Church Music

This is the one made famous by Sr Janet Mead and was written by Arnold Strals. You can see and hear her sing the song here. I picked up the original sheet music collection called “With You I Am” at a second hand shop. It can still be purchased as a single sheet here.

My backing is another ancient MIDI done on an early version of Band in a Box, recently put through Pro Tools.

Chorus
Our Father
Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven

Chorus 

Verse

Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive them who trespass against us
Forgive us our trespasses

Chorus 

Bridge

Oh Lord lead us not into temptation
But save us from evil
And the kingdom, the power
And the glory forever
Will be Yours

Chorus (Rpt & fade)

© Festival Music, 1973.

This is a particularly gorgeous  song by Br Rufino Zaragoza. It is published by OCP but I couldn’t find a downloadable version.

You can hear a lovely version here.

My version is an exercise in BIAB jazz that is probably unsuitable except for learning the tune.

O silent God, Holy One, God Unseen, God unknown.

Hear my prayer, hear my cry. Have you abandoned me?

In this dying I join your dying; in rising, I join your rising;

In this dying, I join your dying with Jesus, the glory of God.

© OCP Publications, 1988,1990.

I’ve put this in as a communion song a few times, but I suspect I really shouldn’t have. It is probably best left as a P&W thumper.  It is by Brenton Brown and I found it in The Source: New Songs, or you can buy a digital download here.

You can listen to the song here. This is another good version. Brenton Brown also does a more meditative version here.

My backing is rather noisy.

Verse 1
Over all the earth
You reign on high
Every mountain stream every sunset sky
But my one request Lord my only aim
Is that You’d reign in me again

Chorus

Lord reign in me
Reign in Your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won’t You reign in me again

Verse 2

Over every thought
Over every word
May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord
‘Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing
So won’t You reign in me again

Chorus

© Vineyard Songs, 1998.

I can’t for the life of me recall why this song was sung at mass, but it was a long time ago. It is by Bob Ferguson and was made famous by Ferlin Husky. It can be bought online here.

I do remember making this backing though, because I entered every note of the piano part, one note at a time. From the percussion sound it may have been done on Anvil as 6/8 time was always a struggle on BIAB. Nonetheless, it is an old MIDI file that I have put through Pro Tools just for fun.

Verse 1 When Noah had drifted on the flood many days, He searched for land in various ways. Troubles, he had some, but he wasn’t forgotten, God sent down His love on the wings of a dove.   Chorus   On the wings of a snow-white dove, God sent His pure, sweet love; Just a sign from above on the wings of a dove.   Verse2   When troubles surround you, when evil may come, The body grows weak and your spirit grows numb.  When these things beset you, God will not forget you, He’ll send down His love on the wings of a dove. Chorus © Husky Music & Larrick Music

This is another of Monica Brown’s songs that is specific in reference to Australia, but, as I have suggested before, those in the Southern hemisphere often sing songs that are relevant to the Northern hemisphere, so why not sing about the dreamtime in Minnesota.

You can hear it done properly here. You can purchase the collection here.

Verse 1

There is a land, an ancient land.

It bears a vast and rugged face.

Its spirits deep, haunting and free.

It calls to you, it calls to me.

Come find your soul, within my depths.

Come make of me, your homeland true.

Chorus

This is our land, we are its people

A nation that’s free to realise its dream.

A dream that’s for all who dwell in this land.

To live as one people, one people one land.

Verse 2

There is a people, an ancient people.

Their spirits rest deep in this land.

Their dreamtime myth, story and faith,

Make this land a sacred place.

They seek of all a true embrace,

That reconciles all that we are.

Chorus

Bridge

And from distant shores many have come

To find their home in this great southern land

Where the spirit yearns and seeks to unite us all

Chorus

© Monica Brown & Emmaus Productions, 2001.

This is a song by Jack Miffleton, based on Psalm 52:10-11.  We have an olive tree planted outside our church which was a gift in an ecumenical spirit.

The song can be purchased here.

My backing is an ancient MIDI that I haven’t tarted up.

I was singing this as a Presbyterian teenager and I still get to sing it at Mass as a grumpy old Catholic.  It is based on John 13:34-5 and is listed as having an unknown author. I’ve noticed that some people sing it twice, some sing the second part twice and some sing the first part twice. You may also note that my miscellaneous pile has a loose grasp of the alphabet.

This is a Carpenters style version. If you can find an old version of Scripture in Song Volume one it is number 12.

For some of these old songs I have taken an old MIDI file that I made on Band in a Box V1 for Windows on a steam driven computer in the Jurassic period and just run it through ProTools to tart it up a bit.

A new commandment I give unto you,
that you love one another as I have loved you,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
By this shall all men know you are My disciples,
if you have love one to another.
By this shall all men know you are My disciples,
if you have love one to another. (Rpt)

This is another of Monica Brown’s lovely mantras. It is from the “Holy Ground” collection and is available here.

 My soul is longing for You, my God.

My soul is longing for You.

You, my God, and I, the one,

The one who yearns for You.

© Monica Brown, 1991.

This is a song by Father Frank Andersen that we use every Good Friday. I recommend it highly. You can hear it done here. I suspect you’ll have to contact Fr Andersen directly to get a copy.

Chorus

My people… my people! What have I done to you?

or in what way have I offended you?

Answer me: answer me!

Verse 1

I led you safely out of Egypt.

I led you safely through the sea.

I led you safely into freedom,

but you have nailed Me to a tree.

Chorus

Verse 2

I opened up the sea before you.

I opened up this Promised land.

I opened up my arms to hold you,

but you have nailed them to a tree.

Chorus

Verse 3

I raised you to the heights of glory.

I raised your head and held you high.

I raised a vine that would be fruitful,

but you have raised Me up to die.

Refrain

© Fr. Frank Andersen msc & Chevalier Music

Dan Schutte wrote this version of the Exsultet for 2 cantors and choir/assembly, which makes a change from the usual solo settings. You can purchase the music here. With the refrain and the leisurely pace you’d want the assembly to sit down as it will take some considerable time.

The first part of each verse is sung by a male cantor as a free chant and the last two lines (in bold print) in time by a second cantor/female (soprano or alto). That will reduce the chance of boredom from the one voice and the assembly gets to do the refrain.

Now BIAB can’t do free chanting so I regularised the notes as best I could.

Refrain

Most holy night, most blessed of nights,

When Christ broke the chains of the darkness!

God’s mighty love is stronger than death.

Christ our Light shines forever!

Verse 1

Rejoice O children of the earth and holy ones of heav’n above!

Be glad this blessed night and join creation’s song!

Rejoice and sing, O Mother Church! The Saviour’s glory shines on you.

O let this holy place resound with joyful songs of praise!

Let ev’ry tear be wiped away. Let ev’ry sorrow fade,

For Jesus the Christ has risen from the grave.

Refrain

Verse 2

For truly it is right and just that on this night we sing with joy

to praise and thank the unseen God and Jesus Christ the Son.

The power of this holy night dispels the darkness of our shame,

for Christ has saved us with his blood and ransomed us from death.

O happy fault of Adam’s sin! O blessed day of grace

which gained for us a Saviour, Christ the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 3

For this is the Passover feast of God when Christ the blessed Lamb is slain,

whose holy blood has marked our homes and sheltered us from death.

This holy night makes all things new, our hearts resored to holiness,

washed clean of every stain of sin and bathed in heaven’s light.

How wonderful your care for us! How boundless is your love!

To ransom a slave you gave away your son.

Refrain

Verse 4

Creator of the heav’nly lights, we sing to you with grateful hearts.

Receive this off’ring of our praise, our evening song of joy.

Accept from us this Easter flame that joins all the stars of night

to guide the journey of our feet and lead us with its light.

For Jesus Christ , the Morning Star whose light will never fade,

has shattered the night to bring his endless day!

Refrain

© Daniel Schutte, 1998, published by OCP Publications.