Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain BB 159

Is this really what OCP suggests as new music for 2020?

This is John M. Neale’s translation of a C8 text by John of Damascus based on Exodus 15. The tune is GAUDEAMUS PARITER.

1 Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought his Israel
into joy from sadness;
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters;
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.
2 ‘Tis the spring of souls today;
Christ hath burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death,
as a sun hath risen;
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from his light, to whom we give
laud and praise undying.
3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts,
comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem,
who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesus’ resurrection.
4 Neither might the gates of death,
nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal
hold thee as a mortal:
but today amidst thine own
thou didst stand, bestowing
thine own peace, which evermore
passeth human knowing.
5 “Alleuia!” now we cry
to our King immortal,
who, triumphant, burst the bars
of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son,
God the Father praising;
“Alleluia!” yet again
to the Spirit raising.

You could buy the sheet music at OCP but it is PD.

One in Faith page 560
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Come, Christ’s Beloved BB 371

This new entry into Breaking Bread for 2020 isn’t exactly new. The text by James Quinn is from 1969 and the setting by Martin Foster is from 1996. But the lyrics are based on a c7 original and the tune for the refrain is from an old chant. So unsurprisingly, it is in a traditional styling.

You can purchase sheet music at OCP, where they provide the text in their preview.

I made a BIAB fake organ backing:

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Christ Our Light Has Come BB 78

OCP lists “Behold, Before Our Wond’ring Eyes” as a new entry but it used to be featured so I suppose it was removed and has now been reinstated. In any case I have already blogged that song here.

This is a Christmas song by Steve Angrisano and Curtis Stephan. It has a fair old range for the assembly who may also struggle with the rhythm. I suspect it is a better solo vehicle than for liturgy. It is an enjoyable song nonetheless. It is a 2017 song that has been included in Breaking Bread for 2020.

The text in the preview at OCP who will sell you the sheet music.

https://youtu.be/m3cugl90mYk
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As a Mother Cares BB 472

This song by Barbara Bridge has been added to Breaking Bread for 2020. It is from 2016 and so is pretty recent. She uses Isaiah 49, Hosea 11 and Psalm 139 for her text. Any liturgy with mercy in mind would benefit from this most singable hymn.

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

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Music for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 5th/6th September 2020

The music liturgy team were able to meet for the first time in a while and we have selected these songs for next week’s liturgy:

Entrance:  Gather As One  (McKenna) AOV NG 48

Psalm 94 (McKenna)

O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.

Gifts: A New Commandment (Unknown)

Communion: Take and Eat (Russell) AOV 2/162

Thanksgiving: The Summons   (Maule-Bell) AOV NG 149

Recessional: We Are Many Parts  (Haugen) AOV 1/86

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Amanecer / At the Break of Day BB 625

The index for each year’s Breaking Bread is available in pdf from OCP and includes all the the songs added for the year. This is from the list of those added for 2020. Going through older hymnals I have found the songs I haven’t heard before are lesser used for reason – a genre unfamiliar to local assemblies, too much cantoring or the lesser works of known composers. I’m hoping the newer material will be full of wonderful unfamiliar hymns.

While added only recently, this song is over twenty years old and yet it is a good start. It is a lovely minor key song for morning prayer in Spanish and English by Pedro Rubalcava. The third verse is more of a bridge.

OCP provide the text in their preview here.

They will also sell you the sheet music.

I made trip hop(ish) backing on BIAB aiming for the haunting quality of the music.

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OCP’s Guitar Accompaniment Book

After years on and off I am at the end of the alphabetical section of this enormous loose leaf tome. From here on there are Psalms and then many Mass settings (redundant for the most part) with some additional service music: that is miscellaneous songs from various settings.

In this version of GAB there is then “new music” from 877 to 957 and I will doubtless return there. I also want to circle back to Gather Australia to their hymns for Feasts and Seasons that I skipped over last time.

In the mean time, I’ve decided to look at some really new material. OCP publish a list of their new material in Breaking Bread every year and I will use the previews on their site to look at what is there and might stand out. I’ll start with 2020 and work back as able.

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You Have Put on Christ (Hansen) GAB 612

This is another baptism song, this time by James Hansen.

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

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You Have Put on Christ (Dean) GAB 611

This is a grand song by Stephen Dean for Baptism or Confirmation. He derived inspiration for the text from Romans 5:15, 6:4, 8:38-9 and Ephesians 4:4.

The text has been provided in the preview at OCP who will sell you the sheet music.

I generally use a more restrained set of BIAB organ sounds that resemble (sort of) a small church organ. Since the instruction says majestic here, I let fly with a grander sound and put the descant in as well.

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You Are the Healing GAB 608

This Scott Soper song is an obvious accompaniment to an Anointing Rite, but would make sense for Reconciliation as well. I worry about songs with a gospel styling, because your assembly really needs to be able to handle the style to make this song usable.

On the other hand I can think of no song more appropriate to our current time.

You can purchase the sheet music at OCP, where the text has been provided in their preview.

BIAB has gospel styles, so I used one to make a backing.

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