Church Music

This is a very recent text and tune in a very traditional mode. It was added to Breaking Bread for 2026 by OCP.

The words are by Lynné D Gray and set here by Daniel Partridge. It’s a lovely tune and worthy text and I’ll assume a communal “I” for assembly use.

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

I found a different organ sound for the wind up fake BIAB organ backing.

I don’t even hate this choir sound for a change:

Once again Chris Brunelle shows a good hymn can work when performed simply.

This is not the Christmas carol – this is a song with a text by Cyril Alington set to GELOBT SEI GOTT (aka VULPIUS). It is suitable for Easter and Christ the King. It was added by OCP for 2026.

The text is available at Hope Publishing, who also have the sheet music. OCP have added a Trinitarian fifth verse and so claim some copyright and you can get their version there.

I found an old backing:

The next song chosen by OCP for 2026 is Ken Canedo’s, “For the Sake of Christ”.

The text is based on 2 Cor 15:15, 12:7-10. The bridge can go into SATB parts if resources allow and the chanted chorus also has a harmony line that answers the main melody.

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

OCP have chosen Michael Joncas’ Lenten text as reset by Scott Crandal (PREVAIL) for 2026.

They say:

Text writer Michael Joncas states that this piece “seeks to tie together Noah’s transforming experience surviving the Great Flood, Jesus’ transforming experience during forty days of desert-dwelling, and our transforming experience by giving ourselves to the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that mark the Christian Lent.” Featuring a new hymn tune, PREVAIL, this intricate-sounding setting is scored modestly: two-part choir, descant, keyboard and/or guitar, and a solo instrument part in C. An accessible piece that can be quickly prepared by most ensembles, the third and final verse may be sung with the descant and the basses doubling the melody for a full, balanced texture.

If you have such modest personnel the sheet music is at OCP and the text in their preview.

This backing seeks and fails to make it something else:

Simple is better:

Their arrangement is undoubtedly fine while needing a lot of resources and goes beautifully “Voces 8” style in the descant:

Chris Brunelle shows it done simply and beautifully with taste and sensibly playing it capo 1.

Chris W has two other settings for this text – since BEACH SPRING is so well known it would make sense for a seasonal song:

Voces 8 are great:

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.