Church Music

Helen Beha wrote this song in the 80s and she was from Tasmania.  Since there are handclaps in the music, I assume it was for schools.  She wrote settings for Psalms called ‘Promises.”  Amazingly in the internet age, she has left no other traces on the net.

The song is a lost gem, emphasing the importance of the laity.  Unsurprisingly it did not make the Bishops’ Yes list.

I’ve rocked this up a bit.

Verse 1

Let’s lift our hearts and voices in praise of our God.

The family of Christ united as one.

New people, new life: a symbol of God’s love,

The church assembled to proclaim the work of Christ begun.

Refrain

You are people of God,

You are a Holy Nation, a Royal Priesthood, a Chosen Race. (Rpt)

Verse 2

A sacramental people, gifted by his grace,

He calls us to be holy, a witness to his way.

New people, new life, be Christ to each other.

The gift of Eucharist is our strength: the hope for each new day.

Refrain

Verse 3

We are the Church: a ministry of love,

The Father’s chosen image of Jesus, the Son.

New people, new life, rejoice in your God.

Celebrate your priesthood through the risen One.

Refrain

© Helen Beha 1988.

This was the doxology in the Presbyterian church I grew up in, and so I sang it every Sunday for many years.  The tune is the Old Hundredth and I discover now that we were singing it wrong!  We didn’t have long notes on the bless – ings – flow bit.  The tune pops up everywhere (eg Be present at our table Lord…)

I wonder about old tunes like this.  They are completely foreign to modern ears and the language is as foreign as the music.  If you were brought up to associate this tune with reverence as I was you might get that feel from it.  I have no idea what people who have no connection with this sort of music and language think of it.  I suspect they are bored, think it silly or perhaps something from a museum.

Listen to it on church organ here.

Verse 1

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Verse 2

From all that dwell below the skies,

Let the Creator’s praise arise!

Let the Redeemer’s name be sung.

Through ev’ry land by ev’ryone.

Verse 3

Eternal are thy mercies, Lord.

And truth eternal is thy word;

thy praise shall sound from shore to shore.

Till suns shall rise and set no more.

Rpt Verse 1

This is a traditional Irish song whose origins are explained here to the accompaniment of a scary MIDI file.  You can hear a less terrifying version here.

You can see the intent of the first As One Voice collection to be comprehensive having old and new hymns, mass settings and even Christmas carols.

This hymn has a lot of different English translations so I’ll use the one in AOV. Making backings for these old songs is a problem, so I’ll just do the best I can.

Verse 1

Be though my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Verse 2

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

I ever with thee and thou with me Lord;

Thou and thou only, first in my heart,

Great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Verse 3

Great God of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’ns Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Since this is a PD tune and it was requested, here is a MIDI file.

This is an early example by Monica O’Brien and Trisha Watts of the up tempo AOV songs found in greater numbers in AOV NG.  You can hear a snippet here.  I’m not sure if it ever became popular but it hasn’t got a Yes from the NLMB, and to be fair may have been more a school song rather than a liturgical song.   Speaking from the point of view of God and using “Yahweh” would disqualify it before they even got upset about use of rock idiom.

It can be purchased for download at As One Voice.

We’ve never used it locally in my memory, but asking the assembly to wake up would be a good idea as an entrance for our Sunday evening service, or perhaps the chorus could be used as a gospel acclamation.  The lyrics are simple worthy sentiments in a singable rock style, so even at 22 years old it’s worth a thought.

Refrain

Wake up, my people, listen to my word,

Proclaim my love among you, let this song be heard.

Verse 1

Yahweh has spoken, and is speaking now to you.

The Spirit is longing to reveal the living truth.

We gather together and wait expectantly

For the fire of life that will set us free.

Refrain

Verse 2

We’re one in the Spirit embodied in your love.

We’re brothers and sisters; as one family we come,

Praying for justice and freedom in our land.

Lord, our lives are in your hands.

Refrain

© Willow Connection 1989.

This is another song we have never done at our parish, probably because we use Fr Frank Andersen’s setting of Ps 116.  Bob Hurd’s song is however delightful, if a little complicated in its parts.  I even like the recorded version which you can stream here.  I also like this version from an Ash Wednesday service. “Agnes Dei, qui tollis” is sung against the refrain.  I can find no “Yes” for this song from the NLMB and I’m struggling to understand what is objectionable.

It can purchased for download at OCP.

My backing is at 75bpm.

Refrain

Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ;

And the bread we break, it is a sharing in the body of the Lord.

Verse 1

How can we make a return for all the goodness God has shown?

We will take the cup of life and call upon God’s name.

Refrain

Verse 2

Precious indeed in your sight the life and death of those you love.

We are your servants, for you have set us free.

Refrain

Verse 3

Gracious and merciful God, we give you thanks and bless your name:

With all your people, praise and glory to your name.

Refrain

Verse 4

For you have heard my voice, for you have heard my pleading.

Though death surrounded me, you heard and answered me.

Refrain

© Bob Hurd 1988.

Br Michael Herry wrote this song, “Lord, to Whom Shall I Go,” and it gets a tick from the NLMB.  It is obviously a Eucharist song and is simple and direct.  Looking at Google shows it turning up in liturgies everywhere.  Even Schutz likes him:

Offertory song: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” by Michael Herry (As One Voice Vol 1, no. 6)

I like Herry’s stuff. It is as good as Taize. Again, simple and dignified. This one is Eucharistic and picks up the themes in both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel.

I don’t know why we don’t use it – perhaps it is too simple and could get sing-songy if not dealt with sympathetically.  Maybe worth another look.  I doubt it was intended to be played by a country string band, but that’s how I have imagined it in my backing.

Refrain

Lord, to whom shall we go?
You are our bread, broken and shared,

Lord, to whom shall we go?
Yours are the words of life

Verse 1

Our fathers ate, yet their hunger remained.
Their hearts were not satisfied.

Refrain

Verse 2

O Lord, you feed us with the finest of wheat,
our pledge of eternal life.

Refrain

Verse 3

The bread you give is the living bread,
your flesh for the life of the world.

Refrain

Verse 4

Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my steps;
a light for my path of life.

Refrain

© Spectrum Publications.

http://www.spectrumpublications.com.au/

Fr Frank Andersen wrote this very popular song.  I hated it originally and had to be told that a lot of people who came to the church late in life found this song described their spiritual journey and so meant a lot to them.  So it’s OK now with me.  It’s not on the NLMB Yes list but that’s not likely to stop anyone singing it now.

This version is a fun update by James Maher’s band at last year’s AOV conference.  It isn’t 100% faithful to the original but everyone sang along, which was great.

Frank describes himself as the Slim Dusty of Australian liturgical music so I’ve done a slower country version as a backing.

Verse 1

Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me.
Words that I can’t understand; meanings I must clearly hear!
Calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind!
Calling me to walk into evening shadows one more time!

Chorus

So I leave my boats behind!
Leave them on familiar shores!
Set my heart upon the deep!
Follow you again, my Lord! (rpt)

Verse 2

In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains
Falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain!
And I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind,
To believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry!

Chorus

Verse 3

As I gaze into the night down the future of my years,
I’m not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know!
But I feel my spirit called like a stirring deep within,
Restless, ’til I live again beyond the fears that close me in!

Chorus

© Frank Andersen and Chevalier Music 1993.

This is not in “As One Voice”, but it is my favourite Marty Haugen song, so I thought I’d put it in.  We use it often as a gathering song and pick the most appropriate verses to match the liturgy of the day. We only found it because we were looking for the full music for “The Hand of God Shall Hold You,” which someone wanted us to use, and it turned out to be part of Haugen’s “All Are Welcome” collection.  It reminds me of a trade union song or something by Billy Bragg – a good thing!  You might want to follow Adam Copeland’s thread on this song.

Haugen’s version is here. It can be purchased on its own or as part of a collection at GIA.

Cantus Mundi has the text and several You-Tube versions.

My backing uses the brass introduction in the sheet music since I can’t do a convincing whistle in BIAB, but otherwise this is a stripped back Irished up version.

This setting of Ps 98 by Bob Hurd is not used at our church and I think it is because we use Bob Dufford’s instead. These older songs (1988) leave all sorts of interesting tracks across the net.  You can hear a MIDI version here along with lots of other older songs. (I’d forgotten about this site and assumed it had been shut down.)  This site has streaming MP3’s of lots of church music including this song.  Usually you will find several church choirs doing a song on You Tube but I had no luck with this song, which is a pity because the arangement on the original recording has the odd singing style again that I find very grating and I’m sure it would sound better sung with a normal choir.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

As to the song itself, it has merit and interest.  The last line of the verse is somewhat startling in melody when first played and at least isn’t the same old same old. Weirdly it didn’t get the the tick from the  NLMB – it can’t be the text as I think the Psalms are still allowed – perhaps it lacks true art. It all seems pretty arbitrary to me.

Technical notes for Band in a Box:  This backing is all MIDI based except for the strummed acoustic guitar real track.  I find the sound of a real (OK sampled) guitar can fool you to think the rest of the tracks are less MIDI than they really are.  If in doubt, compare with the MIDI version above, which sounds very very MIDI indeed.

 Refrain

All the ends of the earth have seen salvation

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God,

The saving power of God.

Verse 1

Let us sing a new song for the wondrous deeds of our God,

Whose holy arm has prevailed,

Bringing salvation and vic’try.

Refrain

Verse 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the power of God.

Ring out your joy, break into song;

All you lands sing praise.

Refrain

Verse 3

Sing the praises of God; with harp and song give praise.

O trumpets sound! Joyfully sing;

Sing to the ruler of all.

Refrain

© Bob Hurd 1988.

Marty Haugen wrote this and we are still singing it thirty years later. It even got a yes from the NLCMB.  I suppose folk is OK if the words adapt St Francis of Assisi.

Haugen is, however, the boogy man for those who dislike every thing musical in catholic circles.  I suspect this is because his songs have had wide appeal and are therefore widely used and are therefore regularly mangled to the extent that they form the worse nightmares of some peoples’ being. This is unfair on Haugen, and his work seems to upset people out of all sensible proportion.  After all, if a parishioner really thinks this music is unworthy of their liturgy, then they become liturgists and musicians in their parish and influence and educate their fellow parishioners to use something else   …or be influenced by those who see the merits of this music in that process and calm down.

This is not my favourite Marty Haugen song and I was surprised when it turned up again to be sung the other week in our parish, but it is well enough remembered to have had the assembly singing and is a fair enough song of praise.  When you listen to it here you will hear what I do get upset by though, the weird ensemble singing – I don’t mind the soloists that much, but I have no idea how the choir gets that nauseating sound.  I figure it must be what American church singing aspires to, because you hear it all over the place. I don’t have the musical knowledge to know why it sounds odd, but it sounds like no choral work I’ve ever heard in any other context – I probably need someone to explain it to me.  When sung by an ordinary assembly this song has far more charm, so I think it means folk idiom music should not be sung with any compromised vocal style to appease those who hate folk music.

Now this is odd – this is a GIA song and here are the lyrics at spiritandsong. There are minor differences between these lyrics and those in “As One Voice.”

Verse 1 – “Sing to the sun” replaced by “Praise for the sun.”

Verse 5 – “Sing to the earth” replaced by “Praise for the earth.”

Verse 6 – “Praise to our death” replaced by “Praise for our death.”

This site has a translation of the poem upon which the lyric is based.

• NB The lyrics link is dead I fear – try this one.