Church Music

This is another of Leo’s folk songs based on the Confessions of Augustine. I like this one a lot as well, although it is guilty of the singing in God’s voice vice, if that is a problem.

This is his fine original version released on cassette years ago:

The sheet music is out of print:

I made a backing with more country rock than folk:

Of course, a cut common folk song is quite susceptible to reframing as reggae:

Leo has given permission for his music to be put here with the reminder that his songs are used in churches under Word of Life or LicenSing licences.

This Marty Haugen song was unknown to me, but it is being used at Emma’s parish.  It could be used for gathering as well as communion. It’s not one of his hits but it has a very welcoming spirit.

The text is here and the sheet music is available from GIA.

There is a bit of guesswork in my backing so caution is advised.

Entrance: Blessings on the King (Lynch)    AOV 1/104

Psalm 93 (O’Brien)

The Lord is King, with majesty enrobed.

Gifts: Alleluia No. 1 (Fishel) AOV 1/15

Communion: Unless a Grain of Wheat (Farrell) AOV 1/35

Bread Broken, Wine Shared (Horner) AOV 2/155

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

Recessional: Bring Forth the Kingdom (Haugen) AOV 2/4

This is a text of interesting provenance that was used at RS’s parish and I have in Gather Comprehensive 875.  The first two stanzas are written by an American (yes really), Lloyd Stone, with noble aspirations for universal peace, and is a near secular anthem. It isn’t really the Finnish national anthem by the way, no matter what Joan Baez says. There is a third verse by Georgia Harkness, who may also be responsible for two other verses omitted here. Both authors biographies are here.

Text I have is here. The extra verses and some commentary are here.

The words are set to Sibelius’s FINLANDIA and the sheet music for that is at Hymnary.

Cantus:

Harvard University Choir:

St Paul’s Concert Chorale:

Indigo Girls:

Joan Baez:

Trumpets!

This is one of Leo Watt’s songs based on the Confessions of St Augustine.

It was released on cassette and the sheet music is long out of print but it’s worth another look I think. This is his version:

His original sheet music:

… and I made a backing for that:

In good folkie tradition the words and the notes don’t exactly line up in the verses, but you can listen to him and get the jist of it and all is well.

I, on the other hand would like the words in the verses to line up to a tune, so I slightly rewrote things to achieve this:

Go Where He Leads (Leo Watt)

Chorus
Go where He leads you, go where He leads.
Go to His people, go where he leads.

1. You are His messenger, and His words you bear;
Spread his love throughout the world, go spread it ev’rywhere.
Like a fi-re burning, let your light shine.
Light the way for those who stray, turn darkness into light.

2. You are His pe- e-ople, and He lives in you.
Though you may be unaware, He shows His love and care.
In your doubts and weakness, God is your friend,
Giving strength to weary hearts, and peace to all who ask,

3. You He has cho-o-sen, all that you possess.
He can fill your poverty, hunger and your thirst.
Reaching out to others, We feel His love.
For our God lives among us, there is no room for fear.

© Leo Watt, used with permission.

This allowed me to simplify the sheet music thus:

Go Where He Leads

… and likewise the backing:

Now I think that would be a great recessional. Wouldn’t it be great to make Leo Watt famous by using his songs and rich by letting Word of Life or Licensing know you are using his songs?

RS’s parish use this wonderful communion song by Ricky Manalo. It would be especially appropriate for Corpus Christi. It is pretty singable – the bridge goes to a D but only briefly and the triplets work easily enough.

Is the title Malay language?

[No – Filipino – thanks RS]

Cantus Mundi have helpfully aggregated the text and You Tube clips.  The sheet music can be purchased at OCP.

Some more recent You-Tube clips:

Many years ago I got so depressed I wrote an entire mass setting along with entrance, recessional, gifts etc. It was the called the Pocket Mass, which was a mild joke but also was to suggest that it was intended to be portable and require minimum instrumentation. Not that I had a clue what writing a mass entailed, it just was something I had to do. I recovered but nonetheless tinkered with it over the years. When the texts changed I redid most of it and completely changed almost everything so that nothing remains of the original, except the Sanctus and the Great Amen.

The latest and last version of the Pocket Mass is finished.  It is the last version because I actually know what a Mass should be like now and this breaks so many rules that if I get depressed again I’ll write a new one more like what they are supposed to be.

That said, perhaps rules are meant to be flouted sometimes and maybe this Mass setting will work in certain circumstances. Many of the settings I have heard so far are pretty unplayable, including some of those recommended by the Australian Bishops, so I think we may be still searching for a really good setting for some time yet.

This Gloria is rather syncopated (I know – that isn’t a good idea in general) but skips along merrily in a through sung format and clocks in at under 1:50, which may be a record. Its fanfare like start turns up in other parts of the Mass. The litanies, the Kyrie and the Agnes Dei share ideas, as do the Our Father and the Lenten Gospel Acclamation.

It all works with just guitar and it is simple enough to be played on any instrument. There are lots of places to breathe for poor singers like myself and nothing too high. The rhythms suggest an assembly on their feet.

I’m putting up backings and words and if anyone is interested I’d like you to sing along. By all means let me know if I have unknowingly copied someone’s work.

The original Pocket Mass even had a Credo but getting “visible and invisible” to scan is certainly beyond me and the new text just scared me off. I should have a look at the other songs one day and see if any are worth salvaging.

I’m not putting up the sheet music because I haven’t decided what I am doing with it yet.

Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, eleison.

Kyrie, eleison.

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Alleluia x3

Praise and honour to you Lord Jesus.

Praise and honour to you Lord Jesus.

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

We proclaim your death, O Lord,

and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,

we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.

Save us, Saviour of the world,

for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.

Amen x4

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

This is a song I’d never heard of by Michael Joncas that was used at Emma’s parish recently.

It is based on the last half of Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 and the refrain poses the question, “When will I come to the end of my pilgrimage and enter the presence of God.”

The sheet music is available to purchase for download from OCP and I found the lyrics in the sample there.

This setting of Psalm 62 was written by Francis Patrick O’Brien, a priest with a suitably Irish sounding name from Boston, and a song that turned up at Ryan’s parish recently. He noted that they used a cantor for the verses and that makes sense with each verse having its own tune, each pretty tricky and some very high notes, so the assembly would do well to stick to the refrain.

I have a copy in Ritual Song 643 and the sheet music can be purchased at GIA in an inexpensive collection. GIA also have a snippet to listen to.

The text is here (page 5).

A slow version with minimal backing that starts acapella:

Piano Instrumental:

Another slow version:

Emma’s parish sang this beautiful lament with yet another wonderful text by Shirley Erena Murray. In Gather Australia and Together in Song it is set to ST COLUMBA a traditional Gaelic tune. It is rightly suggested for funerals.

The text is at Hope Publishing and sheet music at Hymnary.

A lovely harp instrumental arrangement:

Organ: