I didn’t put up last week’s music as the parish office was being moved and so the selections weren’t sent out. We are still using the Mass Shalom, but with Brian Boniwell’s Lenten Gospel Acclamation.
Entrance: Christ Be Our Light (Farrell) AOV 2/3)
Psalm: To You O God I Lift Up My Soul (Hurd) AOV 2/14
Communion: Our Supper Invitation (Bates) AOV 1/185)
A New Heart for a New World (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 1/158
Recessional: Shout to the Lord (Zschech) AOV NG 114
Another astonishing chant/song about the Spirit from John Bell and Graham Maule of Wild Goose. Listen to the excerpt at AOV to hear how good this song can sound. There is background and commentary about the song at this blog.
My backing is at 85 bpm.
Verse 1
She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters,
Hovering on the chaos of the world’s first day;
She sighs and she sings, mothering creation,
Waiting to give birth to all the Word will say.
Verse 2
She wings over earth, resting where she wishes,
Lighting close at hand or soaring through the skies;
She nests in the womb, welcoming each wonder,
Nourishing potential hidden to our eyes.
Verse 3
She dances in fire, startling her spectators,
Waking tongues of ecstasy where dumbness reigned;
She weans and inspires all whose hearts are open,
Nor can she be captured, silenced or restrained.
Verse 4
For she is the Spirit, one with God in essence,
Gifted by the Saviour in eternal love;
She is the key opening the scriptures,
Enemy of apathy and heavenly dove.
© WGRG, Iona Community, 1988.
http://www.iona.org.uk/wgrg_home.php
This is a Marty Haugen song that I’ve never heard of, but you can hear an excerpt at AOV here. Youtube has the whole song with an introductory recitation. This version is much better than the original.
The text is here. (scroll down to page six) It can be purchased at sheetmusicplus.
The song needs delicate handling as the tune for the chorus and the verse are the same which is a risk. You could just sing it straight through I suppose, without returning to the chorus. Whatever its merits the version in AOV gets a thumbs up as the first northern hemisphere based song that acknowledges that north and south need to be switched in the southern hemisphere.
A setting of Ps 27 by Christopher Willcock. This is another that we use the response but not the verses and again the different melodies of the verses and the high notes suggest the use of a cantor. Listen to the snippet at AOV to hear a great voice sing it.
I couldn’t do it quite as slowly as that – my backing is at 70bpm.
Refrain
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
Verse 1
The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?
Refrain
Verse 2
There is one thing I asked of the Lord; for this I long:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Refrain
Verse 3
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
Hope in Him! Hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord.
Refrain
© Christopher Willcock SJ 1974.
Jackie Crocker has given this setting of Ps95 the longest title in the book. She appears to be the director of music at the cathedral in Townsville, but if someone can confirm that I’d be grateful. We have frequently used the response but not the verse. This is a pity as they are very nice, but each verse has its own melody and it is really designed for a cantor, which we don’t use in general. The snippet at AOV can be heard here.
My backing is at 75 bpm.
Response
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Verse 1
Come, ring out your joy to the Lord.
Hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him giving thanks.
With songs to hail the Lord.
Response
Verse 2
Come in, let us bow and bend low.
Let us kneel before God who made us.
For he is our God and we the people
that belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand.
Response
Verse 3
O that today you would listen to his voice.
Harden not your heart as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert,
When your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.
Response
© Jackie Crocker 1995.
This setting of Ps 96 by Bernadette Farrell is my favourite song that we sing at Christmas. The version at AOV is, I’m sure, beautiful and how it is meant to be done. That’s not how we do it. We speed it up a little to where my backing is at 94 bpm and do it joyfully and noisily. This version is more the speed. You can see the sheet music in scorch format here.
It can be purchased for download at OCP.
Refrain
Today, today a Saviour has been born;
A Saviour has been born to us.
He is Christ the Lord, Christ the Lord,
Jesus Christ the Lord.
Verse 1
Sing a new song to the Lord.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name!
Refrain
Verse 2
Proclaim his help day by day.
Tell among the nations his glory.
Tell of his works, tell of his works,
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Refrain
Verse 3
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,
Let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
All of the land, all that it bears:
Rejoice at the presence of the Lord.
Refrain
© Bernadette Farrell 1993.
Another subtle and beautiful chant by John Bell. The snippet from AOV is enough to appreciate it. It is mentioned in this post as a sustaining song in a time of tragedy.
My backing is at 75 bpm and should be enough to learn the song.
Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger and I have promised,
Promised to be always near.
© WGRG, Iona Community, 1995.
http://www.iona.org.uk/wgrg_home.php
A setting of Ps 23 by Hilary Raimondo with a lot of competition. The excerpt at AOV shows how to do it without getting too sing-songy. The tune is stretched in all sorts of ways to fit the text in the verses, but it appears singable for all that.
It can be purchased for download at As One Voice.
Response
I shall dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life.
Verse 1
The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me rest.
He leads me near quiet waters,
There to revive my drooping soul, and…
Response
Verse 2
He guides me down the right path as he promised in his name.
In the valley of darkness I walk and no evil fear.
For you, Lord, will always be near,
Your crook and your staff are comfort to me, and…
Response
Verse 3
You prepare me a banquet in the sight of all my foes.
My head with oil anointed and my cup overflows.
I know, Lord, your goodness and love
shall follow me as long as I live, and…
Response
© Hilary Raimondo 1993.
This chant is by Colleen Fulmer. The snippet at AOV gives you the idea although it is written so it can be done as a round in three parts, which you can listen to here. It is a powerful social justice song that has much to recommend it.
Verse 1
God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in usAs we seek justice for all people.
Verse 2
God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek freedom for all people.Verse 3
God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek equality for all people.Verse 4
God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek dignity for all people.Verse 5
God is passionate life,
Strong and vibrant in us
As we seek peace in our day for all people.
© Colleen Fulmer 1985.
David Haas‘ setting of Ps 27. We have sung it a fair bit, but sometimes we just use the refrain as a response. The third verse is the standout, with its different melody.
The text is here. It can be purchased in a collection of Psalms at GIA.
You can hear it in a real church here or you can listen to the snippet at AOV.
