Church Music

This is Bob Hurd’s entry into the Good Friday Adoration of the Cross stakes. You can hear his lovely version here. I wonder if it works better as a solo, which is really OK because it is a situation where you may not want the assembly singing necessarily for a change. On the hand these kids do a nice enough job.

It is available to purchase for download at OCP.

We have a fairly set list of songs we have done for years on Good Friday but we never have done this one and I think we should consider it for next Easter.

Verse 1

Behold the cross on which was hung
life’s very Lord, God’s only Son;
Mary’s own babe, so cold and so still,
helpless before her on Calvary hill.

Verse 2

Nails in his hands, nails in his feet,
a traitor kiss upon his cheek;
and his pierced heart, now broken in two,
love crucified for me and for you.

Verse 3

Eyes that won’t see, ears that won’t hear,
lips that deny the friend once so dear;
slowly he turns and captures your eye,
then passes on to Calv’ry to die.

Verse 4

Behold the cross of Christ in our midst:
all those who bear his wounds in their flesh.
Suff’ring for crimes of mercy and peace,
signs of the kingdom on Calvary street.

Verse 5

Behold the cross on which was hung
life’s very Lord, God’s only Son;
Mary’s own babe, so cold and so still,
helpless before her on Calvary hill.

© Bob Hurd 1986, 1990

Michael Lynch, who wrote this song is part of the OCP stable. He wrote the more famous (around these parts anyway), “Bread , Blessed and Broken”, but much more importantly he is Ukelele Mike Lynch, which makes him all things important and wonderful in the world. (gotta love ukes) Listen to the snippet on AOV to get the idea. The text is Matt 21 and, yes, it does appear to have been written for schoolchildren, but that does not mean it has no other use.  Each verse has a liturgical use, eg Palm Sunday, Easter, Christmas etc and rather than sing the whole song, I suspect picking the appropriate verse is the best idea.

I wish I’d known this earlier that he was Ukelele Mike, because this song might have sounded better with a ukelele backing. Instead I just build more instruments each verse, but, if nothing else, the backing may help you learn the song. I set it at 130 bpm.

Refrain

Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessings on the King!

Hosanna! Hosanna! Son of God, we sing!

Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessings on the King!

We praise you, we bless you, our gifts to you we bring.

 

Verse 1

Your people are gathered on this holy day,

To lay down before you, branches on your way.

We sing of your glory as you enter in.

Come now, Lord Jesus, wash away our sin.

 

Refrain

Verse 2

O Lord, you are King now, King of all the earth.

The stars in the heavens shine on our rebirth.

Your death and your rising gives to us new life.

No longer in darkness, now we have your light.

 

Refrain

Verse 3

You are our brother, brother and friend,

Sent by the Father, all our hearts to mend.

We pray now, Lord Jesus, as you come today.

Please guide us with you as you go your way.

 

Refrain

Verse 4

The meek and the lowly gather now to sing;

To sing out their praises to the humble King.

Your is the Kingdom of peace and joy and love.

The Father has sent us His Spirit from above.

 

Refrain

© Raven Music 1976, 1982.

This is a traditional African American song, suitable for Good Friday services if you can handle it.

Johnny Cash and the Carter family do an extraordinary version here. Even better are Sam Cooke and the Souls Stirrers (listen from 1:45) here. Less wonderful, but a better guide for use in a church here. The last word goes to Paul Robeson as is fitting here.

My backing is at 90bpm and just goes.

Verse 1

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Verse 2

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Verse 3

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

This is by one of the lesser known St Louis Jesuits, Tim Manion. A setting of Ps 26 it is up against it because it was written before the illogical “Yahweh” ban – incidentally the ban reminds me of the Jehovah scene in Life of Brian.  I suppose to replace Yahweh you’d need “Lord God” but it doesn’t work well.  Hurd’s setting (AOV 2/14) is the one we use and is a rousing energetic psalm, whereas this is more relaxed and reflective.  I suppose it depends what you are after.

The original can be heard here with all the lovely harmonies that remind of the Mitchell Trio. This is a very nice version on Youtube by DD on vocal and guitar.

Refrain

To You, Yahweh, I lift up my soul O my God.
To You, Yahweh, I lift up my soul, O my God.

Verse 1

Yahweh, show your ways to me.
Teach me Your paths and
Keep me in the ways of Your truth,
For You are the God that saves me.

Refrain

Verse 2

The Lord is so good, so holy.
Sinners find the way,
And in all that is right He guides the humble.
The poor he leads in His pathways.

Refrain

Verse

All day long I hope in Your goodness.
Remember Your love,
The love that You promised long ago.
And the kindness that you gave from of old.

 Refrain

© Tim Manion and New Dawn Music 1976.

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.