You Are Our Living Bread GAB 607

This is an early song by Michael Joncas from way back in 1979. It is for Eucharist, obviously.

There are fiddly differences between the tune for the verses that are annoying.

OCP sell the sheet music and have given us the text in their preview. The lyrics are also here.

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Yes I Shall Arise GAB 603

Owen Alstott based this song for funerals and All Souls day on Psalms 27 and 43. The refrain goes from 2/4 to 3/4 after 2 bars and then back to 2/4 for the verses. The melody is singable enough but I fear there is no opportunity to sing this enough for an assembly to get past the chorus, so a cantor or choir may be needed.

The melody sounds a bit like “A Church is Burning” by Paul Simon.

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

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Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones GAB 602

A hymn of praise for general use, but especially at Easter, from John A. Riley set to LASST UNS ERFREUEN. OCP sell the sheet music here. GAB leaves out the second verse, probably to avoid repeating cherubim. They resisted the temptation to get rid of the archaic “Ye watchers”, however.

1.

Ye watchers and ye holy ones,

Bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,

Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!

Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,

Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs,

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

2.

O higher than the cherubim,

More glorious than the seraphim,

Lead their praises, Alleluia!

O bearer of the eternal Word.

Most gracious, magnify the Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

3.

Respond, ye souls in endless rest,

Ye patriarchs and prophets blest,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Ye holy Twelve, ye martyrs strong,

All saints triumphant, raise in song,

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

4.

O friends, in gladness let us sing,

Celestial anthems echoing,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

To God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Spirit, Three-in-One,

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

RitualSong (2nd ed.) page 1357
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Music for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 29th/30th August 2020

Entrance: Sing Out Earth and Skies (Haugen) AOV 2/32    

Psalm 62 (McKenna)

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Gifts: Will You Love Me?   (Boniwell) AOV 1/40

Communion: Unless a Grain of Wheat (Farrell) AOV 1/35

Thanksgiving: Sing of the Lord’s Goodness   (Sands) AOV 1/131

Recessional:  Christ be Our Light  (Farrell) AOV 2/3

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Yahweh is My Shepherd (aka Shepherd of My Soul) GAB 600

This song by Millie Reith is no longer used in the form it is in my Guitar Accompaniment Book since “Yahweh” became unusable. The line was changed from “Yahweh is my shepherd now” to “The Lord is the shepherd of my soul” with an extra note inserted so that “the” can be a short note and “Lord” gets the longer “Yah” note.

You can buy the sheet music of the updated version of this song at OCP where the text is in their preview.

My backing is of the original version so has no note for “the” in the refrain.

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Wood of the Cross GAB 597

This is Owen Alstott‘s majestic song for Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday.

You can purchase the sheet music at OCP where the text is in their preview.

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Wonderful Counsellor GAB 596

This is an unusual folky Christmas song by John Michael Talbot. The verses appear impossible for an assembly but the refrain looks manageable. With the descant over the chorus it could be quite the production number.

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

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Where Love Is Found GAB 588

This is a gentle setting of Ubi Caritas by Dan Schutte that uses the “love” verses from 1 Cor 13 in its verses. It is an obvious song for weddings but would find a use as a reflection in other liturgical settings such as Easter Thursday.

The text is provided by OCP in their preview and the sheet music is available to purchase there as well.

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When Jesus Wept GAB 583

This is a four part round for Good Friday and Stations of the Cross. It is by William Billings.

My backing ignores the canon and the fact it should be sung a capella.

When Jesus wept, the falling tear
in mercy flowed beyond all bound.
When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear
seized all the guilty world around.

OCP sell the sheet music here.

Moravian Book of Worship page 341
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When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (HAMBURG) GAB 582

I have already blogged this Easter tune here under the tune ROCKINGHAM. GAB uses HAMBURG instead.

The text is by Isaac Watts and the tune by Lowell Mason.

1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
The vain things that now charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
the pain and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were ev’ry realm of nature mine,
my gift would still be far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all. 

Trinity Psalter Hymnal page 596
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