A hymn by Patrick Matsikenyiri from Zimbabwe. AOV also gives texts in Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, French and English and you can hear their snippet here.
Jesu tawa pano;
Jesu tawa pano;
Jesu tawa pano;
Tawa pano, mu zita renyu.
© Patrick Matsikenyiri 1995
Alternate version with VST instruments:
A setting of Ps 25 by Bob Hurd that we use a lot and also as a substitute for the set Psalm through a season like advent. I heard it years ago at a music session organised by the Brisbane Archdiocese when it was played at breakneck speed on an organ. We still do it in a lively fashion, as it should be done, and it is a great song. The last repeat of “To you O God…” is meant to slow down, but I often don’t bother.
It can be purchased for download at OCP.
This is a fine version but it could be even more uptempo. A cantor with a fine voice does a slower version here.
Refrain
To you, O God, I lift up my soul;
lift up my spirit to my Lord.
To you I lift up my soul. (Rpt 1st time)Verse 1
Make me to know your ways, O God;
teach me your paths, guide me.
You are my Saviour.Refrain
Verse 2
Good and upright our gracious God,
showing the way,
guiding the humble to justice.Refrain
Verse 3
Steadfast and kind your ways, O God;
all who revere your covenant
know your friendship.Refrain
To you I lift up my soul.
To you I lift up my soul.
© Bob Hurd 1991.
VST version:
This is a song by Maggie Russell of Mass of Freedom fame based on 1 Cor 12:4ff. The snippet at AOV gives you an idea of the song. The verses are listed as optional and the chorus could stand on its own, especially as a children’s song. It would be an interesting choice for the procession of the gifts.
It can be purchased for download at As One Voice.
Refrain
Diff’rent gifts, yet we are one, one in Christ’s body.
Each of us uniquely made; diff’rent, yet the same.
Celebrate our diff’rences, working together;
Needing each one’s special gifts to make the body whole.
Verse 1
Come and celebrate the many diff’rent colours:
Each a glimpse of a loving gen’rous God.
Precious are the gifts we bring to one another:
Each a gift of love.
Refrain
Verse 2
Come and wonder at the shades of God’s creation:
All a part of the Truth that sets us free.
In diversity we celebrate our story:
Called to unity.
Refrain
© Maggie Russell 1994.
VST version:
This is a sweet folk style song from the seventies by Robin Mann who writes about it here. The real meat is in the optional third and fourth verse and I see no reason not to sing the lot. A snippet is to be heard here at AOV.
The music in this AOV collection is rarely unclear, but here in the guitar edition it is not clear enough that the last bar on the fourth line is only sung at the end and does not lead into the verses at all.
Refrain
Comfort, comfort all my people
with the comfort of my word.
Speak it tender to my people:
All your sins are taken away.
Verse 1
Though your tears be rivers running,
though your tears be an ocean full,
though you cry with the hurt of living,
comfort, comfort.
Every valley shall be lifted,
every mountain shall be low,
every rough place will be smoother:
comfort, comfort.
Refrain
Verse 2
Though your eyes see only darkness,
though your eyes can see no light,
though your eyes see pain and sorrow:
comfort, comfort.
Every night will have its morning,
every pain will have an end,
every burden will be lightened:
comfort, comfort.
Refrain
Verse 3
Though we build strong walls for prisons,
though we feast while others starve,
though we fill this world with weapons:
comfort, comfort.
Every prisoner will be rescued,
every hungry mouth be filled,
every gun will rust, forgotten:
comfort, comfort.
Refrain
Verse 4
Though we fracture God’s creation,
though we stand so far apart,
though we fail to love each other:
comfort, comfort.
Every wall will crack and crumble,
every stranger will be friend,
every one embrace another:
comfort, comfort.
Refrain
© Robin Mann 1975.
Further experiments in the land of VST melodies:
A song written by Chris Robinson who appears to have written educational songs for children. This one starts off sounding like “My Girl” by The Temptations but becomes a jaunty singalong. You can hear a snippet here at AOV.
Verse 1
Like a warm breeze on a winter’s day,
Like a seed that grows in my heart everyday.
And it grows wuth the love we share.
It grows when people care.
We’re building, building the Kingdom everywhere.
Chorus
And we’re building, building the Kingdom
with our hearts and with our hands.
What the Lord of us all commands (is)
to be building, building the Kingdom everyday.
Verse 2
And it grows when we are hopeful.
It grows when we forgive.
From the things that we create,
To the times that we celebrate,
We’re building, building the Kingdom every day.
Chorus
© Chris Robinson and Creative & Musical Resources 1987.
Another VST experiment:
A terrific text by Congregational minister, poet and hymn writer Brian Wren with traditional music adapted by Carlton Young.
The sheet music is at Hope Publishing.
This interview gives some background to Brian Wren’s work and his comments on removing the veil of archiac language sound oddly relevant. Its unconventional view of God appears to have been embraced by the Unitarians in particular and to have upset others. I suspect it is lyrically just too challenging for the current Catholic church, but this episcopal church gives it a go.
Bring many names, beautiful and good,
celebrate, in parable and story,
holiness in glory, living, loving God.
Hail and hosanna! Bring many names!Strong mother God, working night and day,
planning all the wonders of creation,
setting each equation, genius at play:
Hail and hosanna, strong mother God!Warm father God, hugging every child,
feeling all the strains of human living,
caring and forgiving till we’re reconciled:
Hail and hosanna, warm father God!Old, aching God, grey with endless care,
calmly piercing evil’s new disguises,
glad of good surprises, wiser than despair:
Hail and hosanna, old aching God!Young, growing God, eager, on the move,
saying no to falsehood and unkindness,
crying out for justice, giving all you have:
Hail and hosanna, young, growing God!Great, living God, never fully known,
joyful darkness far beyond our seeing,
closer yet than breathing, everlasting home:
Hail and hosanna, great, living God!
The second last verse was altered by Wren (read about it here) from this:
Young, growing God, eager still to know,
willing to be changed by what you’ve started
quick to be delighted, singing as you go,
Hail and Hosanna,
young, growing God!
© Hope Publishing Co. 1989.
Another VST version – still on a learning curve:
A setting of Ps 121 by Australian composer Robyn Horner. You can hear a snippet and buy the individual sheet music at AOV.
Antiphon
I will walk in the presence of my Lord,
In the land of your loved creation.
I will live in the radiance of your gaze,
From the warmth of your heart, my God.
Verse 1
When I lift my eyes up to the hills
I wonder who’ll be my help?
My help will be from the Lord who made me,
Made the heavens and the earth.
Antiphon
Verse 2
May the Lord be sure you do not fall,
Never sleeping, always your guard.
You shall be at peace, for the Lord is mindful
of your footsteps and your ways.
Antiphon
Verse 3
God is your protection and your shade,
Standing ever close by your side.
Neither the sun nor the moon shall harm you,
by day or by night.
Antiphon
Verse4
From evil, the Lord will keep your soul
and will hold your life in safe arms.
As you walk, your God will guard your going,
for ever your true strength.
Antiphon
© Robyn Horner 1991.
This is another VST experiment:
Another great song by John Bell and Graham Maule of the Wild Goose Resource Group. What do you do with a text as challenging as this? Sing it to a well known French Christmas carol I suppose, so no-one has to learn the tune. This version is very nice but takes a lot of liberties with the song, while this is more like what you’ll hear in church.
Verse 1
Jesus Christ is waiting,
Waiting in the streets;
No one is his neighbour,
All alone he eats.
Listen, Lord Jesus,
I am lonely too.
Make me, friend or stranger,
Fit to wait on youVerse 2
Jesus Christ is raging,
Raging in the streets,
Where injustice spirals
And real hope retreats.
Listen, Lord Jesus,
I am angry too.
In the Kingdom’s causes
Let me rage with you.Verse 3
Jesus Christ is healing,
Healing in the streets;
Curing those who suffer,
Touching those he greets.
Listen, Lord Jesus,
I have pity too.
Let my care be active,
Healing just like you.Verse 4
Jesus Christ is dancing,
Dancing in the streets,
Where each sign of hatred
He, with love, defeats.
Listen, Lord Jesus,
I should triumph too.
On suspicion’s graveyard
Let me dance with you.Verse 5
Jesus Christ is calling,
Calling in the streets,
”Who will join my journey?
I will guide their feet.”
Listen, Lord Jesus,
Let my fears be few.
Walk one step before me;
I will follow you.
© WGRG, Iona Community, 1988.
http://www.iona.org.uk/wgrg_home.php
This lovely song with words by Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien and Music by Trisha Watts is also in AOV: Next Generation, so I have already blogged it here. You can hear AOV snippets, firstly of Trisha singing it here, and also a wild harmonised version here. It’s still a great song.
So I’ve just tried a version with a new melody line courtesy of VST.
This surprising song was written by Digby Hannah, a Baptist minister from Melbourne. It is noted to be in a folk style and you can hear that in the snippet at AOV. When I put it into BIAB it seemed more of a great gospel style song. In that style, I think this is another lost classic Aussie Hymn. How about we use it instead of “Come to the Water.”
Verse 1
There’s a river running deep within the silence of our souls,
Where the quenching healing waters carve their art
At its source a spring of living water surging and sustained,
It’s the voice of Jesus waiting for the listening of our hearts.Chorus
When the living waters flow in us
When the living waters flow again,
They will carry us, they will wash us down.
They will quench our thirst again.Verse 2
Sometimes the river of our life winds wandering away,
Sometimes the rapids tumble restlessly,
Comes the time to stop and find the deeper river running strong
To drink refreshing waters, and hear the spirit’s song.Chorus
Verse 3
Hear the call to thirsty people, there’s no need to thirst again,
To the weary come beside still waters lie
Full of goodness full of mercy our cup will overflowWhen the call of that deep river is a voice we’ve come to know.
Chorus
© Digby Hannah 1994.
I’m still learning how to replace the melody line in BIAB with a VST plugin instrument. Here’s another experiment:
