Church Music

There will be no Mass at which we can sing these songs next Sunday but I’ll put up the selections as a resource for my future self.

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14

Psalm 129: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption

Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11

Gospel John 11:1-45

I’m not sure if these readings more painful at the moment or more hopeful:

Jesus said: ” I am the resurrection and the life.”

For your sing along at home Mass:

Entrance: Christ Be Our Light  (Farrell) AOV 2/3

Gifts: Merciful God (Bringle/Alonso)

Communion:  I am the Bread of Life (Toolan) AOV 1/49

Recessional: You Are Mine (Haas)  AOV 2/2

This is another song for the anointing of the sick, so very apposite.

Bernard Kilpatrick set his text to LARGO from the New Word Symphony by Antonin Dvorak.

I found chords on the internet for this – no easy task – and set about unleashing the beast that is BIAB on an unsuspecting classical piece.

1 Trust in God, hope in God, Spirit o’er the earth,

Trust in God, hope in God, the Lord who gives us birth,

You give joy to our youth, leading by your truth,

Comfort those in need, friends for whom we plead,

Heal us Lord, save us Lord, from our suff’ring free;

Heal us Lord, save us Lord, that we your light may see.

2 Trust in God, hope in God, make us rise and stand;

Trust in God, hope in God, our spirits in your hand.

Heal our sickness, cure disease, Lord, we ask you, please,

Though our strength, almost gone, faith in you is strong,

Heal us Lord, save us Lord in mercy ever kind;

Heal us Lord, save us Lord, that we your peace may find.

I put up the lyrics because no claim of copyright was noted in the book and we could use a prayer like this to sing at the moment.

Another anointing song with a text by Fred Pratt Green available at Hymnary. CWB II leaves out their third verse.

Here it is set to the chant, JESU DULCIS MEMORIA, which is a singular choice, that is not one of the umpteen setting suggested elsewhere.

I made a ludicrous backing for this tune because BIAB CAN”T DO CHANT!

So ignore that. The chant sounds like this:

Better still set it to Bach:

… or Tallis:

.. or ERHALT UNS, HERR:

…anything metrical.

Hymns for anointing are especially appropriate just now. Cases of Covid 19 have spiked in Queensland. We have had no cases at our practice yet but my hands are raw from washing and my throat hoarse from reassuring those who have something else.

This is a song by James Quinn SJ set to ISTE CONFESSOR. The text is here on page 3. Hymnary have the details on the hymnals that contain this song. It is also suitable for Reconciliation and masses highlighting the Trinity.

It had to happen.

https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/news-events/covid-19-updates/

The more I look at Volume One of this collection, the more it seems that this is an excellent resource of music for specific liturgies attached to a mediocre hymn book in Volume Two.

This is a lovely simple tune by Jeanne Cotter for anointing. She has set the ICEL text, “Blessed be God who heals us, blessed be God who heals us in Christ,” which is repeated. Lovely.

It costs all of US$0.90 for the sheet music at GIA.

Back in the useful first volume of Catholic Worship Book II, where all the liturgical goodies are, is this somng for penance by Bernard Kirkpatrick.

He cast his net wide for the text with a verse from Ezekiel, Isaiah, Micah and Romans respectively. It appears he has not claimed copyright on the paraphrases, which is nice.

The tune is O WALY WALY.

1 Take from us now, Lord, our hearts of stone,

That we may follow you alone;

Our souls refresh and our minds renew,

Our human hearts make worthy of you.

2 Shine on us now, Lord, your light, we pray,

Turn us from darkness into day,

For those who hunger so may we feed,

And troubled souls to you may lead.

3 Turn t’ward us now, Lord, our faces see,

Cast of our sins into the sea;

For you are merciful, just and kind,

our trust in you, we keep in mind.

4. We know our sins, Lord, will bring us down,

But by the thorns, worn in the crown

Of Christ our saviour, your only Son

Eternal life for us is won.

5 Let thankful praises to heav’n ascend,

Our lives in Christ we now amend,

That reconciled with God above,

We may show forth the Spirit’s love.

Since Mass is cancelled I may as well have a virtual mass for myself and note the somewhat incoherent brief random thoughts on the readings I would have as if I was hearing them proclaimed:

1st Reading 1 Sam 16:1, 6-7,10-13.

Ps 22/23 The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want.

2nd reading Eph 5:8-14

Gospel John 9:1-41

If Jesus can break the sabbath to heal – surely we can be Eucharist without the Mass.

Christ, the light of the world will shine on you – illumination / knowledge.

The Lord looks at the heart – more illumination / a challenge if to be anointed.

We could even sing along with the hymns that were chosen:

Entrance: Merciful God (Bringle/Alonso) – gathering verses

Gifts: Open My Eyes  (Manibusan) AOV 1/166

Communion: Shepherd Me O God (Haugen) AOV 1/33

Recessional:  Praise To You O Christ (Farrell) AOV 1/28

Ryan’s parish used this Christopher Walker tune recently. It is a setting of Psalm 33 and the refrain is singable. The verses, however, will need a practiced cantor because the tune goes in weird and wonderful places.

The sheet music is available at OCP where the text is in their preview. You might want to listen to the song sample there to get an idea of what is going on as a glance at the sheet music may be somewhat daunting.

I hope my backing gets it right.

Looking at music liturgy choices posted here makes me aware of new songs that I would otherwise not know about. This is another from RS’s parish by Trevor Thomson with obvious liturgical uses when the readings come up and Eucharist generally.

This song can build from a quiet beginning to as far as you want to take it.

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