, as music so often does. He sings it unaccompanied to great effect.

You can here a snippet of the song, view the sample sheet music and purchase the sheet music at Willow.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

We acknowledge past and present elders in this place.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

Aboriginal land.

© 2022 John Coleman published by Willow Publishing.

The last word goes to…

I’ve done another sweep through the new songs available for digital download at Willow Publishing, the home of As One Voice. I’m doing backings based on the samples available to get an idea of how these unfamiliar songs go and see how they can add to a music repertoire for mass. Many do not have a any preview to listen to, so I hope my backings will help.

As I have said here in the past, many parishes are stuck with whatever the last hymn book they purchased last century and it doesn’t hurt to sing a new song, as they say.

Patricia Smith is a stand out amongst the Australian song writers at Willow from the last decade. This is a very moving piece based on Crux fidelis for veneration of the cross.

She has used excerpts from the text from ICEL and suggests the first piece is sung three times as the cross is unveiled.

Behold the wood of the Cross on which hung the salvation of the world. (Cantor/Choir)

Come, let us adore. Come let us adore. (All)

During the veneration itself she provides three antiphons. This backing plays them in sequence:

I Come, let us adore. Come let us adore. x2

II Sweet the timber, sweet the iron, sweet the burden that they bear! x2

III Crux fidelis inter omnes arbor una nobilis:

nulla talem, silva profert, flore, fronde, germine.

I noted that the Latin words in the second line of the third antiphon appear in various orders from different sources so take your pick.

If you need a new song for veneration you can purchase this one from As One Voice. You can also view the sample sheet music there.

…after a short break.

I won’t be monitoring comments reliably for a couple of weeks. See you in March with more Australian Catholic music.

The last song in emmanuelworship‘s Lifted album is this soul belter based on an ancient text. It was written by Patrick Keady who would like you to “forget not all his benefits”. You probably don’t need the brass section and full band, but they make it a blast.

The sheet music is out of print, so I put it up here with permission. Check out their site for the free sheet music to their more recent collections.

This is an Australian take on a gospel shouter from the emmanuelworship team in Brisbane. It is from the collection, Lifted. The text is by a six person committee designated by the initials VANTHP with music by Neil Pynenburg and Patrick Keady (presumably N & P). OneLicence merely credits emmanuelworship Ministry as contributors, which reminds me that all these songs are on OneLicence and are to be put on your returns when used in church or school to remunerate emmanuelworship.

The song is another call to discipleship that is designed for youth rallies. As it is out of print and with permission I will put up the sheet music. My backing has a clumsy transition to the bridge but can be sung along with to learn the song.

This is a song about discipleship from emmanuelworship that might find a place in schools. It was written by Patrick Keady.

The verses are fiddly solo material but the chorus is a easy sing along.

The collection is out of print and so I will post the sheet music with their permission.

My BIAB backing was able to match his groove.

Because this was one of emmanuelworship‘s songs we were using back in the 2000s, I have already blogged the song here. It is slow burn praise and worship that can get very intense. It was written by Patrick Keady.

This is another quiet, reflective song from emmanuelworship from Brisbane, Australia. It is by Patrick Keady and James Garrahy and the text is based on Psalm 84. It can merge into “Just to be in Your Presence” (stay in E).

It is from the out of print collection, “Lifted”. With their permission I will put up the sheet music.

Emmanuelworship isn’t all uptempo praise and worship. They have reflective chants like this one from Lifted, that are more likely to find a place in liturgies. I certainly remember playing this at mass in the 2000s and I blogged it here. They have a key change after three times through.

It is out of print and with permission from emmanuelworship I will put up the sheet music. My backing has not been updated.

This is a sung prayer in emmanuelworship‘s quieter mode. It is by James Garrahy and featured in the collection Lifted.

Being out of print, I will put up the sheet music with their permission. here is my BIAB backing to sing along with: