Church Music

Having done AOV, CWB II, “All Are Welcome” and all the Marty Haugen songs in Gather Comprehensive, I still haven’t scratched the surface of his prolific catalogue it appears.

Gather Australia puts this Marty Haugen song in their baptism section. GIA suggests reconciliation, which works as well. I thought some of the lyrics would recommend its use as a recessional, but on reflection that may look like a criticism of what came before it in the mass.

The text is here and GIA will sell you the sheet music.

* NB I have rewritten this post after Chris Wroblewski educated me on what this song was and where it was from – see comments.

I am going back to delve into Gather Australia again. I only did the songs under the hymns section last time, which left out a whole lot of songs. A lot of parishes still use this collection and to be honest it still is a better collection than Catholic Worship Book 2 in many ways. Because of the paucity of new material in CWB 2, GA is nearly as up to date, despite its 1995 publication date. It also includes guitar chords in the accompaniment edition, which were specifically left out in CWB 2.

I’m still skipping the psalms and the redundant mass settings, and will also skip the songs previously covered and those that are too hard (7/8 time signatures for example!).

So I’ve jumped straight to 167, a song by Marty Haugen with a specific function in the RCIA. I’ve never heard of it before but Chris let me know it was from Haugen’s Mass of Creation. I think it is an excellent song with uses way beyond what its title suggests. I can see it as a gathering song at least.

He used Ephesians 1:4-5, 17-23; 2:19-22.

I really like this tune, but would drop it 2 semitones.

GIA sell the sheet music here, and the text is in their preview. I originally posted the text here but now that I know where it is from I have taken that down. Ephphetha means “be opened” and occurs before the baptism of an adult, hence its place in the RCIA. More information is available here.

I’ve finished the new OCP Breaking Bread songs for 2020 – the 2021 choices have been announced already and I will get to them at some point.

Before I move on to another project though, here is yet another OCP song from Sarah Hart, this time with Tom Booth, who wrote a song for Eucharist that was used at Ryan’s parish last week. It is well worth checking out if you want a new communion song with a marvellous social justice emphasis.

OCP sell the sheet music and provide the text in their preview.

This 2015 song by Sarah Hart was added to Breaking Bread for 2020. It is a sweet song of consolation with a devious memorable tune.

She is featured in three songs that were added for 2020.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP where they provide the text in the preview.

Gregory Norbet is still active writing songs after all these years. This 2017 song was included for Breaking Bread by OCP in 2020.

The text is based on John 14:1-14 and 1 John 4:16. It has verses that would suit Lent, Reconciliation and Eucharist.

The sheet music is sold at OCP where they have provided the text in their preview.

Entrance:  All Are Welcome (Haugen) CWB II 535

Psalm 24 (McKenna)

Remember your mercies , O Lord.

Gifts:  Blessed be Our God  (McKenna) AOV NG 13

Communion: A Place at the Table  (Shirley Erena Murray – Lori True) AOV NG 1

Thanksgiving: To You O Lord, I Lift Up My Voice (Hurd) AOV 2/14

Recessional: All You Works of God (Haugen) AOV 1/19

This was a new addition for Breaking Bread 2020 by Bob Hurd, although it dates back to 2006.

It might act as a replacement for “Without Seeing You” by David Haas, which it resembles somewhat. The text for the refrain is based on 1 Peter 1:3-9 and the verses John 20.

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

My backing lays on the strings in BIAB:

Looking at the songs added to Breaking Bread I can skip Christopher Willcock’s “There is Nothing Told” as I covered it when I was doing Gather Australia.

Which brings me to this song by Christopher Walker. It is a joyful Easter song to let loose all your resources upon. He based the text on Psalm 118 and the music is from 2016. The verses all have different tunes and are for a cantor I fear.

The words are in the preview at OCP who will also sell you the sheet music.

This is another underwhelming BIAB backing I made with orchestral settings.

Dan Schutte has another song added for Breaking Bread 2020. This is a joyful triumphant Easter hymn from 2017.

The text is in the sample at OCP, where they will sell you the sheet music.

This new song for Breaking Bread 2020 takes a Genevieve Glen text from 2004 and sets it to Scot Crandal‘s tune from 2014. It sounds so good it could be a traditional tune. The words poetically cover Christmas to Easter.

As always, OCP will sell you the sheet music and have the text in their preview.