Church Music

It’s that time of year when I see what is in and out at OCP for 2026, before I get back to Australian compositions.

Spoiler alert, what is in is chant adjacent and solemnity and what is out is liveliness and joy. This should be no surprise as this has been their approach for some years now. I have heard nothing that isn’t worthy and liturgically appropriate but there is a sameness and a dourness and much revisiting of tropes from old traditional sources. I can only assume that this is the music that is now inculturated in the current US Catholic church and OCP is responding to that. Otherwise, you have to assume that any upbeat music for the church is being suppressed from above through OCP – perish the thought.

I should rejoice in this first song from the Palm Sunday mass by Howard Hughes SM, because I have never been happy with any of the entry songs we have used over the years. And maybe this is doable chant even for a recalcitrant like myself.

What isn’t doable is chant on Band in a Box so I won’t bother with an appalling attmept.

The sheet music is available at OCP where the text is in their preview.

The last song in Beth Doherty’s book, An Attutude of Beatitude, is this song honouring the work of grace in our lives. She notes its applicability for anointing and reconciliation. She also notes the influence of the song “Go Tell Everyone” by Alan Dale and Hubert Richards, and this song too would also make a good recessional.

The range is A to A, but capo up if need be. 12/8 time suits pianists arpeggiating more than guitarists strumming, but we should just strum less and prevent tendonitis.

This collection is different to most in its ambition, in that it is integrated into a thematic collection of reflections for group use in school and parishes. Beth Doherty is to be congratulated for going beyond the songs themselves into creating a spur for us to be Christ in the world.

The resource bundle is available at Willow.

This is a song about hospitality from Beth Doherty’s An Attitude of Beatitude. It could be a gentle gathering song and illustrates most of the Gospel of Luke.

The range is an issue again for me and while I can probably get away with a low G to a C, playing a capo 2 is an option because the high note is very brief and A to D might suit better. Most of the song is in the low range she favours, which suits a lot a women. The syncopation again sounds conversational when she sings it. I keep picking up a country vibe, this one has something of Kenny Rogers, “The Gambler” in there somewhere.

The collection is available at Willow in many forms. I have the resource book, but the bundle looks the best value, especially as the group activities based on each of the Beatitudes appear ideal for schools and parishes and will suit many circumstances.

This is another of Beth Doherty’s songs from An Attitude of Beatitude inspired by her work in social justice and service. Many readings will be augmented by this song in liturgy and I was thinking of a subtle use on Holy Thursday.

To suit my range I would take it up from C to D – which is easier on guitar anyway. The syncopation looks ferocious on the page but when you hear her sing it it sounds natural enough to follow. I can hear a hint of the verse in Peter Allan’s “Don’t Cry Out Loud” in the verse of this song.

It can be purchased in various forms at Willow.

My backing leans praise and worship again.

This is another sacred song from Beth Doherty’s An Attitude of Beatitude collection, available at Willow. The themes suit Gifts or Eucharist and of course use with the reflections and group activities in her book.

Listening to her sing it, it sounds conversational and singable, but it quite syncopated and has many triplets to trip the unwary. It is also in her mostly lowish key from a low G but does get up to C as well, so the song may be more a solo vehicle.

My backing suggests the country music influence I hear in her work.

This is a fine song for Eucharist from Beth Doherty’s collection, An Attitude of Beatitude. It would be especially suitable at Christmas.

This excellent collection is available in many versions that include the music, but also resources for using the songs in retreats, schools and parishes, at Willow.

My backing goes a bit Praise and Worship.

From a well respected Australian composer of many years in Brian Boniwell, I will turn to one of our great younger songwriters, Beth Doherty.

She is a journalist and songwriter whose involvment in matters of social justice has greatly formed her art. I have blogged her songs, “All the Hungry Come” and “Gardens” already.

At the APMN conference I was lucky enough to get a hard copy of her book, An Attitude of Beatitude, in the form of the resource book. It is available in many formats at Willow, I’d suggest the resource bundle for value for money.

My book has the sheet music, lyrics with commentary and group activities for school or parish based on the Beatitudes and using her songs as a resource.

She notes that “For Blessings Will Come” brings the Beatitudes forward to today’s issues globally and locally where the marginalised face struggle. It has liturgical uses when the verses come up in the readings and would be a song for looking at Eucharist from a different angle.

Listen to her song:

I made a backing:

There is a hint of “Rock and Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life” in the verse but I think she is too young to have heard that one. This is one of the easier ones of hers to play, as there is little syncopation and easy chords.

Since you can hear her sing her lyrics, and I’d like to encourage people to buy a copy of her music for their parish or themselves, I’m not putting up the lyrics here this time.

The last song in The Comforter collection is one of only two not written by Brian Boniwell. This title track was written by Michael Carter.

It is a song in the voice of Christ and it appears to be a solo vehicle. I’m not sure I could find a place in a liturgy for the song.

This out of print collection was a lucky find from Kay’s Secondhand Sheet Music, as Brian Boniwell’s early work is hard to come across. Happily, some of his most famous music is still available at Willow and we will sing his “The Lord is My Shepherd” this week for All Saints. He also has a YouTube page and I have lots of his songs on this blog, for which you can search.

Only a couple of songs are left in The Comforter collection of early Brian Boniwell songs.

This one is a simple, gentle (obviously) folk styled song in the voice of God. I’m not sure of a liturgical use apart from perhaps as background for a second Rite of Reconcilation. It would be fine for quiet private reflection.

The previous owner of this book obviously wanted it brought down to C rather than D so take your pick.

I’m looking at the collection, The Comforter, which is essentially a collection of early Brian Boniwell songs.

This is another beautiful sung prayer. The key may have been set high to suite Paul Gurr’s voice – I’d bring it down from A to F at least.

This is an oddity. I found an instrumental track on YouTube from a collaboration between Paul Gurr and Gabriel Anthony Doheny. The music is by Doheny but is a clearly a setting of Boniwell’s words. Sing along with it and you will see.