Church Music

Martin E. Leckebusch wrote the text and it is set to Song of Joy by Beethoven.

There is a sample of the lyrics here and you know the tune.

I’ll put up a backing anyway.

This is another of the Michael Herry fms songs that have been put up on the internet by the Marists.  The sheet music is here.

There are actually two whole discontinued albums to use available at the Marist’s site.

My backing just shows that I’m no good at getting BIAB to simulate free chant.

Better to listen to this version:

This is a chant like song with a lot of repetition written by Suzette Thorndycraft and originating in the Vineyard group of churches.

Vineyard have the text, lead sheet and sheet music, as well as the song to listen to.

It is actually quite pleasant and could be done even more quietly and restrained than in the version at Vineyard, like my backing:

This another song by Michael Herry fms, this time a chant for Lent.

Again the sheet music has been put up by the Marists here. It reminds me of a downbeat version of “I Will Survive.”

My backing only has the melody line but as you can see there are two harmony lines in the sheet music.

Michael Herry fms had two songs placed in As One Voice and Lord, to Whom Shall We Go was pretty much a no-brainer for last week’s readings.

While tidying up I found some more of his songs that I haven’t blogged before including this one.

The Marists have put the sheet music up on the internet here. On the music I have, he suggests that it can be simply adapted for sending forth (“you send”) and intercessions (“we pray”) instead of “we gather”.

This hymn was sung at Ryan’s parish recently and it is another one I’d never heard of before.

You can get the text and sheet music at Hymnary because Hope Publishing is wonderful and will allow you to make one copy of the music.  The text is by Fred Pratt Green and the tune, ABBOT’S LEIGH, is by Cyril V. Taylor.

This song almost has more chords than notes, but this is a simple organ backing.

This isn’t a great recording but don’t you wish your church had a trombone choir?

More trombones:

Nice ordinary church assemblies:

This song from The Source New Songs has a distinct Celtic lilt to it and simple spare lyrics that serve it well.

It is by Jennifer Atkinson and Robin Mark.  The text is at We Are Worship where you can buy the sheet music.  You can also buy a lead sheet at praisecharts.

Robin Mark:

The extended version:

This is a Reuben Morgan song from Hillsong that appeared to me to be a song suitable for private reflection. My backing is therefore somewhat reflective.

As usual it appears better known by its alternative title.

The text is here. The sheet music can be purchased at musicnotes.

Hillsong (& everyone else!) does it uptempo:

Migrant and Refugee Sunday

Entrance: All Are Welcome (Haugen)

Psalm 15 (O’Brien)

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Gifts: God of Day and God of Darkness (Haugen) AOV 1/56

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

A New Commandment  (Unknown)

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

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

As an antidote to the superficial found in some P&W songs for which I have been making backings, I am taking solace in hymns by John Bell, this one written with his long time writing partner Graham Maule.

This song would be moving with its fierce and unflinching text and its lovely setting in Bell’s arrangement of YE BANKS AND BRAES without knowing that it was written for a service after the Dunblane massacre in 1996. I find it hard to sing…   This is a nice appreciation of the hymn.

The text is here. The sheet music can be purchased at GIA but the tune itself is public domain and available on the net.