I found this loitering in the back of a much altered version of the little blue “Living Worship Hymnal” a loose leaf book from the 70s that was altered by every church that used it.
This is a joyful song of thanksgiving that could use a dusting off and be played with gusto.
We are switching to Paul Taylor’s Mass of St Francis with the Celtic Alleluia for the Gospel Acclamation. We are using the refrain from Haugen’s “Abide with us, Emmanuel” with the last line repeated while the Advent candle is lit.
Entrance: Emmanuel (Angrisano)
Candle lighting: Abide with us, Emmanuel. (Haugen)
Psalm: To You O God I Lift Up My Soul (Hurd) AOV 2/14
Gifts: All Is Wonder (Watts) AOV NG 4
Communion: Gather Your People (Hurd) AOV 1/71
Christ be Our Light (Farrell) AOV 2/3
Thanksgiving: Christ Circle Round Us (Schutte)
Recessional: Come to Set Us Free (Farrell) AOV 1/39
I found a couple of old Leo Watt songs in the back of a second hand hymnal I bought at the Life Line book sale some time ago. I contacted Leo about them and he told me about his new website. Go and have a look and contact him about his music and using it at your church. While he has no music in print anymore it is available through LicenSing and also by contacting him through his website.
I’ll blog the older songs soon, but Leo sent me a more recent tune, which is a charming wedding song, perhaps as a solo while the happy couple are signing the documents. He recommends it as a duet.
I’ve made a backing that I hope is OK by Leo.
Refrain
When love is there the world is such a better place
and I can share my life with you.
And we both know we can’t have ev’rything.
But I don’t care as long as love is there.
Yes I don’t care as long as love is there.
Verse 1
This moment in time means so much today.
When two become one, a most special way.
Only love can survive all the changes in life,
As we promise our love as both man and wife.
Refrain
Verse 2
To have and to hold is a promise we make.
And now we commit to give and to take.
We will try to forgive all the faults that we fear.
RS’s parish used this traditionally styled hymn with a great social message recently. Scott Soper wrote the words and the Thaxtedesque tune. It goes a bit high and I reckon I’d bring it down a semi-tone or two.
The sheet music can be purchased for download at OCP where the text is in their sample.
The children’s choir at Ryan’s parish sang this Hillsong song recently. It is by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm.
It strikes me as something for solo voice really but through sheer repetition (and there is lot of that) it may be something a children’s choir would be able to do. I can’t see it for an assembly. This song is two verses and refrain and a bridge repeated with greater intensity until eternity. Some the text is “yeah” and “oh” but in between the psalm-like lyric actually works fairly well – although technically if I “walk upon the waters” and then ask to be “taken deeper” then I would drown. It is a bit “Sia” like and young people may appreciate that.
Should I apologise to the world on behalf of Australia for Hillsong? Probably not as the video below passes 20 000 000 views. I do think that for Catholic liturgy there is a lot of modern Australian music that is far better for that purpose by Amanda McKenna, Michael Mangan, Monica O’Brien, Gina Ogilvie et al (or from Europe Judy Bailey for that matter) that makes a lot more sense – and is available in As One Voice: The Next Generation.
The lyrics are here and the sheet music can be purchased at praisecharts.
My backing is over seven minutes long but cutting the bridge back to something sensible would reduce that a lot.
This version by Hillsong United is nine minutes long:
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
