Church Music

I feel terrible passing over all the liturgical mass parts in volume one of the Catholic Worship Book II, because, for all its shortcomings as a hymn book, it really is a liturgical treasure and the meat is in this volume.

What I am currently doing is looking for the songs that have been placed in the liturgical section of the book that I haven’t covered already. I’m avoiding chant because BIAB can’t do it.

This song is for the RCIA and is by Bernadette Farrell. Here, the first three verses for the acceptance in to the Order of the Catechumens are given but as you can see from the sample at OCP, she has provided a text for every step of the way.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP if you don’t have CWB II.

My backing is 3/4 time at 68 bpm and CWB II actually provided chords for this one.

• CWB II 86 With Your Cross of Love Upon Us – this is the same tune with lyrics for Signing of the Senses.
• CWB II 94 By Your Name You Call Us – same tune – Rite of Election

Continuing through the first volume of Catholic Worship Book II, there follow many selections from other mass settings.

Amongst these is this song ,whose antiphon is listed as a response for the prayer of the faithful in Advent. The text is by James McAuley with the tune NEWTOWN by Richard Connolly.

The whole text and tune (ie the verses as well) can be seen in the sample at As One Voice and the lyrics can be found at Small Church Music.

The sheet music can be purchased at AOV.

31 You springs and all that moves

A chant setting with an antiphon based on Dan 3:77 (tune Geoffrey Cox) and Psalm 118 set by Joseph Gelineau from The Grail. Since BIAB can’t do chant, I’ll skip to the next song.

Bernard Kirkpatrick wrote “Springs of Living Water” based on Ezekiel 47.

I can’t find the text anywhere but CWB II.

I have done volume two of Catholic Worship Book II, which is mainly hymns, but there are some great songs in amongst the specifically liturgical choices in volume one that I would like to look at.

CWB II starts with the sung order of the Mass in chant form, followed by the six recommended settings for Australia: Mass of St Francis (no chords!), Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (no chords), Mass of Christ the Redeemer (no chords), Mass of Glory and Praise (chords), Missa Magis (chords!!), and Mass Shalom (chords). Francis should have had chords but I’m startled that Magis has them.

That gets us to sprinkling rites:

29 I saw water flowing – ICEL chant.

This is pretty close:

30 If We Have Died to Ourselves

This is metrical song so worth doing on BIAB. It is by Marty Haugen and intended for the blessing and sprinkling of holy water ¬ in fact it is the sprinkling rite from his Mass of Creation. It has lots of verses that would suit other liturgical purposes outside of Lent.

The sheet music can be purchased at GIA, where the text is in their preview.

There are no chords in CWB II, but as is often the case Together in Song (475) comes to the rescue.

The last song to cover in Brian Boniwell’s collection, Spirit of Love, is this reflection on the Beatitudes.

Contact him at boniwell@aapt.net.au if you want a copy of the sheet music. I’ve found sound samples for all the songs on this album here.

1 Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who seek to know you.

Blessed are the lowly ones who trust you in their need.

Blessed are the gentle hearts for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed those who know my peace and give it to the world.

2 Blessed are the hearts of mercy, they shall know forgiveness.

blessed are the pure on heart, who seek to live my ways.

They shall see the face of God, and come to share in my love.

Blessed those who weep and mourn, for i shall comfort them.

© Brian Boniwell 2000

I’m continuing to work through Brian Boniwell’s collection, Spirit of Love, and have come to this joyous gathering song. It would work for communion as well and is easily singable.

Contact him on boniwell@aapt.net.au if you want a copy of the sheet music.

Refrain

Gather together, gather as one,

Come to the body of Christ.

Gather to share in the Spirit of love.

Gather together as one.

1 Open to all, we gather as one.

Drawn by the light of Jesus the Son.

Refrain

2 Called to be bread, now broken and shared.

Called to be one in the Spirit of love.

Refrain

3 Come with the gifts, the fruit of your lives.

Share in this life, the family of God.

Refrain

4 Called to forgiveness, called to the light.

Promise of hope to the lonely and poor.

Refrain

5 Let there be dancing. let there be song.

Open your heart to the people of joy.

Refrain

© Brian Boniwell 2000

Entrance: Lord, The Light of Your Love (Kendrick) AOV 2/59

Psalm 111 (McKenna):

A light rises in the darkness

for the upright, for the upright.

Gifts: The Cry of the Poor (Foley) AOV 1/83  

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

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

Recessional: Bring Forth the Kingdom (Haugen) AOV 2/4

I don’t say often enough how useful the music selections posted here by correspondents are. They give an insight into the thinking of parishes across different countries and different styles of music, which become very useful for people looking for assistance in planning their liturgies. Thanks to all have contributed over the years.

Brian Boniwell’s song “Holy Lord”, from his collection Spirit of Love, is a reflection based on the Sanctus.

1 Holy, holy, holy Lord.

God of mercy, God of might.

Hidden in your burning light.

Holy, holy Lord.

2 Holy, holy, holy Lord.

Fount of wisdom, source of life.

Deep beyond the deepest night.

Holy, holy Lord.

3 Holy, holy, holy Lord.

Fire of glory, heart of love.

Rich beyond all treasures known.

Holy, holy Lord.

4 Holy, holy, holy Lord.

All creation worships you.

Angels sing their joy-filled song.

Holy, holy Lord.

5 Holy, holy, holy Lord.

Touch us with your silent hand.

Reaching out to heal our land.

Holy, holy Lord.

© Brian Boniwell 2000

You wouldn’t write a collection of liturgical songs without putting in a Christmas song, and neither would Brian Boniwell, in his collection, Spirit of Love. Joseph gets more verses than Mary in this lovely song, in a break with tradition.

1 Joseph you cared for the Mother of God,

not knowing the way that God would provide.

Believing and taking each step of the way,

walking by faith, trusting God’s love in your life.

2 Mary your road led to Bethlehem town,

though it was time for the child to be born.

In a stable you wrapped him and held him with love.

“Glory to God”, the angels did sing in your life.

3 Joseph you stood with both mother and child,

silent before this mystery of birth.

A king in a stable was born for us all,

And opened your heart to the wonder of God on that night.

4 Jesus be near to us, come teach us to pray,

Come open our lives to the mystery of God.

Give us courage to stand in the stillness of light,

Help us to know God’s hand is still holding us near.

© Brian Boniwell 2000

Twice a year there is an enormous charity booksale at the Brisbane convention centre. I usually go to look for good books and especially hymn books.

I didn’t get to go until the last day this year, which meant I have may have missed the best selection, but they do drop the prices for the last day and that makes up for it somewhat.

I have had some wonderful finds over the years and was lucky to get some stand outs among the collections of praise and worship songs I seem to buy and then never look into much.

I found a well preserved melody line edition of GIA’s Gather from 1988. I have Gather Australia and Gather Comprehensive but it is good to have just plain Gather as well.

I also found a Graham Kendrick book called The Collection that might prove useful. I picked up Sing Alleluia, which is the supplement to the Australian Hymn Book, which has – ta da – chords! – how wonderful. There was also a Lucein Diess collection of prayers called Come Lord Jesus.

Not a hymn book, but found in the “fill a bag for $5” section was Schillebeeckx’s The Eucharist. It was sold by Pellegrini & Co in Brisbane for $1.50 to the Holy Spirit Convent at Carseldine where it no doubt corrupted the faith of the nuns with its modernist ways. I was delighted to come across it.

In the past you often found copies of As One Voice or Gather Australia but I think people are holding on to them these days.