Church Music

The next RCIA songs in CWB II I have covered elsewhere, up to this Ricky Manalo song (OK – I skipped Psalm 51 by Jennifer O’Brien 92)

This music is not presented correctly as the chord symbols, present for once, randomly appear and disappear throughout the song – one of very few errors in this collection.

I like this, although it hits a high Eb. I suspect that’s OK as I suppose it for the choir to sing during the Rite of Election.

It can be purchased as part of a collection at OCP, or better still buy CWB II for the liturgy section.

The lyrics are nowhere on the internet so sing along if you have CWB II.

Entrance:   We Are Called  (Haas) AOV 2/60

Psalm 102 (McKenna):

The Lord is kind and merciful.

Gifts: A Trusting Psalm  (Bates) AOV 1/115

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

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

Recessional: Sing of the Lord’s Goodness   (Sands) AOV 1/131

This is a song with a text specific to the dismissal of the catechumens. It is by John W Kerns and the music is lovely, which makes it’s particularity rather a pity.

The first line is generic enough – In the peace of Christ we send you forth to reflect upon God’s word – and would have a lot of uses. However the second line – till the Easter tidings call you forth to the table of the Lord – well, that is pretty specific to this liturgical event. Maybe it would just need some rejigging for more general use.

I am going through the liturgical pieces in volume one of Catholic Worship Book II.

This is for the dismissal of the catechumens in the RCIA and is by the wonderful Sister Jennifer O’Brien. She also wrote CWB II 87, which is responsorial psalm (33)for the RCIA, but the responses are chanted so I won’t make a backing for that one.

There isn’t much to this text and my backing has made up chords as they were not provided.

Go now and listen to the Word of God.

Go now and listen to the Word of God.

The Word of God brings everlasting life.

The Word of God brings everlasting life.

© Jennifer O’Brien

One way or another I’ve blogged most of these RCIA songs already, but not this one.

It is for the signing of the senses and is just Jesse Manibusan’s song “Open My Eyes” with a special set of lyrics- well just two lines. I made a new backing in any case.

Strengthen your people, help us to follow you,

Strengthen your people by this holy sign.

This Eucharistic song, with a text by Tony Alonso, is set to SIMPLE GIFTS. That’s the tune for “Lord of the Dance” and I thought I’d note it, as it is set for this week’s mass.

I should note that there is also a text called “What a Gift to be Gathered” by Marty Haugen that comes with the sheet music available at GIA. Haugen’s text is more for weddings. The lyrics are in the preview at GIA.

I though I would just be able to link to my backing for “Lord of the Dance” I did years ago when blogging AOV, but I find the tune is not really the same and my backing was way too fast anyway so I have fixed it.

My wife has been thinking of this song from her childhood for some reason and asked me to find it.

It is by Sr Miriam Therese Winter and is a peaceful song of joy from the sixties.

This text is here. Godsongs is, as usual all over it, and she has put up links to sources for the music.

Entrance:  Gather Your People  (Hurd) AOV 1/71

Psalm 118 (McKenna):

Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord.

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

Communion: At the Table of Jesus (Haugen, tune SIMPLE GIFTS)

Thanksgiving: Lord, to Whom Shall We Go (Herry) AOV 1/6

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

I feel terrible passing over all the liturgical mass parts in volume one of the Catholic Worship Book II, because, for all its shortcomings as a hymn book, it really is a liturgical treasure and the meat is in this volume.

What I am currently doing is looking for the songs that have been placed in the liturgical section of the book that I haven’t covered already. I’m avoiding chant because BIAB can’t do it.

This song is for the RCIA and is by Bernadette Farrell. Here, the first three verses for the acceptance in to the Order of the Catechumens are given but as you can see from the sample at OCP, she has provided a text for every step of the way.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP if you don’t have CWB II.

My backing is 3/4 time at 68 bpm and CWB II actually provided chords for this one.

• CWB II 86 With Your Cross of Love Upon Us – this is the same tune with lyrics for Signing of the Senses.
• CWB II 94 By Your Name You Call Us – same tune – Rite of Election

Continuing through the first volume of Catholic Worship Book II, there follow many selections from other mass settings.

Amongst these is this song ,whose antiphon is listed as a response for the prayer of the faithful in Advent. The text is by James McAuley with the tune NEWTOWN by Richard Connolly.

The whole text and tune (ie the verses as well) can be seen in the sample at As One Voice and the lyrics can be found at Small Church Music.

The sheet music can be purchased at AOV.