Church Music

This is another song by David Haas. Done sympathetically, it would be fine for a wedding, but could find its place within an ordinary mass as well. We’ve never done this song, probably due to the chorus being mostly 4/4 and the verses mostly 3/4.  The verses also also go rather high, so you’d need a cantor or soloist for them.

It can purchased for download at OCP.

I’ve put two backings up for this song, the first being MIDI based and the second with more realtracks.

Refrain

Where there is love, there is God.
The love of God has gathered us together: Alleluia

(Rpt refrain first time only)

Verse 1

Love is patient, love is kind,
Never jealous, never proud,
Never seeking for one’s self,
Love never leads to anger.

Refrain

Verse 2

Love is gracious and forgiving
Taking no delight in wrong
Love rejoices in the truth
Love will endure

Refrain

Verse 3

Many things will pass away,
There are but three things that last;
Faith, Hope and Love;
The greatest of these is Love.

Refrain

© David Haas 1985.

This is another extremely frequently sung song in these parts written by Marty Haugen. This song can be used just about anywhere – gathering, sending, gifts, communion – it fits. This is a nice slower version. I like better at this speed.

The text is here – scroll down to the bottom of the page. It can be purchased at GIA.

This delicate flower of a song by Christopher Walker might easily be overwhelmed by the assembly and so might be one for cantoring the verses. It is a setting of Ps 131, which you can hear here. It does go 3/4 to 4/4 throughout the song but it is reasonably smooth with the time changes.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

Refrain
Like a child rests in its mother’s arms,
so will I rest in you. (Rpt)

Verse 1

My God, I am not proud.
I do not look for things too great.

Refrain

Verse 2

My God, I trust in you.
You care for me, you give me peace.

Refrain

Verse 3

O Israel, trust in God,
now and always trust in God.

Refrain

© Christopher Walker 1988.

This is song by Tom Conroy  based on Ps 63. His rewriting of the Psalm had me thinking the that his enemies lie strewn and broken, which isn’t what it says but the construction allows for misinterpretation.  The recording, which you can listen to here, leaves out the first verse.  This makes things simpler, as it has a different tune to the second and third verses.  The fourth verse is different again and brings in your tympani and brass (surely available at the sparsely attended Sunday night mass). It is very “choiry” and has such a quiet (and beautiful) ending to the verses that you really could only have the assembly singing the refrain.

If you have the same old guitar edition of AOV that I got very cheaply many years ago, you may have noticed that the second page of this song is another one with the wrong music. I used my pew version and the previews at OCP to fill in the missing chords for my backing.

Refrain

I will lift up my eyes at his name to the one who knows me well (rpt)

Verse 1

You are my God, whom I seek with my life;

For you I thirst, as the dry earth for water.

Lifeless and parched, without you I am nowhere,

No-one at all.

Refrain

Verse 2

Thus have I seen you in your holy house,

With my own eyes, how faithful and sure.

More than my life, your mercy endures

Longer than time.

Refrain

Verse 3

Thus shall I bless you while I am alive;

Calling on you, my breath and my bread.

And with a song through day and the darkness

Clinging to you.

Refrain

Verse 4

And I shall see that day when God’s justice and power

Will break the chains that bind me.

And mine enemies’ lies strewn broken and empty:

God’s mighty hand, that awful grace.

Refrain

© TEAM publications 1984.

This setting of Ps 34 is by John Foley. It can be purchased for download at OCP.

We sing it a lot and frequently largely acapella and also even slower than written.  Try it some time. The verses being a little faster than the refrain is a difficult trick to pull off and risks causing an acceleration in tempo over the course of the song. The original can be heard here. This version keeps the tempo the same but adds gorgeous spanish guitar. Actually Youtube has a lot of pretty good versions to listen to, which is most unusual.

Refrain
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord.

Verse 1

I will bless the Lord at all times,
with praise ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

Refrain

Verse 2

Let the lowly hear and be glad:
the Lord listens to their pleas;
and to hearts broken, God is near,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

Refrain

Verse 3

Ev’ry spirit crushed, God will save;
will be ransom for their lives;
will be safe shelter for their fears,
and will hear the cry of the poor.

Refrain

Verse 4

We proclaim your greatness, O God,
your praise ever in our mouth;
ev’ry face brightened in your light,
for you hear the cry of the poor.

Refrain

© John Foley and NALR 1978.

I’ve always liked this one, another of the high rotation songs at our church. Although a Trisha Watts piece it is less strange than her usual songs (ie normal rhythm, stays in the same key) but still a good song. I always thought it should have been sung by the Psychedelic Furs.

It turns up in wedding repertoires which might be a tad confusing since the voice is of God. This also makes the song completely unacceptable these days. I’m sure we’ll keep using it.

I’ll put up two backings.  One is ancient BBW v1 material, and since that has the melody line a more recent backing without the melody to sing along to.

Verse 1

I am here with you by your side,

Sheltering your heart from the night.

Refrain

Wherever you go, whatever you do,

I’ll be always loving you.

Verse 2

Let me love the world through your heart,

Let me heal your wounds with my touch.

Refrain

Bridge

I will be your God your comforter.

I will hold you close in my heart.

Verse 3

Let me see the world through your eyes,

Let forgiveness shine through your smile.

Refrain

© Willow Connection 1987.

Another insanely popular song, this time by Marty Haugen. Even countless repetition has not dulled its appeal, which is odd because it has a long chorus and short verses.  I suspect the dynamics keep the interest going and the simple moving lyrics do the trick. This church does a nice version. The music is essentially 2/2 so don’t go trying 4/4 it will drive you crazy.

The text is available here. You can buy it at GIA.

This Dan Schutte song has been right up there in popularity with our liturgists over the years. It has held up well to repeated use but runs the risk of becoming a joke when sung without enthusiasm – you should not sing ‘Yahweh’s people dance for joy” as a dirge – it is painful to behold. This version isn’t a dirge at least and has an interesting set of comments that give a depressing snapshot of some narrow minded responses to church songs. There are more than the usual amount of very average versions on Youtube if you wish to seek them out but you might prefer the original, with more horns and flutes than you can shake a baton at here. (It dates from 1972 so give them a break.)

NB Yahweh directive warning – see the new text here.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

To prevent any chance of not being joyful in my backing I take the speed up just a little to 150.

Refrain

Sing a new song unto the Lord;

let your song be sung from mountains high.

Sing a new song unto the Lord, singing alleluia.

Verse 1

Yahweh’s people dance for joy.

O come before the Lord,

and play for him on glad tambourines,

and let your trumpet sound.

Refrain

Verse 2

Rise, O children, from your sleep;

your Savior now has come.

He has turned your sorrow to joy

and filled your soul with song.

Refrain

Verse 3

Glad my soul for I have seen

the glory of the Lord.

The trumpet sounds; the dead shall be raised.

I know my Savior lives.

Refrain

© Daniel Schutte 1972.

I don’t know what to make of this Bernadette Farrell song based on a passage from John’s gospel. Listen to it here. It is going to be diabolical to keep things together with some very long notes in this slow song, even if you unearth the soprano and the tenor et al to take it into the spectacular round. (NB the tempo is meant to be 54 according to the online preview – my guitar version of AOV does not mention this.)  Have a look at the music at OCP (pdf not printable) and you may agree that it is a seriously strange piece of music.

I have not attempted anything like that with my backing – just following the music. I suspect this piece is for professionals – ie don’t try this at home.

Refrain

Do not be afraid for I am with you.

I

Walk while you have the light or the dark will overtake you.

II

Those who walk in the dark do not know where they are going.

III

While you still have the light , believe in the light…

and you will be-

IV

-come children of light.

© Bernadette Farrell 1977, 1981, 1991.

This is a famous old hymn from the 1800s, words by Henry Lyle, tune by John Goss.  I think this is the one Mr Bean sings (sort of) when he goes to church. [On checking, no it isn’t – but it shares the allelulia] A proper cathedral choir sings it here. This is a more forceful version with organ, choir, assembly and brass giving it the full wallop. The words seem to vary enormously from site to site – I’ve stuck with the version in AOV but it appears out of step with many others.

Alas BIAB and church organ are not a happy combination so my backing is, well, basic. This unadorned organ version might (well, just is) be a better backing.

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To his feet Thy tribute bring!
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore his praise should sing:

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!

Praise him for His grace and favour,
To his children in distress!
Praise him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless!

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes,

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore Him;
You behold him face to face:
Sun and moon, bow down before him;
In his holy dwelling place,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.