Church Music

I’ve already blogged the grown up Rivers mass and have now made backings to look at the youth version. Not unexpectedly for emmanuelworship, this is somewhat rowdier, in fact it sounds much more usual for their sound.  The Gloria and the Gospel Acclamation are uptempo guitar fests, but all the other pieces are, as in the other Rivers Mass, more reflective pieces. It would be a good idea to go and listen to the samples to get a feel for how they do the pieces.

The Kyrie is a slower song, in the style of the pieces from the Sanctus on, but we don’t sing that so I’ve left it out.

Gloria

My daughter thought this by an emo band when she heard them play it. It sounded more early 90s to me (think the Hummingbirds)  You are in no doubt with this one that this is a rock mass, rather than just a “contemporary” setting.  They cheat a little with the words (only a little), leaving off the “we” before “glorify You,” and repeating “Almighty Father,” to fit the song structure.  They also tack an amen onto the end of the third verse before the last chorus. Otherwise a standard verse/chorus/verse Gloria with the chorus twice at the beginning and end.

Gospel Acclamation

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelu; Hallelujah…

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelu; Hallelujah…

“If today you hear His voice harden not your hearts”

Yours are the words of life; Jesus, come and speak to us.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelu; Hallelujah…

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

This is a nonstandard acclamation so I had to give you the text. In today’s climate that means a room in the lowest levels of hell for such independent thought. This is very noisy and makes the acclamation sound like a threat. I’m not at all sure that is a bad thing!

Holy

This is where things get more restrained.  The major keys of the Gloria and Acclamation are replaced by E minor for the rest of the mass and they all share similar tempos and feel.   …and it’s good too.

Memorial Acclamations

The only liberties taken here are a repetition of “until You come again” in the first two acclamations and doing the whole acclamation twice in the third.

Amen

Lamb of God

There is a delightful countermelody singing “Lamb of God” after each “Have mercy on us” and “Grant us peace” that has a different sound in my backing. This continues the feel of all the pieces since the Holy Holy.

So if you actually want a rock mass, and let’s face it, there won’t be much choice at the moment – it is not exactly the style most encouraged at present, this a good one.  You can rock up a mass like Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise” if you like, but this is the real deal. It also manages to be reflective and thoughtful within a rock idiom and I’d love to be in a parish using it.  Don’t forget you can mix and match with the grown up Rivers if want some 6/8 pieces as variety.

It is only going to cost your parish $80 to try the lot and as I noted elsewhere they give you everything you could possibly want in resources.

Christopher Walker will write songs in 6/8 and 9/8 time won’t he. You can hear it done as intended here. This is also a nicely sung version from a mass. A school choir can be heard singing it here and it sounds great when they all kick in. It is a delicate flower of a song and I’m not sure I trust myself with it – maybe just a little guitar and close to speaking the lyrics. With so many settings of this psalm I doubt we’ll ever get around to using this, which is probably a pity.

My backing is not right because I made it 3/4 to get it into BIAB so the feel is all wrong, but if you want to do it with a country waltz feel sing along!

Verse 1

Because the Lord is my shepherd,
I have ev’ry thing I need.
He lets me rest in the meadow and leads me
to the quiet streams.
He restores my soul and he leads me
in the paths that are right:

Refrain
Lord, you are my shepherd,
you are my friend.
I want to follow you always,
just to follow my friend.

Verse 2
And when the road leads to darkness,
I shall walk there unafraid.
Even when death is close I have courage,
for your help is there.
You are close beside me with comfort,
you are guiding my way:

Refrain

Verse 3
In love you make me a banquet
for my enemies to see.
You make me welcome, pouring down honor
from your mighty hand,
and this joy fills me with gladness;
it is too much to bear:

Refrain

Verse 4
Your goodness always is with me
and your mercy I know.
Your loving kindness strengthens me always
as I go through life.
I shall dwell in your presence forever,
giving praise to your name:

Refrain

© Christopher Walker 1985.

This is another David Haas song, but this one I have played over and over and over.  I think it is good but massive repetition dulls the senses. I know I don’t like the long high D note at the start of the verses, which has been the start of many a crash and burn.  For some reason we have never bothered to bring it down a little, perhaps because bringing it down to F will cause alarm for lazy guitarists like me.

It can be purchased at GIA.

I like this church choir’s version. I’ve never done it this slowly but they keep it together nicely and there is a tasty horn section off camera. You’ve got to check out this wild organ version.  I’m not sure if it’s brilliant or suitable for a merry go round.

Refrain

To be your bread now, be your wine now,
Lord, come and change us to be a sign of your love.
Blest and broken, poured and flowing,
gift that you gave us, to be your body once again.

Verse 1

We come to your table with our lives as they are.
Heal us Lord, for we are broken; make us one again.

Refrain

Verse 2

Lord, we stumble through the darkness of night.
Lead us, now, O Lord, we follow; bring us home to you.

Refrain

Verse 3

Give us the bread and wine that bring us to life.
Feed us, and we’ll never hunger, never thirst again.

Refrain

© David Haas 1981,1982.

This David Haas song uses the vine metaphor from John 15, and so has liturgical use when that comes up in the readings, although it is one of Haas’s songs that we have never used.   A lovely restful tune but watch the differing melody lines in the verses.  The version in AOV Guitar has the second bar of intro stay on A/D rather than going back to D, which would make more sense.  I was not brave and went with replacing the D chord there and wherever else that pattern came up.

The text is available here.

This is nice version by a spirited trio + piano.  I suspect this is the original complete with a sappy picture and it is reasonably pleasant as these recordings go.

It can be purchased at GIA.

This is Marty Haugen’s setting of a nineteenth century text by Henry Alford.  I’ve never sung it but it strikes me as well done. Looking for information on this tune once again gave me lists of posts full of anger against Haugen. Listen to this organ and voice version and try to see any reason for the vitriol. Even the original is at worst harmless and certainly traditional sounding.  Even the NLMB approve the song, so Marty Haugen must have true art in his tune.

It can purchased at GIA.

Verse 1

We walk by faith, and not by sight;
no gracious words we hear
of him who spoke as none e’er spoke,
but we believe him near.

Verse 2

We may not touch his hands and side,
nor follow where he trod,
yet in his promise we rejoice,
and cry “My Lord and God!”

Verse 3

Help then, O Lord, our unbelief,
and may our faith abound
to call on you when you are near,
and seek where you are found:

Verse 4

that when our life of faith is done,
in realms of clearer light
we may behold you as you are
in full and endless sight.

Rpt Verse 1

This is Chris Robinson’s song from Isaiah and is a normal sounding song in the snippet on AOV. I gather he is Australian and this is from a collection of advent songs.

I myself have always heard it as a Russian style song for some reason. I’ve also played it so many times I no longer know if is is good song, but people do get into it and sing enthusiastically.

Refrain

A voice in the wilderness calls to prepare,

For we are standing on the edge of changes.

Across the desert sand and the mountain high,

The Lord is coming, make your way.

Verse 1

I will hear what the Lord will say,

A voice of peace for all his people,

His voice is never far for those who know

His glory dwelling in our land.

Refrain

Verse 2

Faithfulness and mercy have met,

Peace and justice have embraced here.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

And justice look down from the sky.

Refrain

Verse 3

The Lord our God will make us grow,

And earth will bring its fruit in all its splendor.

Justice marches on before he comes

And peace will follow in his way.

Refrain

© Chris Robinson 1990.

I don’t have to do No 7 in The Source New Songs, because it is “Come, Now is the Time to Worship” and I’ve already done that in AOV NG.

This is a song by Sue Howson from the 90s and quite nice it is but I have no idea how it is really supposed to go – I think it is a power ballad.  The phrasing is not easy but give it a go and see what you think. I’m not sure we really need to see “the marks of sacrifice.”

Create in me a pure heart that’s Yours forever

Yielded and steadfast, secure in Your love.

Restore to me joy in belonging to You.

Make me Yours, Lord, make me Yours,

I long to be devoted to You.

 

Oh may my life be one that’s willing to live for You,

Bearing the marks of sacrifice,

Living to die, laying all down for Your name.

Make me Yours, Lord, make me Yours,

I long to be devoted to You.

© Daybreak Music 1995.

A traditional South African tune beloved of choirs everywhere.  My daughter wandered in when I was making the backing because she recognised it from her choir days.  This choir is pretty good even if the clip misses the beginning. There is full sheet music courtesy of Willow Creek here.

In  my backing the two parts are again at opposite sides of the stereo mix. I wait until the main vocal line is established before bringing in the second line for clarity’s sake. Best sung without backing or just percussion I think.

Freedom is coming,   (O Freedom etc)

Freedom is coming,

Freedom is coming,

O Yes I know                           

Freedom is coming,

Freedom is coming,

Freedom is coming,

O Yes I know           (O Yes I know etc)

O Yes I know

O Yes I know

O Yes I know

O Yes I know

O Yes I know

O Yes I know

O Yes I know

© Utrych Publishing

This is, obviously, a Eucharist song from Christopher Walker.  We’ve never used it, probably because of the 4/4, 3/8, 2/4, 4/4 time shifting going on. You can get an idea of how this works from the snippet at AOV. Once this is mastered it actually is quite a pleasant tune and even has a Christmas version.  Because of the pauses, the song isolates the word “shed”.  I think this sounds odd for Australian males who are fixated on their sheds.

It was a dog to get into BIAB and I finally managed with a combination of time and tempo changes that I think did the trick. It ended up with a faux medieval style.

Refrain

Bread for the world broken; wine for us all shed;

Word in flesh spoken:

God in love made manifest, God in love made manifest.

Verse 1

Love on the road that’s lonely, love in our minds as guide,

Love speaking words of wisdom, love walking by our side.

Refrain

Verse 2

Love on our lips to praise him, love in our eyes to care,

Love on our hands for healing, love in ours hearts to share.

Refrain

Verse 3

Love feeds our starving brother, love heals our sister’s pain,

Love is a light in darkness, love soon will rise again.

Refrain

Verse 4

Love redeems all creation, love is the only way,

Love is our song forever, so with the world we say:

Final refrain

You are the love broken; Yours is the blood shed;

You are the word spoken:

You are love made manifest, you are love made manifest.

 

Christmas Version

Love has come down from heaven, love blessing all the earth,

Love of our God given, love here in human birth.

 

Love in the eyes of shepherds, love in the Virgin’s joy,

Love in a lowly stable, love for a holy boy.

 

Love on my lips to praise him, love in my eyes to care,

Love on his hands for healing, love in his heart to share.

 

Love redeems all creation, love is the only way,

Love is our song forever, so with the world we say:

© Christopher Walker 1981.

Addendum 3/12/24

Chris Welch suggested Chris Brunelle’s take on Chris Walker’s song was worth a listen.

It certainly is:

Gregory Norbet’s gentle song has to cope with a recitation in the middle.  I’m never sure how this sort of thing is meant to be timed so good luck. It is a beautiful thought from the story of Ruth and would be a great, if rather intense, wedding song (minus the recitation – stick the vows in there instead!)  You can listen to a nice choir sing it here.

Sung

Wherever you go, I shall go.
Wherever you live, so shall I live.
Your people will be my people,
And your God will be my God too.

Wherever you die, I shall die.
And there shall I be buried beside you.
We will be together forever;
And our love will be the gift of our lives.

Spoken
I want to say something to all of you
Who have become a part
Of the fabric of my life.

The color and texture
Which you have brought into my being
Have become a song,
And I want to sing it forever.

There is an energy in us
Which makes things happen
When the paths of other persons
touch ours.
And we have to be there
And let it happen.

When the time
Of our particular sunset comes
Our thing, our accomplishment
Won’t really matter a great deal.

But the clarity and care
With which we have loved others
Will speak with vitality
Of the great gift of life
We have been for each other.

Sung

Wherever you go, I shall go.
Wherever you live, so shall I live.
Your people will be my people,
And your God will be my God too.

Wherever you die, I shall die.
And there shall I be buried beside you.
We will be together forever;
And our love will be the gift of our lives.

We will be together forever;
And our love will be the gift of our lives.

Copyright © 1972
The Benedictine Foundation of the State of Vermont, Inc.,
Weston Priory, Weston, Vermont.

www.westonpriory.org