Church Music

This is one of Paul Inwood’s stirring hymns. It is deceptively clever song, designed as a two part canon, with the parts one bar apart in the refrain and two bars apart in the verses. It is a bit odd discussing a hymn from the 80s, that I’m sure is well known, that I’ve never heard before. I suppose without the canon it is a lesser work and maybe that is why we have never sung it in our church.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

My backing has the two parts running at opposite sides of the stereo spectrum.

Refrain

Holy is God, holy and strong!

God everliving, alleluia.

Verse 1

Sing the Lord’s praise, ev’ry nation,

Give him all honor and glory.

Strong is his love for his people,

His faithfullness is eternal.

Refrain

Verse 2

Praise to the Father almighty,

Praise to his son, Christ the Lord;

Praise to the life giving Spirit;

Both now and forever, Amen

Refrain

© Paul Inwood 1984

This is another song that I am blogging for completeness rather than education. I grew up singing this song in the Presbyterian church – we did not call it Crimond then – it just was “The Lord is My Shepherd”.  I find it hard not to sing “maketh” but that is just childhood imprinting.

I have added the bar after “lie” and “by” that I sang as a child. BIAB does not do 3/2 so this will have to do.

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Even for His own Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill;
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.

This is a chant by Rufino Zaragoza a Franciscan brother from California. I’m thinking of the introduction to the Easter Vigil Mass as a place to use this, but a lovely simple piece like this has lots of uses.

I can’t find it at OCP and I think the original collection is out of print, so you may have to use As One Voice as your source for this song.

Light of Christ,

Light flaming bright,

Burn in my heart holy fire.

© OCP Publications 1988,1990.

This very stately hymn is by Randall DeBruyn and you can listen to it here. This another one that my old guitar version of AOV had a misplaced page.  I coped with an assembly version and the chords from the OCP site and I’m sure the current AOVs are fine.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

I worry it is a delicate flower of a song that might wind up sounding like “Jerusalem” with too many voices. Here is a comment from a fan of the song.

 Verse 1

O most high and glorious God,

Cast your light into the darkness of my heart.

Give me right faith, and certain hope,

And perfect, perfect charity.

Give me true insight, Lord, and wisdom,

That I may always live within your ever holy will,

Lord may your light within me burn,

Shining out in perfect charity.

Verse 2

O most high and glorious God,

Open wide the door that leads me to your love.

Give me your firm, yet gentle strength;

May I live that perfect charity.

Lord, may your peace be ever in me,

That I may always seek to serve your children here on earth;

That I may find my home in you,

And live in perfect charity.

Verse 3

Then most high and thankful praise

I will sing unto the glory of your name:

To Father, Son, and Spirit bright,

Living Presence, Perfect Charity.

Praise to the Love that shines in splendour,

That lights the pathways of my heart,

And brings me close to you. O Holy One,

Invite me in, where you live in perfect charity.

© Randall DeBruyn 1982.

A Mary song from Owen Alstott. You can hear the original version here, in all its monkish delight.

It can be purchased for download at OCP. The text is here. (scroll down)

I’m not sure about this one – it would be good to hear it sung by a ordinary church choir.

More music from Bob Hurd and another Psalm setting -sort of (Ps 16&61 +Luke13). the original is here. TTK perform the song here. It must be popular as there are many Youtube versions out there of greatly varying quality.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

Refrain

Shelter me, O God; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

You alone are my hope

Verse 1

When my foes surround me, set me high above their reach.

Hear me when I call your name.

Refrain

Verse 2

As a mother gathers her young beneath her care,

Gather me unto your arms.

Refrain

Verse 3

Though I walk in darkness, through the needle’s eye of death,

You will never leave my side.

Refrain

© Bob Hurd 1984

Another Psalm setting, this time Psalm 27 by Christopher Walker. You can hear a snippet of a children’s choir singing the song at the OCP site and an adult singing along with a children’s choir at AOV. I don’t think that means it is only a children’s song, however.

It can be purchased at OCP.

 Refrain

O God, nothing can take us from your love,

Nothing can take us from your love. (Rpt 1st time only)

Verse 1

God, my light and my salvation, you are my help.

Refrain

Verse 2

You are always there to love me, you keep me safe.

Refrain

Verse 3

And when evil is around me, I have no fear.

Refrain

© Christopher Walker 1988, 1989, 1990.

Paul Inwood’s setting of Ps 128 is one we have frequently used as a refrain but never the whole song. It was last Sunday’s Psalm and we were going to sing the whole thing but other arrangements were made and we didn’t.  It is rather tricky and you have to get past all the women objecting being called a fruitful vine. You can hear the original here.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

Refrain

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Verse 1

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!

By the labor of your hands you shall eat.

You will be happy and prosper.

Refrain

Verse 2

Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;

Your children like shoots of the olive around your table.

Refrain

Verse 3

Indeed thus shall be blest all those who fear the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life!

Refrain

© Paul Inwood 1981.

This song by Bernadette Farrell has seventeen verses so I doubt anyone would expect to sing them all in one go. It is not a favourite of mine as gets sing-songy after a while, but then we don’t do it like the gospel song it should be (listen here).

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

My backing only goes for a few verses.

God of Abraham, lead us, lead us to your kingdom.

Into fruitfulness, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Sarah be with us, lead us to your kingdom.

Through our laughter and labor, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Moses and Aaron, lead us to your kingdom.

Out of slavery, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Miriam, lead us, lead us to your kingdom.

Into songs of hope lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Naomi, lead us, lead us to your kingdom.

Into love and care, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Israel, lead us, lead us to your kingdom.

To the promised land, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Samuel, lead us, lead us to your kingdom.

Into listening, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

 

God of Mary be with us, lead us to your kingdom.

Into trusting you lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom.

(last time) Lead us to freedom now.

Remaining verses as above

God of Jesus Christ / Into your new creation

Guiding light for our journey / Out of shadows and darkness

By the waters of healing / Into life everlasting

Through the word that is spoken / Through the bread that is broken

God of all living people / Into unity lead us

God of ev’ry race lead us / In diversity lead us

God of women of all time / Out of history lead us

God of humankind, lead us / Into harmony lead us

Lead us now and forever / Give us now a new future

© Bernadette Farrell 1990.

Another David Haas song, this time with a text from Isaiah, with uses for encouragement, farewell and funerals. It has to compete with other shepherd and flying like an eagle songs.

This is a solo country version, but this is more like what it would sound like in church. This one has a beautiful violin and piano duet for a minute and a half before the singers start that is worth a listen.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

We’ve never used it, but with so many Youtube clips it must be popular in the US. Each verse has a subtlely different tune over the same chord progression, so it would need care.

Verse 1

Like a shepherd I will feed you; I will gather you with care.
I will lead you and hold you close to my heart.

Refrain

We will run and not grow weary, for our God will be our strength,
and we will fly like the eagle, we will rise again.

Verse 2

I am strength to the weary; to the weak I am new life.
Though the young may grow weary, I will be their hope.

Refrain

Verse 3

Lift up your eyes, and see who made the stars.
I lead you, and I know you, I call you each by name.

Refrain

Verse 4

Fear not, I am with you; I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; uphold you with my hand.

Refrain

© David Haas 1985.