Church Music

I noticed that Yola’s parish were using this Hillsong song by Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding in their liturgies. It is a typical P&W slow song that builds to an noisy frenzy if desired. The title sounds like awkward use of the English language to me and you wonder if they just needed a rhyme for grave. It is principally a solo vehicle but there are enough repeats and sing-along sections for assembly to participate.

The text is here and the sheet music can be purchased for download at various sites on the net including musicnotes.

Michael W Smith’s cover is here.

I believe this is Hillsong.

Other covers:

This is pretty much a choir only piece by Joe Mattingly of the Newman Singers in that the tune for each verse gets progressively more difficult and would be unlikely to be easily used by an assembly. Even the refrain has a fair bit of syncopation so I’ll leave this to the trained or professional to swing it out with their big band arrangement.

This is one of the songs with only this at the WLP site…

Be with Me, Lord

Composer:	Joe Mattingly
Format:	Click & Print Hymnal File
Product:	050263
Availability:	Currently in Stock
IMPORTANT:	To download this music file, you must be logged in and have a WLP Annual license.

Topic:	Petition; Trust
Liturgical Season:	Lent
Scripture:	Psalm 091

… so you can’t download it from there without their licence, but you may be able to buy the sheet music at WLP and at sheetmusicplus. The lyrics are nowhere to be found on the net.

 

 

This is a lovely hymn written by David Evans in the 1980s but has a classic singable tune. I’ve never heard it before but apparently it is a favourite in many places.

The text and some biographical information are at Hymnary.  The song is the basis of an extended reflection here. The sheet music can be purchased at several online sellers including sheetmusicplus.

Lots of versions in various styles:

To mark the new season of Lent, we are changing to the Mass of St Francis, but will use the Lenten Gospel Acclamation from Mason’s Mass of Glory and Praise.

Entrance: Hosea (Norbet) AOV 1/30

Psalm 25 (O’Brien)

Gifts: Heal Me O God (Norbet) AOV 2/52

Communion: On Eagles Wings (Joncas) AOV 1/153

Be Not Afraid (Dufford) AOV 1/114

Recessional: Tree of Life (Thompson) AOV NG 138

I noticed Chris’s parish were doing this song by Kathleen Thomerson.  I found it in Together in Song. Some background for the song and songwriter is here. It is a delightfully simple and singable hymn.

Cantus Mundi has the text and some Youtube videos. The sheet music can be purchased for download at OCP.

This song by Ed Bolduc has liturgical uses noted at WLP where the sheet music is only available to those with a WLP annual licence.  I can’t find the sheet music anywhere else so you will have to get “Voices As One” I suppose. The timings are tricky – the verse is noted for a cantor, but the refrain isn’t straightforward either for the assembly.

The text is available in a powerpoint file here.

I keep an eye out for songs I don’t know that other parishes are using.  This one from Chris’s parish has a text by Luke Connaughton. The version in Gather Australia is to the tune “Woodlands” by Walter Greatorex.

The text is here. “Woodlands” has been used for other texts and this text has been set to other tunes. (eg Colin Brumby in Together in Song 282) The sheet music is available at Hymnary.

My backing resorts to the dodgy free church organ VST plug in.

I’m always looking for communion songs and Brian Wren’s text fits the bill as the words are simple and challenging and can be found at the Hope Publishing site. To digress for a moment, if you want to go beyond GIA/OCP/WLP and in Australia AOV, Hope Publishing is worth a look.  Social justice is a major concern there and their texts are often reset by the majors.

They have a setting for this text by Anthony Feddell that you might like to look at, but the one in “Voices as One” is by Carl Johengen.

The WLP site has sample pages, a small sound sample and liturgical suggestions, and you can also buy the sheet music there.

My backing, unfortunately, does not do the lovely second vocal line in the refrain.

Youtube has a spirited solo voice and piano version.

Ed Bolduc has rewritten this traditional hymn by nineteenth century hymn writer Caroline Maria Noel and added a refrain and his own tune. I like this because it could be used in a P&W setting but has lots of liturgical uses and is singable by an assembly. Of course, more of the original verses could be used if appropriate.

As usual with these songs, WLP has a page were you can link to the text in the sample page, hear a snippet and purchase the sheet music for download. It is also available at the Voices As One site.

This is another song by Ed Bolduc in a relaxed MOR style. The verses are recommended for a cantor, which is probably right as it has a rhythmic structure that will make it hard for the assembly and in any case the last note of the verse is sung over by the refrain.

It is a lovely tune and a serviceable text that will work in many liturgical situations.

The WLP site has the text in the sample pages, a snippet for listening and is where you can purchase the sheet music for download if you wish.

I’ve sped up up my backing just a little.