Church Music

This is song for Eucharist set to the tune GREENSLEEVES so everyone knows the tune already. The text is from the wonderful Delores Dufner.

If your voice cracks on “What Child is This” then you will have the same problem with this – maybe bring it down to Dm. At Small Church Music they split the difference and pitch it Ebm. Do go and check all the resources there for this tune including a BIAB file.

Dufner’s text is at OCP in their preview and they will happily sell you the sheet music to a public domain tune.

Ken Canedo wrote this song of comfort based on Revelation 21 that has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022. It is a song that suits Easter or funerals or as a reflection when faith might be seem difficult.

The music is rather syncopated in the refrain, which may be an issue in some parishes. The sheet music can be purchased at OCP and they provide the text in their preview.

Sarah Hart’s take on this Psalm is new for Breaking Bread in 2022. The singable refrain will be fine for the assembly and the cantor can chant or sing metrically as is their wont.

The sheet music is at OCP and the familiar text in their preview.

BIAB by necessity went metrical.

This is an Easter song from Bob Hurd and has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022.

He used Colossians 3:3 for the refrain and the verses cover a lot of territory so you could verses for Communion, Pentecost, Baptism, Justice etc etc… a liturgically useful song no doubt.

The text is the preview at OCP, where they will sell you the sheet music.

OCP seem to have given up on uptempo music, so here is another ballad backing on BIAB.

This song is based on Psalm 84 and written by Roc O’Connor SJ. It has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022.

This is going to be tricky – the refrain is slow and dignified at 69bpm and the verses brighten up and the tempo goes up to 88. That is certainly beyond my skills as a musician and might be a barrier to confident participation by an assembly. I suspect many musician will speed up the refrain and make the difference in tempo less marked. That said, if you have the skill and inclination the beauty of the piece might be worth the effort.

OCP sell the sheet music and the text is in their preview.

I programmed the tempo change in BIAB.

Chris de Silva – the American one, not the talented songwriter from Perth – wrote this reflective prayer for peace and mission that has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022.

I note it appears in “Of Womb and Tomb: Prayer in time of Infertility, Miscarriage and Stillbirth”.

It may be too slow for an assembly and has melodic leaps that might lead to difficulties, but it may have a place as a solo or choir peace. It also goes a bit high – would drag it down from the key of F to D I think. I note that this is a GIA copyright appearing an OCP publication. Next stop – Middle East peace.

OCP sell the sheet music and the text has been provided in their preview. GIA also sell the sheet music.

This is a song that is well known in the USA and has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022. The text is by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and it was set by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954).

It is a song of thanksgiving and has been called the black national anthem of the USA. I’m not sure about it’s applicability in Australia and its ferocious range makes participation an issue. Nonetheless it is a stirring piece with a history that recommends it.

OCP sell the sheet music but it is PD and versions are available on the internet. For once my backing is more restrained than it could be.

Lift every voice and sing

Till earth and heaven ring

Ring with the harmonies of liberty

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list’ning skies

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea

Sing a song

Full of the faith that the dark past has taught us

Sing a song

Full of the hope that the present has brought us

Facing the rising sun

Of our new day begun

Let us march on till victory is won

Stony the road we trod

Bitter the chast’ning rod

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died

Yet with a steady beat

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our parents sighed?

We have come

Over a way that with tears has been watered

We have come

Treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered

Out from the gloomy past

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast

God of our weary years

God of our silent tears

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way

Thou who hast by thy might

Led us into the light

Keep us forever in the path, we pray

Lest our feet

Stray from the places, our God, where we met thee

Lest our hearts

Drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee

Shadowed beneath thy hand

May we forever stand

True to our God, true to our native land

This selection for Breaking Bread 2022 is called a traditional Spiritual by OCP, but has been attributed to Blind Willie Johnson who recorded it in 1928. It is based on the parable, obviously, but there are varying lyrics that bring in others sources.

It can be purchased in OCP’s arrangement here, which they have copyrighted.

1 Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
for the time is drawing nigh.

Refrain:
Children, don’t grow weary,
children, don’t grow weary,
children, don’t grow weary,
for the time is drawing nigh.

2 Darker midnight lies before us,
darker midnight lies before us,
darker midnight lies before us,
for the time is drawing nigh. [Refrain]

3 Lo, the morning soon is breaking,
lo, the morning soon is breaking,
lo, the morning soon is breaking,
for the time is drawing nigh. [Refrain]

4 Christian, journey soon be over,
christian, journey soon be over,
christian, journey soon be over,
for the time is drawing nigh. [Refrain]

5 Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
for the time is drawing nigh. [Refrain]

Not many hymns come marked “a gentle calypso”, but this song by ValLimar and Frank Jansen does.

It was added to Breaking Bread for 2022 and is noted as for anointing and funerals, but really fits most places in the liturgy, being based on verses from Matthew 11.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP where they provide the text in their preview.

Sr Paule Freeburg wrote this prayer based on Psalm 143. It is set by Christopher Walker and has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022. The themes of trust and healing are prominent. The verses have fiddly variations that might impede participation but the tune is lovely and otherwise singable.

The text is in the preview at OCP, where the sheet music can be purchased.