Church Music

This was a lovely choice for Breaking Bread. Barbara Bridge dedicated her setting of this heart felt prayer to hospice patients and caregivers. It would work at funerals and as a reflection whenever peace is needed.

The text has a complicated back story and has many variants with more or less Christian components. Bridge uses a version of the text suitable for all journeys.

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

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you

Moon and stars pour their healing light on you

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you

Moon and stars pour their healing light on you

Deep peace to you, peace to you.

Deep peace to you.

With a text by the late M.D. Ridge and set by Timothy R. Smith, Breaking Bread have added a fine Christmas song in their 2022 listings.

No matter how cold it is at Christmas in Bethlehem, it is always hard to sing wintry Christmas songs while bathed in sweat in the Southern Hemisphere. This one is simple and singable enough for any assembly, with a gentle uplifting feel.

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

Chris Brunelle is working through these new songs from Breaking Bread 2022 as well:

Anywhere you use “Christ Be Our Light” this is a new alternative hymn, so that means at least Entrance, Recessional and liturgies with a social justice focus. I’m not sure if the bridge will come into play all the time in a church setting. Chris Muglia is the songwriter. It starts moderately then builds to something of a crescendo.

The text is in the preview at OCP who will be delighted to sell you the sheet music.

This is a Josh Blakesley song of praise that is very gentle and restrained in a country fashion. Sarah Hart and Mark Byrd also contributed to the song writing. I’m not sure where it sits liturgically, maybe at Easter, possibly commissioning. I think it might be best in a devotional setting outside Mass – oh – that means Adoration.

The text is in the preview at OCP where they will be happy to sell you the sheet music.

This is a c14 text attributed to Pope Innocent VI, here translated by Harry Hagan and set by Mozart. (You may feel a looming problem approaching.)

The Latin text is:

Ave, verum corpus
natum de Maria Virgine,
Vere passum immolatum
in Cruce pro homine,
Cujus latus perforatum
unda* fluxit (et)* sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.

You can find an English translation for sense here. The OCP version can be purchased here and Hagan’s translation is in their preview. You can access a free version of the sheet music here.

So BIAB takes on Mozart. Not the best idea I’ve ever had – too fast, too shrill.

Better to listen to these.

Ryan alerted me to the release of next year’s additions to Breaking Bread so I’ll look at them before doing some Advent music. There is a bumper crop this year.

Sarah Hart is very popular at OCP at present, with a hand in five of the new selections.

This one is a gentle recessional that could find a spot elsewhere in other liturgical settings as a prayer for peace, or call to mission.

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

I made a musical sketch on BIAB to sing along with to learn it.

Chris Brunelle is also looking at these songs but he hasn’t done this one yet – I’m sure it’s on its way.

The last song not covered elsewhere on this blog that was added to Breaking Bread in 2017 is this song by Timothy R Smith.

This is a setting of the Daniel Canticle from the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. The assemblies’ part is singable and the cantor’s part is, well, interesting. The 4/4; 5/8; 7/8 pattern will take some practice.

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

BIAB can’t do 5/8 then 7/8 in a 4/4 style, but it can do 4/4,2/4 which is a reasonable facsimile and the melody carries the rhythmic weirdness.

Tom Booth’s take on The Jesus Prayer was added to Breaking Bread in 2017. He also used ingredients from the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

It is a gentle and singable setting suitable for private meditation and the Season of Lent.

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

OCP added Tom Kendzia’s setting of this traditional Irish blessing to Breaking Bread in 2017.

It is pleasant and singable.

The sheet music is available at OCP. Based on the number of You Tube clips it is popular.

May the road rise up to meet you

May the wind be always be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rain falls soft upon your fields

And until we meet again
Until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

And until we meet again

Until we meet again
May God hold you
May God hold you
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

(trad)

• Lyrics corrected thanks to Sabrina

I’ll go back and have a look at songs that OCP added to Breaking Bread in 2017. I’ve have already covered most of these from shared liturgies but a few have snuck through.

This one is by Paul Inwood. It struck me as simpler than his usual compositions and that may be because he wrote it as a tribute to Sydney Carter (“Lord of the Dance”) whose folk stylings he used as inspiration. It is a lilting recessional that is most singable.

The text is at OCP in their preview and they will happily sell you the sheet music.