Church Music

I want us to sing this next Sunday as we are in the right liturgies for it. Tina asked for it a few weeks ago and Chris’s church did it this week so I thought I’d have a listen.  Although written in the twentieth century it has “Olde English” folk song sound to me. The text is by Omar Westendorf and the tune is “Bicentennial” by Robert E Kreutz.  I found it in Gather Australia at number 191. You can buy it from OCP here.

You can hear a pleasant version here. This is a version on organ.

My version is lots of guitar on BIAB.

Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
come give to us o saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.
verse 1 
As when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice;
so when You call your family Lord, we follow and rejoice.
(refrain) 
verse 2 
With joyful lips we sing to You, our praise and gratitude,
that You should count us worthy Lord, to share this heavenly food.
(refrain) 
verse 3 
The mystery of your presence Lord, no mortal tongue can tell;
whom all the world cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell.
(refrain) 
verse 4 
You give yourself to us o Lord, then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in Your name in truth and charity.
(refrain) 

© Archdiocese of Philadelphia, 1997.

Dan Schutte’s song for a sprinkling rite has been used locally for ages and I’m still not sick of it.  It is a fine song. You can hear it here but we push it along a bit faster and exaggerate the “rit” at the end of the verse a bit more. We also briefly tacet after “clothed in the light” until “bathed”.  The melody of the first line of the verse struck me as odd the first time I heard it, but now it is fine.

You can purchase the music from OCP here but it is in Spirit & Song (Vol 1/135) as well.

This church does it more at the speed we do it.

Refrain

River of glory, springs of our birth,
flood of God’s riches poured on the earth.
We are born from the darkness
and clothed in the light!
We are bathed in the glory of God!

1. Fountain of mercy,
grace flowing free,
streams of salvation,
spilling with love from a tree!

2. Here there is haven,
healing and health,
joy for the asking,
love in abundance of wealth!

3. Bread for our journey
God will provide.
Hope for all ages,
Jesus, companion and guide!

4. Darkness is banished,
night turned away.
Christ is our sunlight,
lifting and leading our way!

© Daniel, L. Schutte, 1991. Published by OCP Publications.

I’m still slogging through a folder of miscellaneous songs used in out parish over the years that aren’t from “As One Voice”.  This song is by Mike Balhoff, Darryl Ducotte and Gary Daigle and was sung by their group The Dameans. It has an odd stop start quality that might appeal.

The sheet music can be purchased here.

Refrain: Remember your love and your faithfulness, O Lord. Remember your people and have mercy on us, Lord

1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life and my refuge; when I call He hears.

2. If you dwelt, O Lord, upon our sinfulness, then who could stand?
But with You there is mercy and forgiveness and a guiding hand.

3. O Lord, hear the sound of my call and answer me.
My heart cries out for Your presence; it is You I seek.

4. As sentinels wait upon the daylight, wait for the Lord.
I trust in your kindness and redemption; and your faithful word.

5. Before all the mountains were begotten and earth took shape,

Even then, O Lord, You were our refuge throughout ev’ry age.

 

© Damean Music, 1978.

This is a truly beautiful song by Trish Watts and Monica O’Brien. It really should have been in As One Voice somewhere I think. You can hear a excerpt of the song here. I couldn’t find the sheet music at As One Voice’s website so you might have to contact them directly if you need the music.  The copy I have looks very hand made.

Refrain

Remember my love,

My love from age to age is timeless and new.

Remember my love, and how I’ve sheltered you.

Make your home in me as I make mine in you.

Verse 1

Tenderly I’ve watched and waited.

I have seen the sign of hope in your eyes.

Thrugh the years love was created,

By the power of faithfulness.

Refrain

Verse 2

Lovingly I’ve listened closely,

I have heard your tired voice in the night.

Through the years I’ve held you gently,

Like a mother who knows her own.

Refrain

© Willow Publications

At our parish there are four liturgy teams who put together the prayers and choose the music. The team for the first week of the month have chosen these songs for this weekend:

Entrance: Gather Us In (Haugen) AOV 1/12

Psalm: Jesus You Are Bread For Us (Walker) AOV 1/42 as a response

Gifts: I am the Bread of Life (Toolan) AOV 1/49

Communion: River of Glory (Schutte)

Be Not Afraid (Dufford) AOV 1/114

Recessional: Companions on a Journey (Landry) AOV 1/188

Yes, the one from Godspell, written by Stephen Schwartz. We have used this liturgically and it’s fine, especially from a participation point of view as there are no words to remember. This is the movie version, with baptism in the fountain. This is from a stage version. This group has done it as part of a Christmas carol service.

My backing stops the melody once it isn’t needed, so just keep singing!

© The Herald Square Music Company and New Cadenza Music Corporation, 1971.

Another Brian Boniwell song for advent about John the Baptist.

It always struck me as a very country and western song.

 

There was a man of God whose name was John.

He came to speak for the Light.

The voice of one in the wilderness.

Prepare the way of the Lord.

Chorus

Prepare the way of the Lord (x4)

Verse 2

Mountains and hills shall be brought to ground.

The winding paths be straightened.

And all mankind shall see his face;

Prepare the way of the Lord.

Chorus

Verse 3

He’s the Lamb of God and you must follow him.

Who takes the sin of the world,

For he has come to give you life;

Prepare the way of the Lord.

Chorus

© Brian Boniwell

Brian Boniwell, last heard of on the Gold Coast (Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Clear Island Waters), wrote this advent song that we have used on and off over the years, and it works very well. I’m afraid his music does not seem to be available to buy on the net.*

Verse 1

Prepare the road of justice, make straight the way of peace.

Receive the new forgiveness, embrace the coming light.

Patiently we wait for the coming of our God,

The Saviour of all nations, the hope of the world.

Refrain

A Virgin is with child, our God has come to us.

Come, O come Emmanuel, Christ be born in our time.

Verse 2

A voice cries in the wilderness, “Behold the Lamb of God”.

The Spirit moves upon the one who teaches in God’s name.

Burning with the fire, and healing with his touch,

Gathering a people to be his very own.

Refrain

Verse 3

The blind will see, the lame will walk, the outcast sing for joy.

The good news of salvation, proclaimed to everyone.

All who seek the truth, will know the loving flame

Burning deep within them, bringing forth new life.

Refrain

© Brian Boniwell, 2000

*

This is no longer true. Contact Brian at boniwell@aapt.net.au to ask about purchasing this song in a collection Spirit of Love.

This is an old song by John Foley from the seventies based on Ps 103. You can hear a sample and buy the music at OCP here. YouTube has the whole song here. I had no idea it was meant to sound like that as I always had heard it done as a traditionally styled hymn.

My backing is a little more jazz than pop.

1… Praise the lord, my soul,
Let fire and rain give praise to Him,
Give praise to Him who is merciful, slow to judge;
Bless the lord, O my soul!

2…Bless the Lord, my soul,
Let all I am give praise to Him,
And not forget he is kind, He forgives our sins;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

3… Merciful and kind,
He knows that man is made of dust,
And like the flowers that flourish he soon must die;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

4…Glory to our God,
Let all that is give praise to Him,
Give praise all you creatures who live His love,
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

© John B. Foley SJ and North American Liturgy Resources, 1975, 1979.

This song by Cesareo Gabarian is the next song in the miscellaneous pile of have been neglecting and was coincidentally just requested by Tina. We have sung it occasionally in a rather awkward English translation. The first one below seems an awful lot better than what we have been using.

You can hear an excerpt and buy the music here. This small choir does a nice version as does this church.

My backing only goes for three verses.

1. Tú has venido a la orilla,
no has buscado ni a sabios ni a ricos;
tan sólo quieres que yo te siga.

Estribillo
Señor, me has mirado a los ojos,
sonriendo has dicho mi nombre,
en la arena he dejado mi barca,
junto a ti buscaré otro mar.

2. Tú sabes bien lo que tengo;
en mi barca no hay oro ni espadas,
Tan sólo redes y mi trabajo.

3. Tú necesitas mis manos,
mi cansancio que a otros descanse,
Amor que quiera seguir amando.

4. Tú, pescador de otros lagos,
ansia eterna de almas que esperan,
amigo bueno, que así me llamas.

1. Lord, you have come to the seashore,
neither searching for the rich nor the wise,
desiring only that I should follow.

Refrain
O, Lord, with your eyes set upon me,
gently smiling, you have spoken my name;
all I longed for I have found by the water,
at your side, I will seek other shores.

2. Lord, see my goods, my possessions;
in my boat you find no power, no wealth.
Will you accept, then, my nets and labour?

3. Lord, take my hands and direct them.
Help me spend myself in seeking the lost,
returning love for the love you gave me.

4. Lord, as I drift on the waters,
be the resting place of my restless heart,
my life’s companion, my friend and refuge.

Neither the Spanish version nor this English translation are used at our church.  Here is the English translation we have used:

Verse 1

Here at the edge of the sea,

Notwithstanding the wise and the wealthy,

You came to summon for me to follow.

Chorus

O Lord, with a glance you embraced me:

Then you smiles and whispered my name.

I’ve abandoned my boat in my harbour;

Close to You I will seek other shores.

Verse 2

Here in this vessel I own

There’s no treasure, no weapon of war;

Just gear for fishing and years of toil.

Chorus

Verse 3

Here are the arms you require:

Tired branches to shelter the wearied;

A love that’s striving to grow and blossom.

Chorus

© OCP Publications, 1979,1980.