It’s too wet to do much else here today, so I might make a start on CWBII in Volume 2 with songs for Advent with this Charles Wesley text that I haven’t blogged before. Fair warning, if I keep to my usual behaviour I’ll persist for a while and drift to another project. My initial impressions of this collection were that it had little compelling that wasn’t available elsewhere and this public domain hymn is hardly likely to change that perception. Perhaps as I work through the collection I’ll be converted.
I got the sheet music below from Hymnary. The arrangement of STUTTGART is pretty much identical in CWBII and also lacks chord symbols, so guitarists aren’t welcomed – an appalling lack of hospitality.
Charles Wesley’s text just has just been altered in CWBII to insert “O” for “thou”.
OCP did provide chords as you can see from their sample.
I made this pretty average fake organ backing for STUTTGART in the past, which I will inflict upon the world again.
I’m still looking for a next project, as I have been looking at Australian songwriters and have done some Chris DeSilva, Brian Boniwell, Leo Watt and Michael Mangan. There is an astonishing treasury of Michael Herry songs that are available for free online and I have some Emmanuel Worship sheet music, along with much I haven’t got to in the songwriters already mentioned and many other songwriters are there to consider. I also never finished Voices As One Vol 2, nor the Guitar Accompaniment Book from OCP, and then there are all the Marty Haugen songs I have not got around to… and of course there is my nemesis CWBII!
In the meantime, here is a great song from Paul Mason.
Whatever you think of the chances the upcoming Plenary in 2020 of actually changing the flawed governance of the Australian Catholic Church, one good thing has already come of it.
Paul Mason has put up a song in response to our need for listening and discernment leading up to the Plenary and it is available for free download along with sheet music, MP3s and lyrics.
I think this is superb entrance, recessional, Easter, Pentecost, etc song that will be around long after the Plenary. Since “Shout to the Lord” is off our menu as it is only on CCLI and not One Licence, this might be the replacement we need.
The beautiful arrangement is extraordinary, but I suspect this is actually a P&W classic and my backing reflects that somewhat. You could go somewhat ballistic on the crescendo into the refrain I suspect. I was too lazy to put in the wonderful arrangement for the introduction so I cheated and let BIAB do it’s own piano/cello thing.
The Power of the Spirit (O come, Holy Spirit, come!)
Composer: Paul Mason
Verse 1:
Enter his presence singing his praises.
Jesus, the Lamb, is arisen!
Worthy of power, wisdom and honour,
riches and glory and blessing!
He said at table he’d send us
what, in Scripture, the Father had promised:
send out the spirit, pour out the spirit,
the Holy Spirit, the pow’r of the Spirit!
Refrain:
O come, Holy Spirit, come!
Kindle in us
the fire of your love.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Speak to our hearts,
Holy Spirit, come!
Verse 2:
Anyone having ears to hear,
Then, let them hear! Let them listen!
The Spirit is speaking to the Churches!
If you have ears, let them listen!
I know your faith, works and service,
and your patient endurance. So listen:
Listen to what the Spirit is saying.
the Holy Spirit, the pow’r of the Spirit!
Verse 3:
You, yourself, humbled. Worthy are you, Lord,
Word of the Father almighty!
So we walk humbly, Lord, to be worthy
clothed with the power from on high,
burning with fire of your love,
building bridges of peace for your kingdom,
pow’r of forgiveness, pow’r of our witness,
the Holy Spirit, the pow’r of the Spirit!
Text based on Lk 24:49; Jn 14:26, 17:26; Acts 1:4, 2:3-4; Rev 2-3, 4:11, 5:12.
Michael Mangan closes out his album Setting Hearts on Fire appropriately, with a lovely song for farewell and benediction based on Numbers 6.
The sheet music can be purchased at Litmus, where you can buy CDs and even proper backing tracks. He has also kindly put up his lyrics there.
If you are thinking he is just for schools and young people it is worth noting he has seven songs in CWB2, which is more than nearly everyone Australian except Christoper Willcock and maybe one or two others.
My backing follows the music with the second verse repeated with a key change.
Song of Blessing
Words & music: Michael Mangan
May God bless you and keep you.
May God’s goodness shine on you.
May you see God’s face
And live in God’s own peace.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
May God bless us and keep us.
May God’s goodness shine on us.
May we see God’s face
And live in God’s own peace.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
This one is combined recitation and song suitable for weddings. It is found on Michael Mangan’s Setting Hearts on Fire available for purchase at Litmus.
It is based on 1 Corinthians 13.
My backing is just the sung section twice in the original key and once with a key change.
The Love Song
Words & music: Michael Mangan
If I have all the eloquence of angels but do not have love,
I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.
If I have the gift of prophecy,
Understanding all the mysteries there are,
If I have faith enough to move mountains
But do not have love, I am nothing at all.
If I give away everything that I possess
But do not have love,
It will do me no good whatsoever.
Sung
Love is the reason, love is the key. Love is the answer for you and for me. Love lasts forever, love has no end. I’m tellin’ you people that you can depend On love, Oh love, love, love, love, love, love.
Love is always patient and kind.
It is never jealous, boastful or conceited.
Love is never rude or selfish.
It is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope,
And to endure whatever comes.
There are three things that last: faith, hope and love;
And the greatest of these is love.
He says it this one is a song for “times of sadness, desperation and despair”. Always timely – lament is especially needed now.
Jesus Our Saviour
Words & music: Michael Mangan
1 When the day is long
And the night is dark and dreary.
When we’re feeling lost and alone.
When our dreams lie shattered
And sorrow fills our hearts,
Hold us close, carry us back home.
Jesus Our Saviour,
Help us to see your face.
Show us your guiding light.
You will show the way.
You will show the way.
2 When the storm clouds gather
And we just can’t see the sun.
When are hearts are broken and in pain.
When we feel abandoned
And drifting in despair,
Lift us up, give us hope again.
3 When everything seems hopeless
And we’re tired and afraid.
When the darkness drowns another day.
When the load is heavy
And the road seems far too long,
Give us strength, lead us on your way.
This is a song based on John 14 by Michael Mangan, this time in a country style. The sheet music can be purchased at Litmus.
The chorus is fine for the assembly but there are enough changes in the structure the verses to suggest a cantor/soloist might be helpful, at least until everyone is very familiar with it.
I Am the Way
Words & music: Michael Mangan
I am the Way. I am the Truth.
If you want to know God,
Come with me, I am the Life.
I am the Way. I am the Truth.
I am the Way, I am the Truth,
I am the Life.
1 Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God and trust in me.
I have prepared a place for you,
A place where you can always live with me.
2 I am one in God and God is in me.
All who believe can do great things.
Come to know God by knowing me,
For I’m in God and God is here in me.
3 I will not leave you orphans.
I will come back to you.
Even if the world cannot see me,
You will live in me and I in you.
Continuing in Setting Hearts on Fire, this is Michael Mangan’s take on this famous prayer.
St Teresa’s Prayer
Words & music: Michael Mangan
Christ has no body now but mine,
No hands, no feet on earth but mine.
Christ has no body now but mine.
Let me be Christ, let me shine.
1 Mine are the eyes with which he looks,
Looks with love upon this world.
Mine are the feet with which he walks,
Walks to do good in this world.
2 Mine are the hands with which he works,
Works for peace here in this world.
Mine is the voice with which he speaks,
Speaks his message to this world.
3 Mine is the face with which he smiles,
Smiles a welcome to this world.
Mine is the heart with which he loves,
Loves all people in this world.
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.
