Church Music

This is a litany by Bernadette Farrell with a refrain for the assembly and declaimed verses by the cantor.

Check out the text of the verses in the sample at OCP, where they sell the sheet music, for a broad range of saints from outside the box. They suggest it’s use in a paraliturgy concerning social justice, but many of the verses will fit more usual liturgies, and obviously you could create your own local list.

The version in GAB says the author specifically did not want guitar chords on the piece. The chords are on the keyboard version, so I suppose it is for organ only. These chords allowed me to make a backing, but it is for the refrain only – the spoken verses are all yours.

This is another Spiritual, this time for Christmas. It appears more for a Christmas performance or pageant than a liturgy, but is singable enough.

1 There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow;
It will lead to the place where the Christ was born;
Rise up, shepherd and follow.

Refrain:
Follow, follow;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Follow the Star of Bethlehem;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

2 Leave your sheep, leave your sheep, and leave your lambs;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow;
Leave your ewes and your rams, leave your ewes and rams;
Rise up, shepherd and follow. [Refrain]

3 If you take good heed to the angel’s words;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow;
You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds;
Rise up, shepherd and follow. [Refrain]

This is a public domain hymn. OCP bring it down from D to C (thanks be to God).

The clips on YouTube show just how many ways you can do one song:

When I was noting the songs that are in use in the USA that are less used here, like songs in Spanish, I should have also mentioned that Spirituals are not really part of the multicultural mix here either.

I’ve blogged another version of this song, but not with this tune. OCP sell the sheet music.

Refrain

Ride on, King Jesus,

No man can ahinder me,

Ride on, King Jesus, ride on,

No man can ahinder me.

1.

King Jesus rides on a milk-white horse,

No man can ahinder me;

The river of Jordan he did cross,

No man can ahinder me.

2.

I know that my redeemer lives,

No man can ahinder me;

And of his blessing freely gives,

No man can ahinder me.

3.

If you want to find your way to God,

No man can ahinder me;

The gospel highway must be trod,

No man can ahinder me.

Pretty much all the songs in Spanish from OCP are unfamiliar, as we have no local need for that repertoire. This one for Easter is pretty lively though and it has an English translation so why not?

This hymn is by Francisco Gomez Arguello with the English translation an uncredited OCP in house job.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP who let your see the text in their preview.

I do enjoy the change to Latin stylings in BIAB.

This sounds great:

Almost enough guitars:

More restrained:

Looking at the songs from the Guitar Accompaniment Book from OCP that I haven’t already covered, it seems the reason that they haven’t come to my attention can be that they are very old hymns, very Spanish hymns and then there are those that must have a cantor. That is usually due to the complexity of the verse tune or cross overs in the melody lines. Songs where the assembly can sing everything are always likely to be more usable.

I love Bernadette Farrell’s work and this is a gorgeous hymn well up to her usual standard, but it must have a choir or a cantor so its appeal will be more limited. Apart from being in Ab (why), there are tricky triplets and a third verse with a completely different tune.

She based the text on Psalm 90 so it makes sense for funerals and All Souls day.

The text is at Cantus Mundi. You can buy the sheet music at OCP.

Another notional music selection:

Entrance: All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford) AOV 1/76)

Gifts: We Walk By Faith (Haugen) AOV 1/63

Communion: One Body (O’Brien- Watts) AOV 2/146

Thanksgiving: Holy Spirit Come (Mangan) AOV NG 67

Recessional: Lord, the Light of Your Love (Kendrick) AOV 2/59

Meanwhile in North Queensland:

My never ending survey of the songs from my copy of OCP’s Guitar Accompaniment Book c2005, continues with this text by Gail Coon. It is a passionate hymn of social justice so I suppose it is out of fashion – I love it. It is set to IN BABILONE, but OCP give you a descant by Randall DeBruyn for the last verse.

You can see the text in OCP’s preview and buy the sheet music there as well.

This setting of the ICEL text of Psalm 51 has a tune by Robert Kreutz.

The verses are chant so that’s over to you, but I’ll do a backing for the two refrain options.

Remember your love and your faithfulness O Lord.

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

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

OCP list the theme as “God’s Kingdom”, which is fair enough, but this is basically a text for All Saints Day by Harry Hagan. I have blogged another version of this with a chorus here, but this one lacks that and is set to PROSPECT.

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

I’m a sucker for O WALY WALY and when matched with this delicate paraphrase of Psalm 42 by Danna Harkin it is quite lovely. This is the 4/4 version of the traditional tune.

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