Church Music

This song by Roc O’Connor is especially appropriate for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. It is based on the Jesus prayer and passages from Philippians and Acts.

It has a fair range and is quite slow which makes it more challenge.  It is meant to speed up and slow down and that can lead to dreadful trouble in the assembly so maybe just stay in tempo. I thought the refrain would work best with the harmonies in place, but some of the solo versions below are excellent.

The text is at Cantus Mundi.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP.

My backing leaves in most of the harmony in the refrain.

The original…

… is improved on by these wonderful arrangements.

Entrance: We Are Called (Haas) AOV 2/60

Psalm: Be With Me Lord (Haugen)

Gifts: A Trusting Psalm (Bates) AOV 1/115

Communion: We Remember (Haugen) AOV 1/81

Thanksgiving: God of Second Chances (Haas)

Recessional: A New Heart for a New World (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 1/158

After a bit of break I can return to my survey of songs from OCP’s Guitar Accompaniment Book c2005. If I skip a song it means I’ve blogged it already.

This is Eucharist song from Grayson Warren Brown. It is particularly relevant for funerals, All Souls and Corpus Christi. The range is fine but the verses have some variations and a cantor might help. I love diminished chords for mystery in the chorus.

The sheet music is available for purchase at OCP. The text is in their preview.

This is an old song that turned up at Ryan’s parish.  I sang this as a child at my Presbyterian church but haven’t heard it since.

It is by Will L. Thompson c1880 and the sheet music and lyrics are public domain and at Hymnary.

My backing is how I remember it. There is a high risk of schmaltz.

Pretty much every country singer has given this one a go but Willy Nelson is a safe bet:

Ryan said the kids’s choir sang this song at their church. It is by Matt Maher, Paul Moak and Trevor Morgan.

It appears to be a solo in the verses with a singalong chorus.  In the key of G it goes pretty high, especially in the bridge, so you might want to bring it down substantially unless your soloist has a fair range.

I could be an entrance or recessional song, and the bridge quotes the Beatitudes, so it could be a liturgical song I suppose, but the range and “whoa”s might get in the way. It’s catchy as anything.

The text is here.

The sheet music can be purchased at musicnotes.

My backing might help you learn it.

A backing Track:

Ryan noted this gospel song written by Doris Akers.

It would be a challenge for most assemblies but if you can handle the style and the range go for it.

The text is here, although I have seen a few variations. The sheet music can be purchased at OCP. Hope Publications also sell a choral arrangement here.

This is a basic backing to sing along to:

Doris Akers:

Elvis:

Oakwood University Aeolians
Trinity SDA Church
Athens, AL

Rev. Cleophus Robinson & Rev. R. Leaks

Entrance: Praise to You O Christ (Farrell) AOV 1/28

Psalm: Be With Me Lord (Haugen)

Gifts: To You O God I Lift Up My Soul (Hurd) AOV 2/14

Communion: Our Blessing Cup (Mason)

Thanksgiving: Year of Youth prayer

Recessional: Called (Unger)   –   song for the Year of Youth.

Find Year of Youth resources here.

While I have been busy renovating the backings on this site there were some songs in the liturgies at Ryan’s church that were new to me so I’ll look at them before I plunge into new ventures.

“With a Shepherd’s Care” is a song by Fr James Chepponis with obvious liturgical uses.  The tune has some melodic idiosyncrasies to keep you awake in the verse. It is a simple song of comfort in the face of adversity.

It is 628 in my copy of Gather Comprehensive 2nd ed.

The sheet music can be purchased at GIA.

The text is at Hymnary.

I’ve guessed the chords so this is approximate.

All the backings should be playable on any browser now.  I think I’ve done my Lenten penance.

Entrance: Christ be Our Light (Farrell) AOV 2/3

Psalm: Be With Me Lord (Haugen)

Gifts: Open My Eyes (Manibusan) AOV 1/166

Communion: I Have Loved You (Joncas) AOV 1/126

Thanksgiving: Song of the Transfiguration (Haas)

Recessional: Lord the Light of your Love (Kendrick) AOV 2/59