As promised, more settings of Psalm 34. This time it is by Christopher Willcock, setting the text from The Grail. The refrain is singable by an assembly, if you drop the key somewhat, and the verses will test your cantor.
The sheet music is at OCP where they do lower it from Eb to D. This version of the text is in their preview.
Christopher Walker has set this song to his arrangement of the Skye Boat Song.
OCP suggests it for confirmation or marriage but it would find a place in more usual liturgies in times of trouble with a need for reassurance.
The sheet music can be purchased at OCP, where the text is in their preview. The tune itself is public domain and available all over the internet. This arrangement is in the same key as CWB II.
My backing has unforgivable fake bagpipes.
Interestingly, the same tune is used for a song called “Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind” written by Margaret Old from 1971. Perhaps the Skye Boat Song suggests the Holy Spirit on action.
John Moloney wrote this text based on Psalm 102. It is set to a “traditional french melody” in CWB II, but they aren’t more specific than that.
John Moloney was an Irish priest and author (1916-2014). I can’t find the lyrics anywhere on the internet so you’ll have to sing along from CWB II, unless you have the Irish version of Hymns Old and New.
I made up the chords for my backing and made it more Irish than French.
I sometimes think that Catholic Worship Book II is never ending, but my survey continues with this song with a Eucharistic text by Omar Westendorf, of “Gifts of Finest Wheat” fame, which is here set to NEUMARK by Georg Neumark. Westendorf founded WLP.
CWB II has 6 verses and you will find the first three verses of the text on this page. Godsongs give some background as does Breviary Hymns.
I got the chords from Together In Song to make a backing.
This is another is wonderful treasure that is the combination of the poet James McAuley with the composer Richard Connolly with which Australia has been blessed. I am one of those dreadful strummers who are uncomfortable with traditional hymnody, but I always find their songs distinctive in both text and tune.
The text is here and AOV have a sample of the music . You can purchase the sheet music for download at As One Voice.
Continuing my survey of the songs in Catholic Worship Book II, that I haven’t already blogged when doing As One Voice and other sources, I find a song for Eucharist by John Greally. The third verse was never going to get into a Catholic hymnal and is omitted here. It is another text that reads rather poorly and sings surprisingly well in the clips I have heard.
It is set to DRAKE’S BROUGHTON by Elgar. Since there are no chords in CWB II for this song, you can get them in TIS (527).
See us, Lord about your altar, Though so many we are one; Many souls by love united In the heart of Christ, your Son.
Hear our prayers, O loving Father, Hear in them your Son our Lord; Hear him speak our love and worship As we sing with one accord.
[ Once were seen the blood and water: Now are seen but bread and wine; Once in human form he suffered, Now his form is but a sign.]
Wheat and grape contain the meaning: Food and drink he is to all; One in him, we kneel adoring, Gathered by his loving call.
Hear us yet: so much is needful In our frail, disordered life; Stay with us and tend our weakness Till that day of no more strife.
Members of his Mystic Body Now we know our prayer is heard, Heard by you because your children Have received the eternal Word.
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.