Church Music

This is another song by the mysterious Robyn Horner who has made herself scarce internet wise.  There is a Robyn Horner who is a theologian at ACU, perhaps she wrote songs in an earlier iteration of her life.  If anyone knows if that is so, I’m all ears.

You can hear a snippet of this beautiful song here at the AOV sample site.  It is taken from Isaiah 61.

We’ve never done it in these parts and if isn’t being sung much these days it is a lost classic worth revisiting. I don’t think my backing does it justice but have a listen. I’ve set the tempo at 110.

 Verse 1

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

Because the Lord our God has anointed me

To bring the good news to the afflicted,

Bind up the hearts of those who are broken;

To proclaim liberty to those who are bound.

Verse 2

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

To proclaim that God is here, to set hearts on fire,

To comfort the lost and all those in sorrow,

To bring them great joy and strengthen their spirits;

And in praise we will raise our voices to God.

Verse 3

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

To proclaim that God is just and will set us free;

Will raise up the poor and honour the humble;

True to the promise, will live with all people.

I will dance, I will sing, for great is the Lord!

Coda

The Spirit of the Lord,

The Spirit of the Lord moves on the face of the earth

Loving, warming, shaping.

The Spirit of the Lord,

The Spirit of the Lord moves through me.

© Robyn Horner

I’ve been concentrating on As One Voice Vol 1, but here is one from The Source: New Songs 1 instead.  By Chris Bowater and Ian Taylor it appear to be a power ballady sort of P&W song. For an astonishing brass band version of this song listen here. I can’t find any snippets of the original on the net, so unless you have better luck than me you are going to have to learn it from my backing.

Verse 1

Creation is awaiting the return of the King.

The trees are poised to clap their hands for joy.

The mountains stand majestic to salute their God;

The desert lies in wait to burst into bloom.

Chorus 1

The King is coming, the King is coming,

The King is coming, to set creation free.

The King is coming, the King is coming,.

The King is coming to set creation free.

Verse 2

The church is awaiting the return of the King.

The people joined together in his love.

Redeemed by his blood, washed in his word.

As a bride longs for her bridegroom the church looks to God.

Chorus 2

The King is coming, the King is coming,

The King is coming to receive his bride.

The King is coming, the King is coming,

The King is coming to receive his bride.

Verse 3

The world is awaiting the return of the King.

The earth is a footstool for his feet.

Ev’ry knee will bow down, ev’ry tongue confess,

That Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth.

Chorus 3

The King is coming, the King is coming,

The King is coming to reign in majesty.

The King is coming, the King is coming,

The King is coming to reign in majesty.

© Sovereign Lifestyle Music 1998.

Christopher Willcock wrote this song and this snippet at AOV sounds not too bad, but I have sat through countless dreadful versions of this song when it was used as the Lamb of God at our church most weeks for ever, until mercifully about ten years ago it was decided locally that we should do whole masses rather then bits of several each week. I don’t think it has been used since. If we’d done it gently and smoothly and sensitively it might have been better, but alas that was not the case.

Rather than face my fears I’ve just done an MP3 render of an ancient MIDI file I made a very long time ago, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.

Don’t let any of that put you off the song if you have a use for it.

Verse 1

Lord, Jesus, Lamb of God,
you take away our sin:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

Verse 2

Lord, Jesus, Bread of life,
you feed us with yourself:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

Verse 3

Lord, Jesus, Living Vine,
we draw our life from you:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

Verse 4

Lord, Jesus, Word of God,
your word sustains our life:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

Verse 5

Lord, Jesus, put to death,
your life poured out for us:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

Verse 6

Lord, Jesus, raised to life,
you now have conquered death:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

Verse 7

Lord, Jesus, Prince of Peace,
your rule dispels our fears:
grant us your mercy, Lord,
grant us your mercy.

© Christopher Willcock SJ 1988.

This is one of Michael Joncas’ songs that I have never come across. It can be purchased for download at OCP.

Obviously a Eucharist song it has a most unusual tune in the verses. It may have been too odd as it doesn’t seem to have caught on based on lack of Youtube postings. Listen to the snippet at AOV for an idea of how it is supposed to go.

This was another difficult one to get into BIAB and not wholly successful.

Refrain

When we eat this bread and drink this cup

We proclaim your death until you come.

Verse 1

Where two or three are gathered together in my name.

Where two or three are gathered together, there am I.

How blessed are they who are called to the banquet of the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 2

Come you blessed of my Father, come to me.

Enter into God’s holy kingdom, full of joy.

How blessed are they who are called to the banquet of the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 3

I saw the city of Jerusalem come from God

All clothed and adorned as a bride for her husband, filled with love.

How blessed are they who are called to the banquet of the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 4

There will be no more weeping or mourning, nevermore

And God will dwell with his holy people evermore.

How blessed are they who are called to the banquet of the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 5

All praise the Father, Creator most Holy, praise to him;

All praise to the Son, our Saviour and Brother, praise to him;

All glory and praise to the Spirit of God who makes us one.

Refrain

© Michael Joncas 1981,1982.

This is one of two masses by Erica Marshall published by Willow and available for sale at As One Voice.  They describe it thusly:

This Mass is easy to learn and will be enjoyed by both student and parish assemblies. It is a new setting arranged for keyboard and assembly. The style is simple, without much syncopation and set in a comfortable melodic range. The chant-like Lord, Have Mercy is easily introduced by a Cantor. The Glory to God runs straight through with no Refrain. The Gospel Acclamations may be adapted in length to allow for a Gospel procession and, while a simple verse is given, assemblies are encouraged to use the verse of the day on the simple tone provided. The Holy, Holy, Holy and the three Memorial Acclamations are linked musically as are the Lamb of God and Lord, Have Mercy so making the ‘set’ complete.

You should listen to the snippets of the mass available here, which demonstrate with vocal and piano a simple mass that is perfect for parishes with few resources. When it says little syncopation above, read none, and so for music groups who cannot do syncopation this will be perfect.

I’ll post backings for the parts of the mass we use, so no Kyrie nor Our Father I’m afraid. The words are not altered at all from the set text so I won’t post the words.

I’m not sure how popular Erica’s mass will be.  She is known for the songs she has published in AOV collections.  The mass is efficient and singable and perhaps a little more memorable than Paul Taylor’s Mass of St Francis. It is certainly worth consideration and since the music of each mass at Willow is so inexpensive it would be worth your church, as ours has done, buying a few on spec and getting your musicians to see what they think. Parishes outside Australia might do well to think outside the square (ie GIA, OCP, WLP) and try the masses available to buy at As One Voice.

My questionable effort to rock up all the masses was just not feasible here. I couldn’t find a satifactory fudge for the 6/8 Gloria and Gospel Acclamation in Band in a Box and the whole thing went a bit country. This is nothing like what appears to be her intention but the backings are mainly just to learn the songs in any case.

More music from Bob Hurd, based on no fewer than six bible passages pulled from John, Job, 2 Timothy and 2 Corinthians. It can be purchased for download at OCP.

It is quiet reflective Easter music but suitable for other uses. You can hear a snippet or purchase the MP3 here. We have used this song but I think it needs to be done with humility and reverence – if you get too enthusiastic with a chorus like this you sound self aggrandising.

Refrain

I have seen the Lord, I have heard his voice,

And I know he lives, and I know he lives.

Death where is your sting? Fear, where is your grip?

Hearts now free to love; lives now free to give.

Verse 1

Those who speak the truth may be bound in chains,

But there is no chaining the Word of God.

Refrain

Verse 2

If we die in Christ, we shall rise with him:

If we share his passion, we shall reign with him.

Refrain

Verse 3

No greater love can there be than this:

To spend one’s life to give life.

Refrain

Verse 4

In our fragile flesh, the dying of the Lord;

In our faithful living, his life revealed.

Refrain

© Bob Hurd 1988,1990.

This is one spirit song that has emerged from pack of spirit songs, which we do use. Another David Haas song and so automatically despised in some quarters. It is a gentle song with uses for Pentecost and confirmation but also a general entrance or recessional. The instructions “light and rocking” mean back and forth not ROCK.

The text is at Cantus Mundi. It can be purchased at GIA.

This church has red hot go at this song with a soloist doing the verses with additional harmony vocals and ensemble (+ horns) for the chorus.  I suspect this is the original being used for a liturgical dance. I’ve linked this one that is really a bit fast just because the person filming on his camera tries valiantly to follow the words in the songbook and such wierdness merits reward and attention.

Another spirit song, this time from Gregory Norbet.  The version that you can listen to here has something of the chant about it, but is pleasant enough.  There is however a lot of competition for these sort of songs and I’m not sure I’m going to rush to this one. That said “birthing our love” is a fine sentiment and sung gently and reverently it would work well.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

My guitar version of AOV gives a three part harmony for the second half of the chorus that would be worth a try. My backing is more basic.

 Refrain

Spirit, come,transform us.

Come be our breath, be our hope.

Spirit, come, transform us.

Come be our breath, be our hope.

Verse 1

Deep in the womb of our heart

Reveal your presence, O God.

Refrain

Verse 2

Draw us to share others’ burdens,

Healing and loving with truth.

Refrain

Verse 3

You are the one who unites us

In striving for justice, for peace.

Refrain

Verse 4

Sing in our heart, be the dancer,

Birthing our love as we grow.

Refrain

Verse 5

Teach us to live with compassion,

Unfolding creator’s love.

Refrain

© Gregory Norbet 1988.

This song in Spanish and English is by Bob Hurd is based on Ps104:30 and useful for Pentecost amongst other uses.  The chorus in Spanish has an English counter melody that I have omitted in my backing for clarity that translates the Spanish as “Send out your Spirit, send out and renew the face of the earth.”  There are verses in Spanish if you want to go monolingual here. You can listen to a very sedate version of it there as well. A more uptempo version can be heard here.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

I wonder about English speakers singing this in Spanish, should we bother? It does seem singing in another language makes us think a bit about what we are singing, and John Bell certainly uses many languages in his search for congregational singing.

I think it would sound best a little slower than the 120 in the music so I’ve slowed my backing to 110.

Refrain

Envía tu Espíritu,
envía tu Espíritu,
envía tu Espíritu,
sea renovada la faz de la tierra.
Sea renovada la faz de la tierra.

Verse 1

Spirit of the living God, burn in our hearts,
and make us a people of hope and compassion.

Refrain

Verse 2

Wind of promise, wind of change, friend of the poor,
empower your people to make peace and justice.

Refrain

Verse 3

Breath of life and holiness, heal every wound,
and lead us beyond every sin that divides us.

Refrain

© Bob Hurd 1988.

I’m not exactly sure why I despise this song. I recall at Sunday school singing it off a large book with sickly sweet pictures on it, but that’s not a good enough reason.  You can read the background of the song and its author here. Perhaps it was better in the original Swedish, who knows.

This gooey country version goes all out schaltz, but I think Elvis tops it. Hillsong do it here and Newsong here – slightly better. There are more versions of this on Youtube than I care to watch ( Susan Boyle anyone) but I am almost convinced by Johnny Cash, whose voice almost redeems it. Willy Nelson’s version is probably the best of all.

My backing is a bit country too, but unless Willy will sing it for me I think I’ll avoid it.

Stanza 1:

O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all

The works Thy Hand hath made,

I see the stars,

I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy pow’r throughout

The universe displayed;

Refrain:

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

 

Stanza 2:

When through the woods

And forest glades I wander

I hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook

And feel the gentle breeze;

Refrain:

Stanza 3:

When Christ shall come,

With shouts of acclamation,

And take me home,

What joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow

In humble adoration

And there proclaim,

“My God, how great Thou art!”

Refrain:

© Stuart K. Hine 1963.