This should be the anthem of every church musician. The insightful text is by Fred Pratt Green and the stirring tune, ENGELBERG, was written by Charles V. Stanford.
The text and sheet music are available at Hope Publications. A choral arrangement is available at GIA.
I made a fake organ backing on BIAB.
This song from Gather 3rd edition is a dignified, restrained song of praise. It was written by Bob Moore with a text based on Romans 11:36-36. The tune benefits by taking it slowly. The guitar version I have puts a descant in the second verse and a countermelody in the third if you are ambitious, but the basic tune is good enough on its own.
GIA sell the sheet music and the text is in their preview.
I am working my way through Gather 3rd ed. skipping the songs I have already covered.
I am still finding exceptional hymns that are new to me and this one with words and music by John Bell is extraordinary.
The text for the refrain and some of the verses is on page four of this bulletin. The rest is in this book sample. How about this for making you think as you sing:
… God is never neutral who inspires my song.
… for there is no hurt which God requires me to retain
GIA only have the handbell version but both GIA and Wild Goose sell it in the collection I Will Not Sing Alone.
The commentary from that book on the song is salutary:
This song is a testimony both to the love of God and to the breadth of praise which is offered in response to that love. It is the antithesis of the smug, egocentric ‘me and Jesus’ praise song which – in the face of biblical testimony – denies the importance to God of the voice of creation, and encourages the false presumption that worship is synonymous with good feelings.
This song from Gather 3rd edition is a joyful song of praise from Marty Haugen. He based the text on Psalm 146.
The sheet music that you can buy at GIA (the text is in their preview there) has an optional modulation from G to A that is not present on the guitar arrangement. Since it hits several “D”s a spoilsport like me would take down to F, or even Eb if you are tempted to do the key change. This is a very syncopated piece so if any of the syncopation police* are lurking in your assembly beware.
I used to post fail backings when I made egregious errors of taste in using BIAB. This one comes close but since it is just to sing along and learn the song I let stand.
* members of the assembly who automatically strip any syncopation from a tune as they sing, usually very loudly. However the Holy Spirit not only has autotune but can shift notes as well, so it is all praise.
This song from Gather 3rd edition was written way back in 1958 by Pablo Sosa from Argentina. GIA say it is a choral piece but it does sound such a fun song to sing, if your assembly wishes to express joy, why not. The text is available in Spanish and English.
GIA sell the sheet music and the text is in their preview.
This TAIZE chant from Gather 3 is attributed to the TAIZE community, rather than Jacques Berthier, for a change. The text is based on Psalm 136 and Luke 1:68-79.
It has Polish, Spanish and English texts with many alternative verses for the cantor to sing over the ostinato refrain.
GIA only have the handbell arrangement to download. TAIZE have the Polish version if that helps.
I just made a backing for the refrain, there is too many alternative cantor melodies to cover.
Goodness, a Marty Haugen song I haven’t heard before. This is an uplifting song of joy for times when that might be hard to find. The verses are designed as call and response between a cantor and assembly but it could just be sung straight through by parishioners if you don’t use a cantor. The tune has a hint of “Alouette” to it.
GIA sells the sheet music here and the text is in their preview. The first two verses can also be found here.
This is an interesting take on the Beatitudes with the sort of positive affirmation that doesn’t seem to be about much any more. Ah the 60s… It would make a great song for sending forth even when the text from Matthew isn’t part of the liturgy.
This was written by Jean A. Greif. His text is here. GIA only seem to have a handbell arrangement but the sheet music can be purchased at OCP.
This is only for Australia.
Entrance: Summoned By Love (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 2/18
Psalm 63 (McKenna)
My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.
Gifts: The Cry of the Poor (Foley) AOV 1/83
Communion: Come to the Table (Burland) AOV NG 33
Thanksgiving: From Penola’s Plains (Herry) THAXTED
Recessional: Send Down the Fire (Haugen) AOV 2/164
Entrance: Gather As One (McKenna) AOV NG 48
Psalm 77 (McKenna)
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Gifts: Bread Broken, Wine Shared Bread (Horner) AOV 2/155
Communion: In the Breaking of the Bread (Hurd) AOV 1/58
Thanksgiving: My Soul Is Thirsting (Angrisano) AOV NG 97
Recessional: All You Works of God (Haugen) AOV 1/19
