Church Music

We have used this Fr Frank Andersen song as an entrance in the past and it is lively enough to get away with it. Listening to it now, I suppose it is also a funeral song.

It has a disturbing similarity to “Bless ’em All” that I am trying to ignore.

The sample at AOV doesn’t work for this one but you could listen to this slowish guitar version.

My backing is fairly country.

Chorus

Welcome home! Welcome home!

Welcome home to the land of your freedom and joy!

Welcome home! Welcome home!

Be at peace in the arms of your God!

Welcome home!

Verse 1

“This is my body now given for you!”

This is the gift you have lived!

And just as the Father embraces the Son,

So do we embrace you! Welcome home!

Chorus

Verse 2

We come to thank you, the people you loved,

For us you have been living word!

The Word you have spoken has nourished our hearts;

Now the Word comes to you! Welcome home!

Chorus

Verse 3

Deep in the Godhead the Mystery you know;

In the love-span of God do you live!

So now shall your prayer be effective and free;

Pray for us now that you’re welcome home!

Chorus

Verse 4

Let there be music and let there be song,

For the triumph that your life has been!

Hear how God’s angels and saints in their joy

Join with us as we sing, Welcome home!

Chorus

© Frank Andersen. 1992

Published by Spectrum Publications.

http://www.spectrumpublications.com.au/

A song designed for a child’s baptism by the folk laureate of Australian liturgical music, Peter Kearney. AOV have an excerpt to listen to.

Peter has put the text up here. You can also visit his website.

My backing does it no favours but it should be fine with guitar and voice.

The perfect storm for haters of their genre, a setting Ps 98 with words by David Haas and music by Marty Haugen. There is a sample to listen to at AOV. We use Bob Dufford’s setting usually and have never sung this one.

The text is here. It can be purchased in a collection of psalms at GIA.

You can hear a church use it here.

A Taize chant by Jacques Berthier available in twelve languages in the AOV version. You can hear it here.

My backing is at 76 bpm.

 Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life.

© Ateliers Et Presses De Taizé

Sr Marianne Misetich wrote this charming advent song that I assume is aimed at children as in this clip.

Listen to a sample at AOV  here.

My backing’s tempo is 102 and the intro was made up by Band in a Box.

Verse 1

We’re waiting for Jesus like Mary,
We’re waiting for Jesus the Lord.

Refrain

Come down, Lord Jesus!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
The whole world is waiting for Love,
The whole world is waiting for Love.

Verse 2

We’re laying a manger for Mary,
A manger for Jesus the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 3

We’re making it lovely for Mary,
So lovely for Jesus the Lord.

Refrain

© Marianne Misetich SNJM 1977.

This carol didn’t make the cut in AOV 1 and turns up here. There are more verses and variations on the net but these are the lyrics in AOV.

Hear it get the full symphonic treatment here. Andrea Bocelli’s version is here.

After those, my backing is not entirely serious as everyone knows how to sing this already.

Verse 1

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Verse 2

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Verse 3

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

This is a gentle chant by Monica Brown. This is a sample.

 Gather us, O God.

Body, spirit, soul and mind.

Gather us, O God.

One in union now with you.

© Monica Brown and Emmaus Productions 1991.

A traditionally styled hymn, but written in the 80s, with words by Anthony Kelly and music by Christopher Willcock. Listen to the sample at AOV to get the idea.

This was the official hymn for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Australia in 1986.

My backing is all fake brass and organ.

1. Lord of life and Lord of nations,

Giving peace, you make us one,

Heart of flesh for heart of stone,

Break the walls of all divisions.

Your Kingdom come with this its sign:

Our song, this prayer: let peace now reign!

 

2. Lengths of love beyond all measure,

Heights of love which now do call,

Breadth of love as room for all,

Depths of love where hides the treasure:

Through Christ, our Way, we find true peace,

A world made whole in God’s embrace.

 

3. Visions new and ancient dreaming,

See the love beyond all death;

New the heavens new the earth,

Promise of the Kingdom coming.

Through Christ, the wounds of all this world.

In God’s own peace will then be healed.

© Anthony Kelly CSSR and Christopher Willcock SJ 1986.

A song for the prayer of the faithful from Nicaragua arranged and with English words by John Bell of the Wild Goose Resource Group. You can here an excerpt in Spanish at AOV.

 1. For the world and all its people

we address our prayers to God.

Refrain

Confidently, all can worship

in the presence of the Lord.

2. All the powerless, the hungry,

are most precious to their God.

3. For the poor God has a purpose,

for the desperate, a word.

4. Christ is here and Christ is stronger

than the strength of sin or sword.

5. God will fill the earth with justice

when our will and his accord.

©WGRG, Iona Community, 1990.

http://www.iona.org.uk/wgrg_home.php

This is a song I hadn’t heard of until a request for a backing came in today.

What is truly remarkable is that Band in a Box figured the chords out and knowing that makes it fairly easy to pick the notes out and then arrange them on BIAB until the sound is something like the recording and then you have a backing. It still took an hour or so to do, but it is Anzac Day in Australia today and I had the day off. It is obviously easier if you have the sheet music already and if you intend to use this you should go to GIA and buy the sheet music.

This is the Youtube video that I listened to get the tune. I had to ignore the embellishments from the singer and my notes are likely to be approximate.

My backing is 64 bpm and I left the extra bar that builds up to the last chorus in situ.

Refrain

We will drink the cup.

We will win the fight.

We will stand against the darkness of the night.

We will run the race

And see God’s face,

And build the Kingdom of love.

Verse 1

Do not fear for I am with you.

Be still and know that I am God.

Refrain

Verse 2

You will run and not grow weary,

For I your God will be your strength.

Refrain

Verse 3

We are the Church, we are the Body.

We are God’s great work of art.

Refrain

And build the Kingdom of love.

© 1991 GIA