Church Music

A shout out to all the music ministers who have survived the Triduum. I was just strumming along with very talented musicians who carried the burden, and sang the Exultet, and other impossible tasks, so I got off lightly.

If you are an Australian Catholic liturgical musician you are with few exceptions a volunteer and in many small parishes doing everything by yourself. If you are lucky enough not to be criticised for your work you may find that you beat up on yourself at times. Since the miracle of the loaves and fishes was actually about music ministry in the Australian Catholic church be at peace.

So let us share Easter blessings regarding the miracle of musicians and their ministry and the life of the risen Christ in the voice of the assembly that is nourished by them.

Those who decide these matters in our parish wisely add things slowly to annual celebrations. This year, apart from Percy Jones’s setting of “Springs of Water” CWB II 337, the only new song was Marty Haugen’s delightful “Up From the Waters” CWB II 97, after the baptisms.

How did Easter go musically in your parish?

Trish suggested this setting by Paul Sarcich in Gather Australia.

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height.
Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come, with treasures which endure;
Come, thou Light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.

Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, Light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill.

If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give us comfort when we die;
Give us life with thee on high;
Give us joys that never end.

Finishing up the Pentecost songs in CWB II:

389 Send Down the Fire of Your Justice

391 Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taize)

The Latin text:

Veni, creator Spiritus
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia,
quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas
et spiritalis unctio.

Tu septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae
tu rite promissum Patris
sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus,
infunde amorem cordibus,
infirma nostri corporis,
virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius
pacemque dones protinus;
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem
noscamus atque Filium,
te utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.

Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.
Amen.

ascribed to Rabanus Maurus and set to Mode VIII chant melody.

This is how it goes.

Continuing with songs for Pentecost from CWB II brings me to Lucien Deiss’s song with a text based on Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4;18-19. It is an interesting tune.

The text is here.

The sheet music can be purchased at sheetmusicplus.

CWB II actually gives the chords to this one , which helped for my backing on BIAB. I thought it sounded better at a fair clip but I suspect it was intended to be slower.

This is a Pentecost song from CWB II with a text by William Dalrymple MacLagan that is lifted into being a good hymn by the setting by Richard Connolly, who always does something interesting. I got the chords from Together in Song to make my backing.

Holy Spirit, Lord of love,
Wisdom coming from above,
Gifts of blessing to bestow
On your waiting Church below.

Once again in love draw near
To your people gathered here;
Since our great baptismal day,
You have led us on our way.

You have been our constant guide,
Ever watching by our side.
May we now till life shall end,
Choose and know you as our friend.

Give us life to live for you;
Give us love, for ever new;
Come, then Holy Spirit, come;
Make each heart your happy home.

Hymnary has a somewhat different text and suggestions for other settings.

This comes across as a somewhat pedestrian hymn with a text by Brian Foley set to LAUS DEO by Richard Redhead.

The text is here. It appears to be more usually set to ALL FOR JESUS (Stainer)

Having already done Dan Schutte’s wonderful:

384 Send Us Your Spirit

… I have come to this Pentecost song with a direct text by John R. Peacey and here set to WOODLANDS by Walter Greatorex.

The text is at the wonderful Hope Publications, where they suggest the tune SHELDONIAN.

This is backing for WOODLANDS.

This is another song for Pentecost in Catholic Worship Book II. It is by Christopher Willcock and it is exciting and interesting but I fear of absolutely no use to any assembly I have ever come across.

That is because it is in 7/8 time. That is except for the introduction/interlude that goes 7/8 7/8 4/4 7/8. 7/8 time is just plain nuts.

I’d say it is a choir project or that Willcock did it to win a bet.

I would suggest you go to OCP and listen to this and if you think you can cope buy the sheet music there. The text is in their preview and since CWB II won’t give me chords I got them from OCP to make a backing. 7/8 on BIAB is no picnic.

If it wasn’t obvious already, the inclusion of this song is further evidence that CWB II was never seriously intended for ordinary suburban parishes.

We will still use the seasonal psalm, Marty Haugen’s “Be With Me”.

Entrance: The King of Glory (Jabusch) Ritual Song 628

Gifts: Jesus Remember Me (Berthier) AOV 1/152

Communion: Behold the Wood (Schutte)

Recessional: Holy Darkness (Schutte) AOV 2/24

I am still plodding through CWB II’s songs for Pentecost. I have done:

381 Come Down, O Love Divine

… and so to “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come”.

This is an anonymous translation of Veni Creator Spiritus attributed to Rabanus Maurus c8-9th set to TALLIS’ ORDINAL by Thomas Tallis. I have previously blogged this set to LAMBILOTTE.

I foolishly guessed the chords here for my backing (not provided by CWB II) when I should have looked in Together in Song, where they provide chords and correct the archaicisms in the text. Such things were apparently possible in 1999.

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
From thy bright heav’nly throne,
Come take possession of our souls,
And make them all thy own.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,
Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,
Sweet unction and true love.

Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace,
Finger of God’s right hand
His promise teaching little ones
To speak and understand.

O guide our minds with thy blessed light,
With love our hearts inflame;
And with thy strength, which never decays
Confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our deadly foe;
True peace unto us bring;
And through all perils lead us safe
Beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know,
Through thee the eternal Son,
And thee, the Spirit of them both,
Thrice-blessed Three in One.

All glory to the Father be,
With his coequal Son;
The same to thee, great Paraclete,
While endless ages run.