Church Music

This is folk styled tune by Sebastian Temple for the RCIA or for use for Gifts, as a recessional or commissioning.

The text is here. OCP sell the sheet music. The clips below show it is versatile enough to be played in many styles.

This is a lovely song by Paul Inwood that would work well as a recessional. It has a singable refrain and somewhat trickier verses that he recommends for a choir or a cantor. Despite the key change in the verses I think many assemblies would be able to cope with the whole song.

The text is here. OCP sell the sheet music.

Chris W has a concern he would like to share about music in the mass:

Geoff, I hope I’m asking this question in a respectful way: were the increased dangers from singing considered? Perhaps Donna from Cranbrook might also answer? Singing is restricted/banned in a number of overseas areas due to some high profile disasters at churches, and it’s been recognized that moisture droplets are transmitted much further than normal social distancing when singing.

At St. Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, we currently have 40 people per Mass, going up to 80 from this coming weekend. The number of “Sunday” Masses has been increased from 3 to 8 in order to accommodate more people, and the only singing is at the live-streamed main Mass coming only from the choir, as hymnals have been removed (not that much is currently coming from them anyway). We haven’t had a community virus case in Hobart for about five weeks, so there is little chance of problems at present, but as borders open up and visitors start arriving, that may not continue to be the case. For me, singing is an essential part of active participation, to the point that I switched to watching the Adelaide Cathedral livestream as their choice of music is much more accessible, and they helpfully put it in pdfs that can be downloaded. Having looked after music since the late 80s elsewhere and at the Saturday Mass here, and also being in the “vulnerable” category for the virus, I am feeling very conflicted about starting church singing again!

I should mention that the ACBC advice mentions hymnal removal, though it doesn’t state whether that is to hinder singing or as a hygiene measure – I believe you have projection.

Chris is correct that there have been cases overseas of whole choirs going down with Covid 19 after practicing with a chorister who did not know that they were infectious.

I know our priest was more keen on recorded music but agreed to have some live music.

We are following the Queensland guidelines available here. As far I can see all the requirements were met – all our names and contact details were taken by the covid warden, the pews were roped off appropriately and indicators of distancing displayed, there was no collection, etc. We used overheads for the words as usual.

For music they say:

If there is to be singing at the gathering, then there is to be a maximum of 1 person per 7m2.

This is as opposed to 1 person per 4m2 if no singing is allowed. Assuming Catholics actually sing, that recommendation was easily met with only twenty people in a large space. I haven’t paced it out but our church is much greater than 140m2. As to how the experts arrived at the 1 person per 7m2 guideline I have no idea.

Liturgically, I think we all would be happier with participation including singing. Currently our priest draws peoples names out of a hat to see who comes and we are moving to 3 masses a weekend along with the daily masses to accommodate a few more.

Away from the guidelines and putting my doctor hat on, while there is no community spread of note (except perhaps Victoria), I think it is analogous to wearing masks. It makes sense if there is a current risk of community spread but adds nothing if there isn’t. If I was in a country were community spread was ongoing, like the USA, I wouldn’t go near a church at all.

The current restrictions are extremely cautious considering our current situation but I am very grateful for that caution that has limited the impact of Covid 19 here from a medical sense. It does mean that we are cut off from the outside world (except New Zealand if they’ll have us) until (when and if) an immunisation is available.

What do other people think about this?

I played at Mass today with a total of 20 in the assembly randomly chosen from applicants. We are on the way back to normal with extremely low levels of Covid 19 infection in Australia and hopefully we can follow New Zealand in removing restrictions altogether soon.

For next week:

Entrance:Be Not Afraid (Dufford) AOV 1/114

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

Recessional: All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford) AOV 1/76)

This is another Christopher Walker song. The handclaps suggest it is for children. Am I alone in suggesting this song might terrify some children. I wouldn’t be comfortable until a range of understandings about what the nature of Christ coming back into the world might mean including an appreciation of realised eschatology. Or I could just be overthinking things and the kids will happily clap along with this happy Advent song.

As pretty much always, OCP kindly provide the text in their preview. They sell the sheet music as well.

I can skip a whole lot of songs I’ve already blogged in the Guitar Accompaniment Book c2005 and get up to this Christopher Walker song. The music is his arrangement of a traditional song from the Cameroon. He wrote the words in the verses but the refrain is also tradition Cameroon. There is a Spanish text translated by Kathleen Orozco. There are twelve verses with specific ones for the RCIA and Easter. The other verses have more general liturgical uses including as a recessional.

The text is in the preview supplied at OCP where they sell the sheet music.

I wonder if this Dan Schutte song is too grandiose for the suburbs. I’ve never heard it played around here but I’m sure it is a very usable song of praise and gathering. If you have the artillery – choir, organ, tympani, brass, etc – I’m sure it would shine.

The text is at Cantus Mundi. The sheet music can be purchased at OCP.

Get ready for blasting:

This song of praise is by Gary Ault of The Dameans. It would make an uplifting entrance song and seems eminently singable. I’ve never heard it sung in Australia but maybe I don’t get around enough.

There are tabs on the net with lyrics but OCP provide them in their preview. You can purchase the sheet music at OCP as well.

My backing went somewhat of the rails because it sounded like a minor key blues to me.

This is more like it:

Michael has a question:

Hi Dr Geoff,
I’m trying to find a different versions of the “Alleluia”, as part of the Gospel Acclamation.
I generally use the Mass of St Francis by Paul Taylor as its a delight to play (I’m a guitarist) and sing and very accessible to the congregation.
But this version doesn’t contain a Alleluia and I am struggling to find versions to try.
I’m thinking specifically for Ordinary Time services. Currently we do a version based on See Ye first tune (the chorus) but I’m looking for something new (but old, I grew up in 70s and 80s and have some strong connections to earlier hymns)
Anyway, would be good to see what people have to offer, if you open it up.
Cheers,
Michael

At our parish we use the Celtic Alleluia a lot because we already know the tune and you can usually find a verse to suit the other readings from that week. So we use that with Paul Taylor’s “Mass of St Francis”, but also with Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise” even though he did write an Alleluia. We do use Mason’s acclamation in Lent, often with Taylor’s other mass parts just to be contrary.

Any other ideas, folks?

This is a song of praise suitable for gathering by Janet Vogt. It would be especially suitable for children but I’m sure it would survive adult participation.

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

The instructions are “light and fun” and I hope my backing is that: