Church Music

Continuing the songs of creation from the Iona Community’s Heaven Shall Not Wait, this time they sing the week of the creation myth.

Again this is credited to the Iona Community, but the tune is SEVEN DAYS by John Bell and you can take it that he wrote the text assisted by Graham Maule. It made a mistake yesterday – it will cost ₤14.99 to purchase the book from Wild Goose, but do it anyway.

The text is here. I find their lyrics refreshingly direct, yet lyrical and not eschewing intelligence. A lot of hymn texts seem afraid of those qualities. The nice people at midiforworship also made this MIDI file.

The chords were provided this time, which makes my backing easier to do, but he is a challenge for me on BIAB because you always feel for his tunes that the less you leave in the better and that isn’t my style. I’m trying.

I need a break from the OCP/GIA axis and the Season of Creation we are currently celebrating suggested a section from the Iona Community’s book Heaven Shall Not Wait, called “God, Caring and Creating”. The songs are attributed to The Iona Community but are written by John Bell and Graham Maule before being fine tuned by use in the community.

I have blogged their work from collections from AOV and Gather and some of their songs are indeed available to download at Gather and Willow. These songs are perhaps lesser known (around here anyway) and are available in the book, which is still available for ₤14 at Wild Goose. I suggest you purchase it.

This song is their paraphrase of the prologue to the Gospel of John. The tune is INCARNATION by Bell. Mary at Godsongs notes it is in Song’s of God’s People a supplement to the Church Hymnal (3rd ed.) so it will be better known in Scotland.

In my edition of Heaven Shall Not Wait, some songs have chords and some, like this one, do not, so I made them up for my backing. I didn’t find the You Tube clips below until I realised it was better known by its alternate name, so I was flying blind on the style for my backing.

The text is here – scroll down, it’s the last song listed. Hymnary have some previews of the sheet music.

Peter Grant sent me this lovely hymn. It is based on Psalm 5:1-3 and it is a prayerful song with many situations where it would be useful.

The sheet music can be purchased at Willow Publishing. Peter has many songs that can be previewed and purchased at the site.

My backing is over fussy as usual.

Lord, in your mercy hear my plea,

Turn your ear to my sighs.

Listen to my cry for help,

My King and my God.

In prayer I turn to you , O Lord;

In the stillness you listen for my voice,

And I wait to hear the gentle whisper of your word.

I watch for you. I watch for you.

© Peter Grant 2012

This recording is better:

Finishing up the additions to Breaking Bread in 2018 is this song for Good Friday, with a text by Genevieve Glen set by Randall DeBruyn.

The stirring text is in OCP’s preview. OCP sell the sheet music here.

I’m nearing the end of the songs that OCP chose for Breaking Bread in 2018.

This restrained, lyrical song for Eucharist is by Sarah Hart and Robert Feduccia. As a singable communion song it is most welcome.

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

This is an old song that was added to Breaking Bread in 2018. The text is a translation of Praecursor altus luminus by St Bede the Venerable from the sixth century translated by John M Neale c19. It is a song for Advent or to celebrate John the Baptist.

It is set to WINCHESTER NEW.

OCP sell their arrangement here.

1 The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born;
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.

2 With heav’nly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utt’rance told
His actions great and manifold.

3 His mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name;
Of woman born shall never be 
A greater prophet than was he.

Paul Inwood’s fine recessional was selected for Breaking Bread in 2018 by OCP.

The refrain for the assembly is singable, sweet and predictable – in a nice way. The musical interest is in the key change for the verses with lots of little variations between verses that we’ll leave to a choir or a cantor. He directed the singing to be strong and vigorous and why not.

The text is here. OCP can sell you the sheet music.

Entrance: Come to the Water (Andersen) AOV 1/74

Psalm 89 (McKenna)

Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Gifts:  I Give You a New Commandment (Hurd)

Communion: Gift of Finest Wheat  (Westendorf/Kreutz) CWB II 651

Thanksgiving:   The Summons  (Maule-Bell) AOV NG 149

Recessional: Galilee Song (Andersen) AOV 1/15

This week marks the end of the Season of Creation.

Entrance: Summoned By Love (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 2/18

Psalm 127 (McKenna)

May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

Gifts:  In Love We Choose to Live (Cotter) AOV 2/63

Communion: I Have Loved You (Joncas) AOV 1/126

Thanksgiving:  All You Works of God (Haugen) AOV 1/19

Recessional:  They’ll Know We Are Christians (Scholtes) AOV 1/130

Entrance: All Are Welcome (Haugen)

Psalm 18 (McKenna)

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Gifts:  Blessed be Our God  (McKenna) AOV NG 13

Communion: Seed, Scattered and Sown (Feiten) CWB II 592

Thanksgiving:  I Give You a New Commandment (Hurd)

Recessional:  As a Fire is Meant for Burning  (Duck) GA 881