Church Music

I think we did this for Holy Thursday one year.  It is by Fred Pratt Green and the tune is a waltz version of “The Water is Wide” (O Waly Waly). Listen to a solo vocal version here. You should seek the music from the publisher if you need it.

My backing is 54 bpm and it needs to be that slow.

1. An upper room did our Lord prepare
   for those he loved until the end:
   and his disciples still gather there,
   to celebrate their Risen Friend.
2. A lasting gift Jesus gave his own,
   to share his bread, his loving cup.
   Whatever burdens may bow us down,
   he by his Cross shall lift us up.
3. And after Supper he washed their feet,
   for service, too, is sacrament.
   In him our joy shall be made complete
   sent out to serve, as he was sent.
4. No end there is! We depart in peace.
   He loves beyond our uttermost:
   in every room in our Father’s house
   he will be there, as Lord and host.

Text © Stainer and Bell

This is a good song that we have sung often by Tom Conry. You can hear a (noisy) version at OCP and buy the sheet music there. This is an enthusiastic version.

For some reason this always struck me as bluegrass song, although my wife’s excellent taste would never allow this to be used at Mass. My backing is at 95 bpm.

Refrain
We are called, we are chosen.
We are Christ for one another.
We are promised to tomorrow,
while we are for him today.
We are sign, we are wonder.
We are sower, we are seed.
We are harvest, we are hunger.
We are question, we are creed.

1. Then where can we stand justified?
In what can we believe?
In no one else but he who suffered,
nothing more than he who rose.
Who was justice for the poor.
Who was rage against the night.
Who was hope for peaceful people.
Who was light.

Refrain

2. Then how are we to stand at all,
this world of bended knee?
In nothing more than barren shadows.
No one else but he could save us.
Who was justice for the poor.
Who was rage against the night.
Who was hope for peaceful people.
Who was light.

Refrain

3. Then shall we not stand empty
at the altar of our dreams:
When he promised us ourselves.
Who mark time against tomorrow.
Who are justice for the poor.
Who are rage against the night.
Who are hope for peaceful people.
Who are light.

Refrain (long gap before “we are creed” in the last refrain.)

© OCP 1978,1979.

I can only remember doing this song by Christopher Walker and Paule Freeburg once at a school Christmas function. You can listen to the song sung by children at OCP and also buy the sheet music there.

The text is in their sample.

This is an interesting song by John Ylvisaker set to an Israeli tune that I found in a collection that I have lost somewhere (?All Together OK no 374), when looking for something to use on Holy Thursday. I really liked it but the syncopation was a problem for some people and we have stopped using it. Since I don’t remember the name of the collection I found it in I suggest you contact the publisher if you are after a copy of the music.

 1. Lord on the night of betrayal.

there in the heart of the town,

you took the bread from the table,

broke it and passed it around.

“This is my body I’m giving for you;

eat, and remember the one you love.

This is the way I restore you;

this is a gift from above.”

Chorus

“Always remember me!

Freely remember me!

Speak of me tenderly!

Always remember me!”  (twice)

2. Then, with a word of thanksgiving,

slowly you lifted the cup.

Now there’s a reason for living,

now we will know it’s enough.

This is the blood of a holy promise;

drink, and remember the one you love.

Know that my mercy is boundless;

this is a gift from above

Chorus

© John Ylvisaker 1990.

This Carey Landry song is very difficult to do slowly and reverently because there is so little to it and that may be why none of our local liturgy teams has suggested it for years.

This is what it is meant to sound like.

You can buy the sheet music at OCP here.

My backing is at 96 bpm.

Refrain

Abba Abba Father.
You are the potter; we are the clay, the work of Your hands.

Verse 1

Mold us, mold us and fashion us
Into the image of Jesus Your Son,
Of Jesus Your Son

Refrain

Verse 2

Father, may we be one in You.
May we be one in You as He is in You
And You are in Him.

Refrain

Verse 3 (key change)

Glory, glory and praise to you.
Glory and praise to You forever, amen, forever, amen.

Refrain

© NALR 1977,1978.

I made a terrible MIDI file of this years ago and recently I thought I could fix it by putting it through Pro Tools: it is still a fail backing!

Monica Brown’s habit of starting her titles with the indefinite article has bagged her the first two slots in my miscellaneous church music folder. We used to sing this song a lot, and I have no idea why we haven’t used it lately, as it is a very pretty song that sings easily, even with the key change into the fourth verse. Perhaps it is hard for an Assembly to enthusiastically sing “oohs”.

It is a subtle and very usable Eucharist song, showing she is definitely not just a children’s songwriter.

Again, you can go to her Emmaus website and scroll down to “A Special Collection” where you can listen to a sample and buy the sheet music or CD.

My backing is a little faster than she does it and is little altered from a backing I made many years ago.  I have no idea where the introduction in my backing came from, but I don’t think Monica Brown can be blamed for it.

1. God grant to me a heart that remembers,

The life in the seed that is buried in dark night.

All the mystery You have revealed to me

In the tapestry of my life, a remembering heart.  ooh

 

2. God grant to me a heart that is faithful,

As the word is made flesh in the breaking of bread.

The call You speak to me, the song You sing in me

The desire for You, my God, a faithful heart.  ooh

 

3. God grant to me a heart that is grateful,

As the blind one who now sees, sings in praise of Your name.

The gift You give to me, the life You free in me,

All the goodness You bestow, a grateful heart.

 

4. God grant to me a heart that truly loves,

As the one who surrendered His life for His friends.

That I may dare to be more true to You

In the face of all who need, a loving heart   ooh.

© Monica Brown and Emmaus Productions 1991.

Every church musician has a folder of miscellaneous songs that are used sometimes but aren’t in the major collection their church uses. Since I’ve done backings for everything in As One Voice, I’ll put up backings from my miscellaneous folder. It is roughly alphabetical. The intent is still to learn new songs, especially for niche circumstances, and I’ll try to find where they are available to buy if you need the music. That should be interesting for those that are faded photocopies and hand scribbled music.

Firstly, this is a song by Monica Brown that I think we used for a first communion service. It was at the end and functioned as a blessing from the community to the children and I think it does that task beautifully.

It is from her Praise and Blessings collection. You can hear the song at her site and buy the sheet music or CD there as well, just scroll down until you find it.

A blessing song for you, we sing from our hearts.

We thank our God for you, for the gift that you are.

And we pray now that the seed of His love

May grow in your heart,

And as you grow may you always know

How precious you are in the eyes of our God.

May his face smile on you, bringing joy to you.

And as you grow may you always know…

How precious you are in the eyes of our God.

© Monica Brown and Emmaus Productions 1986.

I’ve finished making backing tracks to learn new songs from these collections. I may put up other versions as time goes by, but even the ropey ones are adequate to their purpose.

I’ve had some feedback from choirs who are using them to get ready for practice and some places that use the backings at Mass for lack of musicians. I can tell from the stats page that schools are using the backings as well.

I don’t use these in mass myself these days as I’m comfortable that my guitar will suffice.

I’ll put up further backings, starting with songs we commonly sing that aren’t in AOV. I’ve put a few of these up already, so it always worth searching the blog in case I’ve already done one that you are looking for. I might even get back to the original intention of the blog and look at music in the liturgy as it applies to a suburban church, who knows.

I appreciate comments and feedback and any suggestions.  I’ve been busy with work and study lately so requests for songs I haven’t heard of and for which I have no sheet music have had to wait.

Paul Inwood writes interesting tunes and this is one of them.  It is a setting of Ps 16 but can be used generally. The first three verses have enough subtle differences to trick the assembly and the fourth is really different, so it requires some work to get the benefit of his delightful psalm, or resort will have to be made to a cantor.

AOV have an excerpt to listen to. This is a very slow version. This one is done very well.

This church shows how hard it is to keep together with this song.

Refrain:

O Lord, you are the center of my life:

I will always praise you,

I will always serve you,

I will always keep you in my sight.

 

1. Keep me safe, O God, I will take refuge in you.

I say to the Lord, “You are my God.

My happiness lies in you alone;

my happiness lies in you alone.”

 

Refrain

 

2. I will bless the Lord who give me counsel,

who even at night directs my heart.

I keep the Lord ever in my sight:

since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

 

Refrain

 

3. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;

even in safety shall my body rest.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead,

nor let your beloved know decay.

 

Refrain

 

4. You will show me the path of life,

the fullness of joy in your presence,

at your right hand, at your right hand

happiness forever.

 

Refrain

 

© Paul Inwood 1985.

A gentle, lovely song about being community by Richard Gillard. The sample at AOV shows it is best with minimal or no instrumental backing.

There are some good versions on the net: here, here, and here for example. There are lots of others, including one by the man himself with his original lyrics. I’ve used the lyrics printed in AOV.

I posted a dreadful fail backing I made of this song here. I hope this is better.

Will you let me be your servant?
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey.
We are trav’lers on the road.
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you;
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping.
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
‘Til we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

Will you let me be your servant?
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.

© Scripture in Song 1977.