Church Music

I’ve got to the title track of this album by Brian Boniwell. I see it as an out and out rock song that could be used for gathering. The verses have the same basic tune but there are variations to fit the text that might require a cantor. Since the verses are in the voice of God that may be a good thing in any case.

Follow this link to get details on purchasing the sheet music.  You can hear a snippet of the music at Apple Music.

My backing is a little heavier.

Refrain

People of the word, people of the Spirit,

People of the resurrection.

People of the word, people of the Spirit,

People of the resurrection.

1

I came to be your servant,

The least among you all.

I came to seek the outcast and the poor.

2

You must give to others

What I have given you.

Reaching out to welcome in my name.

3

Called to be a river

That flows on to the sea.

Pouring out, receiving from on high.

4

Welcoming the stranger,

You have welcomed me.

Gather round the table in my love.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

Brian Boniwell has mined passages from Romans to channel an uplifting message from St Paul. It has a memorable tune with a triplet hook through most of the refrain. I think a cantor will be needed to cope with the variations between the verses, but the refrain hits a pleasant groove and should be open to the assembly.

Use these contact details to get the sheet music and listen to snippet  of the song here.

My backing goes laid back with a little gentle Latin influence.

Refrain

Where there is joy, there is peace.

Where there is faith, there is a light.

Where there is love there is laughter and song.

Where there is hope there is life.

1

For this is know, that neither death nor life

Can take us from the love of the Lord.

Nothing on the earth, nothing in the heavens

Can keep us from the love of God.

2

Nothing from the past, nothing in the future

Can take us from the love of the Lord.

Neither hurt nor sorrow, nor any earthly power,

Can keep us from the love of God.

3

Keep us safe from harm O Spirit of the Lord,

Be with us in the hour of our need.

Lead us to the Father through Christ, the only Son.

Protect us with the strength of your love.

Coda

Where there is hope there is life.

© Brian Boniwell 1997

Entrance: All Are Welcome (Haugen)

Psalm 33 (McKenna)

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

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

Communion: Lord to Whom Shall We Go? (Herry) AOV 1/6

Thanksgiving: Enemy of Apathy (Bell-Maule) AOV 2/75

Recessional: Sing of the Lord’s Goodness (Sands) AOV 1/131

I think this lovely song by Brian Boniwell shows his appeal.  It is a song that has three bible stories that exemplify God’s love, each told as a bare bone simple narrative that all compliment the refrain about the incarnation. Simple but charming, singable and effective.

It would make sense when any of the relevant readings came up in the liturgy.

Buy his sheet music following the directions here and listen to a snippet at Apple Music.

Refrain

No greater love, no greater love

Than the Word of the Father come to live among us.

No greater love, no greater love

Than the Word made flesh for us.

1

Weeping at the feet of Jesus, pouring out her love.

Mary touched the living heart of God.

Drying with her hair, love’s forgiveness was reborn,

Reaching deep within to bring her home.

2

The shepherd watching for his sheep went searching for the stray,

Leaving all the flock to search for one.

And finding it, rejoicing on his shoulders bore it home,

Holding it with tenderness and love.

3

The Father searched each day to find his son returning home,

And when at last he came, the Father cried:

“Celebrate, this son of mine was lost, but now is found.

Clothe him in our joy to feast with us”.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

This is a song for Eucharist by Brian Boniwell from his album “People of the Resurrection”.

There are some subtle changes from verse to verse lying in wait for the unwary, but probably not enough to enforce a cantor. The more I listened the more I liked the tune and the text is simple and direct.

You can hear a sample of the song at Apple Music and I put contact details to purchase the sheet music here.

Refrain

Whenever you take this bread to eat,

Do it in memory of me.

Whenever you drink this cup of my blood,

Do it in memory of me.

1

This bread has become the body of Christ,

Broken and given for you.

This cup now holding the covenant blood,

Was poured out in anguish for you.

2

This bread is for all who come in my name,

Gathered to worship and pray.

This cup we share brings new life for the world,

Conquering darkness and sin.

3

This bread now broken, this cup we now take,

Will be our forgiveness and peace.

Your word, your life shared so gently with us

Binds us together in love.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

The next song in my survey of Brian Boniwell’s book People of the Resurrection is “We Are Your People”.

This is most singable and liturgical apt as a gathering song. There are some minor variations in the tune across the verses but they flow naturally from the text so it should be alright for the assembly.  There is some “Yoda-speak” in the second verse that I think he gets away with.

A sample of the music is at Apple music and I put up contact details to get the sheet music here.

Refrain

We are the people who follow your word,

We are your people Lord.

We are the people who follow your word,

We are your people Lord.

1

We are your people, chosen by you.

Called to be holy, called to be true.

Gifted and graced by the Spirit of God,

We are your people Lord.

2

Broken your body, poured out your blood.

Love given freely, given for all.

Gathered to praise you to share in your life,

We are your people Lord.

3

Life in the Spirit, Life in the Son.

Poured out in Jesus upon every one.

Cover us gently O Spirit of God,

We are your people Lord.

This is an interesting song with a text by Anne Delsorte and music by Brian Boniwell.

It is a conversion between God and a seeker that I can’t see as liturgical song, but more for private devotion or a performance piece. The verses have subtle differences in the melody and there is a coda with  different music, so I can’t see an assembly coping in any case.

The lyrics have the flavour of the fourteenth century English mystics and were possibly inspired by Richard Rolle’s “Fire of Love“.

You can hear a snippet at Apple Music and get the sheet music from Brian Boniwell.             (email at boniwell@aapt.net.au )

1

I the Lord reach out to you, longing so to take you to myself.

Heart on fire with love for you, how I long to give myself to you.

Give your heart your mind to me and we will live no longer two but one.

2

Here I am Lord take my heart, hold me in your arms and make me yours.

Set my heart on fire for you, help me give myself, my all to you.

As I give my life to you, we live no longer two but one.

3

Heart of God and heart of man, united in the joy of one embrace.

Fire of love, God’s holy gift, making one these hearts within your flame.

Give yourself in love to me and we will live no longer two but one.

Coda

Come my beloved one, give yourself to me,

give yourself to be forever one.

I’m still looking at Australian Catholic songwriters and I’ve already done an album of Fr Frank Andersen and will get back to do the rest of his albums.

There are lots of others to look at and Brian Boniwell is the next composer whose work I will be exploring.

Brian has kindly given me a couple of his music books to look at. This album is called People of the Resurrection. It contains a “hit” with his version of “The Lord Is My Shepherd” that is sung and loved all over Australia. I’ve blogged that song here as it is in AOV.

The other thirteen songs are new to me, including “Christ is Risen”.

This is a somewhat restrained Easter song in a folk style. The text is simple and direct and the tune is singable with a nice lilt in the “a-as” in the chorus. It is in F and as a good guitarist he suggests capo 3 in D. I’d play it capo 1 so I didn’t have to hit that long D in the chorus.

I give details on how to get his sheet music here and you can hear previews at Apple.

1

Round the world the tide is turning.

Life has changed and death has new hope.

No more shall we live in darkness.

No more shall we fear.

Chorus

He is risen as he said.

Christ is risen from the dead.

He is risen as he said.

Christ is risen from the dead.

2

In the East the sun is dawning,

Joyful with the light of new day.

Christ our hope has gone before us

Changing death to life.

3

Every heart exult with gladness.

Lift your head to welcome the light.

See the Son of God in glory

Risen from the dead.

© Brian Boniwell 1997.

Entrance: Gather Your People (Hurd) AOV 1/71

Psalm 33 (McKenna)

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gifts: Song of the Body of Christ (Haas) AOV 1/27

Communion: Table of Plenty (Schutte) AOV 2/20

Thanksgiving: Lord to Whom Shall We Go (Herry) AOV 1/6

Recessional: All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford) AOV 1/76

This is the last song from Frank Andersen’s collection, “Eagle’s Wings” that I need to do a post on because the other three have already been covered here:

This Blessing Cup

Come to the Water

The Fullness of God.

“Renewal Song” is apparently inspired by Matt 11:25-26, although I can’t see how – vss 28-30 make more sense. Father Andersen suggests it has a special role in liturgies with the elderly or sick. It is meant to lighten the atmosphere and have a “sense of playfulness”. It has a strong message of encouragement.

You can purchase the sheet music to download here.

Chorus

Father I thank you for your goodness.

You show yourself to children.

And in my life I see you leading me

Into my childhood once again.

1

Under the shadow of your guiding hand

I walk the journey of my life.

Across the years I see you leading me;

And I am young again.

2

I feel the waters of your life in me;

They come from deep within my heart.

Into your peacefulness you’re calling me.

And I am born again.

3

Beside your waters I am growing still.

Your spirit rises in my heart.

Renewing every fibre of my life;

And I am strong again.

© Frank Andersen 1979