Church Music

This chant is by Colleen Fulmer.  The snippet at AOV gives you the idea although it is written so it can be done as a round in three parts, which you can listen to here. It is a powerful social justice song that has much to recommend it.

Verse 1

God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us

As we seek justice for all people.

Verse 2

God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek freedom for all people.

Verse 3

God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek equality for all people.

Verse 4

God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek dignity for all people.

Verse 5

God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek peace in our day  for all people.

© Colleen Fulmer 1985.

David Haas‘ setting of Ps 27. We have sung it a fair bit, but sometimes we just use the refrain as a response. The third verse is the standout, with its different melody.

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

You can hear it in a real church here or you can listen to the snippet at AOV.

This is a setting a setting of Ps 103 by Jeanne Cotter. You can hear a snippet at GIA here. (NB the sample at the AOV site is not the correct song.)  This man sings it with a strong voice.

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

Phil Porter and Elaine Kirkland wrote this chant.  I only know them for the “Advent Chant” that we have used but this is new to me. A snippet can be heard at AOV here. I’m not at all sure where to use it apart from at gifts.

Returning our gifts to the Giver of life the circle now will go on.

Returning our gifts to the Giver of life the circle now will go on.

© Phil Porter and Elaine Kirkland 1992.

A setting of Ps 34 by Tony Barr.  This is novel, in that three groups of singers start the mantra sequentially, each with their own line and then the cantor sings as a voice over the mantra refrain. You’ll get the idea from the snippet at AOV, or if you are planning on using it, buy the MP3 using the same link.

My backings are at 92 bpm.  I’ve done two because once I put all the mantra lines together the cantor part is unclear so the first one has only one line of the mantra going.

Mantra Refrain

1 Taste and see, taste and see, taste and see that the Lord is good.

2 Taste and see, taste and see, taste and see that the Lord is good.

3 Taste and see that the Lord is good, Taste and see, O taste and see.

Verses

1.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

Songs of praise ever on my lips.

I rejoice in the God who saves me,

In the One who rewards the poor.

2

Let us praise the greatness of God,

Let us sing of the Lord’s own name.

When I called on that name, God heard me,

Set me free from all doubt and fear.

3

All who turn to God shall see light,

Every shame will then disappear.

Let the poor cry and God shall help them,

God shall save them from all distress.

4

God the Lord is here among us,

Keeping safe all who live in hope.

Taste and see of the Lord’s own goodness;

They are happy who rest in God.

5

Holy chosen ones, fear the Lord;

Look to God, who will bless your days.

On that day when the rich go hungry

All who seek God shall be fulfilled.

6

Come, children, listen to my words;

Come learn how to know the Lord.

Who among you seeks life and bounty

Who among you seeks wealth and joy?

7

Let your tongue be clean of all guile,

All deceit banish from you lips.

Do good things, repel all evil.

Seek but peace with your heart and soul.

8

To the just the eyes of God turn,

Who will hear them in their distress.

But the Lord frowns upon the wicked,

Lest their memory remain on earth.

9

God shall help the just when they cry out,

Give them hope in distress and woe.

God is close to the broken hearted,

The oppressed know God’s saving hand.

10

When the just know hardship and pain,

God shall be there to comfort them,

Taking care that no bone be broken,

Taking care that not one is crushed!

© Tony Barr 1988.

A delightful song from Jeanne Cotter based on the famous “love” section of 1st Corinthians 13. It is therefore a no brainer as a wedding song, and was actually written with that in mind.  You can hear it on myspace here.

It can be purchased at sheetmusicplus.

My backing is at 120bpm and BIAB added an intro |E C#m|A B|

This is a Fr Frank Andersen classic that so loved as to be just about beyond criticism. He has visited our parish on a couple of occasions and was a delight, and his book on the Eucharist is essential reading. The transcript of this lecture is also worth our attention.

This is a rather breathless solo performance from a choir loft. You can also listen to an excerpt here.

In my version of the AOV combined guitar book, the very last note is wrong (it is a Bb not a G), which mucks up the big finish if you don’t see it coming.

Verse 1

Deep in Christ I pray you know the power He can give.

May your hidden self grow strong and may you live,

Strong in faith and built on lovee, until you know –

How high and long, how wide and deep, the fullness of God

Verse2

May the God of Jesus Christ, the Father we serve

Fill your minds that you may see, deep in your heart

What hope his call now holds for you,

His promise true, to fill your hearts with power to live,

the fullness of God.

Verse 3

Know the way you learned from Christ, to live life anew

Let your hearts be drawn to Him, let Christ renew,

The hope in you, to grow into. – goodness and truth

And living so you’ll come to know, the fullness of God

coda

And living so you’ll come to know, the fullness of God.

© Frank Andersen msc and Chavalier Music 1978.

We tried using this song some years ago but found it quite difficult – I still think it is a good song though.  The problem was the long gaps between words in the chorus and inventive phrasing I think.

The song was by Andrew Tanner of the band Seven Stories. You can hear a snippet at AOV here.

I put my backing to a Latin beat hoping it would help keep the intervals obvious.

Verse 1

As a dream receive your history

From the martyrs and the saints.

Let their story be your story,

Yours the laughter, yours the pain.

Chorus

We will rise, we will rise,

We will rise up on wings like eagles,

Run and not be tired.

Show us your dreams and visions,

Warm our hearts with tongues of fire,

Tongues of fire.

 Verse 2

Lord, we stumble in the darkness,

We cry for visions in these days.

Pour on us your living spirit,

In all ways, always.

Chorus

Verse 3

Jesus, save your nomad people,

Bring us face to face with you.

Start in us a new creation,

Christ be with us as we go.

Chorus

© Andrew Tanner 1981.

This is an extremely popular song by David Haas, which is a frequently used entrance song but is also good for RCIA and even as a recessional.  The bass run is great if you can do it (I can’t). Even without that the chords are more interesting than usual. I don’t know if this is the original, but it is a very professional recording. This is an impressive recording by a choir that is a bit faster, and more like we sing it. Very singable and everyone joins in, so a good choice. The only problem is that it is meant to be gospel style piano and I’ve never been able to get that feel.

The text is here and it can be purchased at GIA.

Watch the “so all” in the second verse – they are very short notes.

An early P&W song from Graham Kendrick that we have often used as a recessional. There is a noisy live version here (under Shine…) that is probably a little too fast to enunciate the words in the verse – if that is important. This appears to be the original and very sedate it seems now doesn’t it.

The sheet music is at scribd.

Verse 1

Lord, the light of your love is shining,

In the midst of darkness, shining;

Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us,

Set us free by the truth you now bring us.

Shine on me, shine on me.

Chorus

Shine, Jesus, shine,

Fill this land with the Fathers glory;

Blaze, Spirit, blaze,

Set our hearts on fire.

Flow, river, flow,

Flood the nations with grace and mercy;

Send forth your Word,

Lord, and let there be light.

Verse 2

Lord, I come to your awesome presence,

From the shadows into your radiance;

By the blood I may enter your brightness,

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.

Shine on me, shine on me.

Chorus

Verse 3

As we gaze on your kingly brightness,

So our faces display your likeness,

Ever changing from glory to glory,

Mirrored here may our lives tell your story.

Shine on me, shine on me.

Chorus

© Make Way Music 1987.