RS’s parish recently used this setting of the Beatitudes with a text by Delores Dufner and music by Scot Crandal. They suggest doing the verses in groups of two before each refrain. The Beatitudes can be used in lots of liturgical settings including funerals.
I love the reverent tune that builds gently up into the refrain.
The sheet music is available at OCP where the text is their preview.
A composer, Greg Schiemer contacted me about his song, “Poorman’s Heart” that he thought music ministers may wish to use, especially for Holy Week coming up.
He has given permission for his sheet music to be distributed freely.
At Holy Trinity Church Minto I am currently preparing the liturgy for Holy Week. One of the hymns we hope to learn for our Good Friday service is Poorman’s Heart a hymn I composed when I was involved at St Vincent’s parish in Redfern in the early 80s. Trish Watts sang this on a cassette called Songs for A Pauper a King and a Jester which I produced around that time. Sheet music from the cassette was also published in several issues of Annals published by Chevalier Press.
The striking text is set off by an unexpected tune – not unlike a Trisha Watts style funnily enough, moving through keys in unconventional ways.
They are having a bit of a Liam Lawton festival at Ryan’s parish with another of his tunes turning up there recently. I wasn’t sure about the last one, but this song is wonderful.
The sheet music can be purchased at GIA where the text is in their preview.
My backing is just the basic tune, but the Youtube clip has all the harmonies etc if you want to go all out.
This Liam Lawton communion hymn was used at Ryan’s parish recently.
You can purchase it at GIA where the text is in their preview.
It is a bit of an oddity in that it’s singable refrain invites participation, while the verses don’t. The verse is mostly all the note C. GIA say the “choral verses emulate a chant style.” A choir may feel cheated waiting so long for a different note.
This song turned up at RS’s parish – before Lent obviously – and it was new to me. It is by Jim Farrell and based on Psalm 145. It is indeed quite joyful.
I have a copy in my old Guitar Accompaniment Book from OCP. I’d bring it down a couple of semitones I think.
Before I go back to Catholic Worship book II, there is a backlog of songs from correspondents that are new to me that I want to look at.
This song for Lent and Easter was played at Ryan’s parish and is by Jeremy Young. The text I found in the preview at Hymnary – they have the scan from Gather Comprehensive 400 – just not my edition of that hymn book. GIA say the sheet music is out of print, but Stantons claim to have it.
The lyrics and chords are here and I used the chords to make the backing but fair warning I don’t think they are accurate and I made some substitutions.
The liturgical goodness in volume one of the collection, Catholic Worship Book II continues for penance – just in time for Lent.
It is always nice for a Michael Mangan tune to surface in CWB II. This one notes help for the text from Peter Hehir. It is part of the collection This Is the Time, available in multiple forms at Litmus. The text is in the word document there as well.
I get a bit too bouncy and “for children” when I do backings for Michael Mangan and I fear I have gone there again. Please note, his songs are safe for adults as well.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.