Church Music

I’m nearing the end of the Prayer and Praise songs in Spirit & Song Vol 1 and if I skip one it means I’ve already blogged it.

This one is words by Mike Nelson and music by Mike Nelson and Anthony Perna. It is singable by an assembly for a change, but each verse has a different tune and the the third is completely different to the others so is best regarded as a bridge.
You can hear a version here.

Refrain

With all I am I come with humble heart,

I come with soul rejoicing to do your will.

With all I am, all I can be, all I offer I offer for you.

Verse 1

Teach me your ways, O Lord, and send me forth

with your word on my lips and in my heart.

Verse 2

Let your compassion live within me,

so that I may give all as you give to me.

Verse 3

In all creation is your presence.

Help me to see you in all I serve.

© Michael P. Nelson and Michael A Perna 1997.

This is an old Andraé Crouch song that I remember from the 70s.  I suppose it works as a personal testimony but I doubt it works in any other way. The cynic in me thinks that I’m sure he did have lots of troubles and he did learn to depend on the Lord but that’s his situation and observing the amount of trauma some people have in their lives you have to wonder how much learning some people are called upon to do.

The text is here and the sheet music is available through various sites including musicnotes.

I’m not sure I understand this song by Tom Conroy. Why are the waters beneath us?

There is a well for those who are thirsting,

for those who are desp’rate, the broken and poor.

Where those who drink the waters beneath them;

they shall live always and thirst no more.

There is a well, unknown to the mighty

but close to the many with nothing in store.

Where those who drink the waters beneath them;

they shall live always and thirst no more.

There is a well for those who are restless,

longing for mercy, creation restored.

Where those who drink the waters beneath them;

they shall live always and thirst no more.

© TEAM Publications 1993.

It is an echo song needing two groups to sing it and comes with a Spanish version.  It can be purchased for download at OCP. You can listen to it at Conroy’s My Space page.

This is another from Chris’s parish, this time by Dan Schutte.  I don’t recall ever doing this song but my memory isn’t so good these days.

The text is at spiritandsong and the song can be purchased for download at OCP.

Jonathan at Cantus Mundi helpfully aggregates some Youtube versions including the original.

You can listen to this parish sing the song and here is yet another version:

This blog allows me to learn new hymns that other parishes are using and this is one from Chris’s parish by Ruth Duck.

The text is all kinds of wonderful (here) and the old tune Beach Spring is the same as “God of Day and God of Darkness” so nothing new to learn if you know that one.

It is 481 in Gather Australia and while I couldn’t find a purchase for download Hymnary lists the many hymnals it graces.

This is another of Suzanne Toolan‘s Taizé style chants. Each verse sung over the ostinato refrain has a different tune. It also has Spanish lyrics – “Tu Voluntad.”

You can purchase the sheet music for download and hear a snippet at OCP.

As usual my backings for chants lack a little subtlety, but it should be OK for learning purposes.

Ostinato Refrain

The will of your love, the will of your love

Be done on earth as it is in heaven.

1. Blessed are you, blessed and holy.

Teach me your way, the way of your love.

2. Open my eyes that I may know your wonders,

The wonders of your way, the wonders of your love.

3. O God, teach me wisdom;

O God, the wisdom of your love.

4. A lamp to my feet, a light to my path

Is your word, your word of truth.

5. Happy are you who follow the path of your God,

Who live in God’s love as it is in heaven.

6. Happy are you who walk in truth;

In you there is no darkness, in you there is light.

© Suazanne Toolan RSM 1995.

This is another song for solo prayer in a circumstance where it makes sense to the singer.  I don’t think it is one that has general applicability really. It is by Tom Franzak and the text is at spiritandsong. If you don’t want to get the sheet music in Spirit & Song Vol 1 it is also in the collection ” Never Too Young” available to purchase at OCP, where you can hear a snippet of the song. You can hear another version here.

…or you could sing along with my backing.

This is a solo version:

Entrance: All Are Welcome (Haugen)

Psalm 145 ( O’Brien)

I will praise your Name forever, my King and my God.

Gifts: Come to Me (Norbet) AOV 1/37

Communion: Come to the Table (Burland) AOV NG 33

Seed Scattered and Sown (Feiten) GA 195

Thanksgiving: Holy Spirit Come (Mangan) AOV NG 67

Recessional: Shout to the Lord (Zschech) AOV NG 114

This is another fine song for solo use by Rich Mullins in the praise genre. I’m not sure about songs that say “O God, you are my God” but I suppose that is sorta psalmlike.

The text is at spiritandsong and the sheet music can be purchased for download at several sites including musicnotes.

This is a bouncy song by Amy Grant and Wes King that would be best as a childrens’s song.

The text is based on Matt 6:33 and can be found here. I couldn’t find downloadable sheet music so you’ll just have to use Spirit and Song Vol 1 unless you find it elsewhere.

My backing keeps things light: