Church Music

OCP added this traditional country song to Breaking Bread in 2019. It was written by a committee: Sarah Hart, Sarah Kroger, Josh Blakesley and Trey Heffinger. It is an obvious choice for Easter but the sentiments can work in any Mass really (except Lent of course). Using the number of You Tube clips as a guide, this song appears to have become popular very quickly.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP and the text is available here.

The sheet music suggests an Appalachian feel so BIAB wheeled out the dulcimer.

This a traditional sounding hymn but was only written in 2015 by Michael Joncas. It was added to Breaking Bread by OCP in 2019. While the music harks back to the past, the text is informed by the present exploring social justice themes in a Eucharistic context.

You can find the text in the preview at OCP who would be happy to sell you the sheet music.

I dusted off BIABs fake organ for the backing.

This Owen Alstott text was set to the American folk song HARK MY SOUL. It was added to Breaking Bread by OCP in 2019.

It is a gathering song that could also work for Gifts.

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

It is a sweet singable tune for which I made a backing on BIAB.

I’m still looking through the songs added to Breaking Bread in 2019 by OCP.

This song appears mainly for Adoration but would obviously suit Eucharist as well. The tune is by Curtis Stephan and Steve Angrisano. The text is an English translation of the Latin texts Attende Domine (verses) and O Salutaris (refrain).

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

This funeral song was added to Breaking Bread by OCP in 2019. The text by Owen Alstott was set here by Rick Modlin. It is also suggested for Anointing of the Sick and All Souls. The assembly is likely to pick up the refrain even with the key change and the verses are probably for a soloist.

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

I had a bit of fun with the BIAB backing and even slowed down at the end like the music told me to for a change.

Janèt Sullivan Whitaker’s lovely song of social concern was added to Breaking Bread in 2019. It has elements in the song that would suit for Gifts, Eucharist and sending forth. It goes off into a bridge that keeps things fresh and the song appears very singable.

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

Continuing with the songs that OCP added to Breaking Bread in 2019, there is this song by Jaime Cortez for Lent with a specific verse for Ash Wednesday. It is would be great during a second rite of Reconciliation too. There is both a Spanish and English text.

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

This addition to Breaking Bread in 2019 is a communion song in Spanish written by Mariano Fuertes with the English text by Pedro Rubalcava. It was in a children’s anthology originally but this is an all ages treat of a song. There is nothing wrong with repetition.

The text on both languages is in the preview at OCP where you can purchase the sheet music.

BIAB is pretty good at Latin styles but I still worry I may not use them well enough.

I’m back in OCP territory looking for relatively new songs in the additions to Breaking Bread for 2019. This is a relaxed communion song from Ben Walther that would also function for gathering, sending and Preparation of the Gifts. The tune is somewhat reminiscent of “The Green Fields of France” in places.

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

I’ll leave As One Voice songs for the moment. Suffice to say their website now offers digital downloads for their own material, as well as GIA, OCP and Wild Goose repertoire. You can find songs through the liturgy planner and get further suggestions from the newsletter.

I have noticed they recently have starting distributing favourites of this blog, Leo Watt and Brian Boniwell. They are also the place to get the songs of Gen Bryant, Patricia Smith, Peter Grant, James Maher and Erica Marshall along with the stalwarts like Trisha Watts, Gina Ogilvie, Monica O’Brien and Amanda McKenna.

It is to be hoped that the digital platform is viable and their hard work is supported by the musical liturgy community around Australia and the world.