Church Music

Tom Booth wrote this adaptation of Psalm 23 which has been listed as a funeral song in Spirit and Song. It would work as a solo or choir vehicle (using the harmony line in the refrain) in that circumstance, but is a moving tune that would work in other situations. It has too many rhythmic challenges for an assembly to join in without the tune being smoothed out.

The text is at spiritandsong where it can purchased for download. You can hear the original here.

My backing ignores the harmony.

This is a beautiful instrumental version:

I’ve written a chorus based not on this Sunday’s texts, but on readings from the Assumption: the Beatitude in Luke 11:28 (Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it) and some thoughts from the readings 1 Cor 15:54-57 and 1 Chronicles 16:1-2. They made me think of music ministry and liturgy being the work of the people.

Blessed are you who hear the word of the Lord.

Blessed are you who keep the word of the Lord.

Death for you has no sting.

Joyful songs you will sing.

Blessed are you who do the work of the Lord.

© 2014 Geoffrey Madden

Sheet Music: Do the Work of the Lord

This is a funeral song from Bob Hurd. Funerals are hard from a musical point of view. You can accept the fact no-one is going to sing and use a song like this or “Go in Peace” (SAS 2/239) as a solo or choir vehicle, or you can use a song everyone knows or maybe new lyrics to a familiar tune (eg Go Silent Friend).

The text is at spiritandsong where the sheet music can be purchased for download. The original can be heard here, with it’s over the top guitar introduction. It calms down after that and the tune in the verse is very interesting and also completely unsuitable for an assembly.

My backing is also little rough for a funeral:

This song by Trevor Thomson is designated for a Sprinkling Rite and is a terrific song, but again the verses are really solo material.  The chorus is fine for the assembly.

The text is at spiritandsong where the sheet music can be purchased for download.

My backing shows off BIAB very well:

This appears to be the original:

The Arch Street Band can be relied on for a great version:

This church copes with the verse by slowing it down:

I’ve discovered these ritual sings in Spirit and Song Vol 2 have their purpose in small print at the bottom of the page.

This song by Joshua Blakesley is suggested for RCIA and is a fine pop song. It has no place for an assembly, especially the verses as is too high and syncopated and the goes even higher with a key change. Perhaps a praise band with a good singer as a solo spot in the service, if such a thing should exist. I’d rather it just was not used in a mass at all, as there are plenty of songs suitable for the congregation on this theme that would encourage participation, fine song though this may be in other contexts.

The text is at spiritandsong where the sheet music can be purchased for download. You can hear the original here.

My backing is “with energy” as suggested…also with synths and pounding bass.

Well that was fun.  My virus checker decided it didn’t like a BIAB upgrade and crippled the program without telling me. Sweet …all reinstalled and back in business now.

This is a special week as it is the parish’s fortieth anniversary. I’ve only been here eighteen months so some of it bypasses me but we made sure that everything was very familiar this week.

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

Psalm 67 (O’Brien)

O God, let all the nations praise you;

let all the nations praise you.

Gifts: The Cry of the Poor (Foley) AOV 1/83

Communion: Bread Broken Wine Shared (Horner) AOV 2/155

Will You Love Me (Boniwell) AOV 1/40

Thanksgiving: Here I Am Lord (Schutte) AOV 1/90

Recessional: Christ Be Our Light (Farrell) AOV 2/3

I skipped one Bob Hurd song, “Flow River Flow” because it’s in As One Voice and I’ve already blogged it and here is another Bob Hurd song next in Spirit and Song Vol 2.

This is a very nice 6/8 gospel style song in the “Ritual Music” section so I imagine it is for confirmation or ordination even. It starts like a show tune but slips into a neat gospel refrain.

The text is at spiritandsong where the sheet music can be purchased for download.

My backing is a lot more jazz than the original.

This church puts on quite a performance. Apart from being green with envy at their wonderful grand piano I note the verses are done as an excellent night club style solo – it’s one style of cantoring I suppose.

This is the fifth week I’ve written a song based on the upcoming week’s readings. This is much shorter and simpler than the previous ones.

This folk chant sounds like a ripoff of every folk sing ever written but I can’t place it, so the tune, such as it is, is mine until someone tells me what it used to be.

The text is from the first reading for this Sunday and it is a favourite with Elijah looking for God as he comes out of the cave. I love the indeterminate ending.  You could busk the key words of the Psalm (Mercy, Peace, Love, Justice, etc) over the chant on the repeats.

I searched for the Lord in the mighty wind,

He was not there.

In the shaking of the earth,

He was not there.

In the raging of the fire,

I only found a pyre.

Listen to the sound of the breeze.

© 2014 Geoffrey Madden

Sheet Music: He Was Not There

This is a terrific song by Bob Hurd in a Latin style with one set of verses for gathering and another for sending forth. Oddly it sounds a bit like the bush ballad “Augathella Station”.

The text of the refrain is here (page 3) and it can purchased for download at OCP if you want the rest of the lyrics. You can hear the whole song at this site.

This parish have a red hot go at the gathering version with almost enough guitars:

I’m pressing on with Volume Two of Spirit & Song and I’ve got to a section of ritual music. If I skip a song it means I’ve blogged it already.

This song by Tom Booth has an obvious use for second rite services. You can hear the original here.

You can find the text at spiritandsong where you can purchase the sheet music for download. It sounds like a solo vehicle but that might work well in context.