Church Music

I’ve been spouting off that this mass will be too hard to learn in its new form since hearing it at the Archdiocese education session and so have been putting off trying to learn the new version.

…and I was wrong. Paul Mason has done a great job with this popular old mass and, while it is still not very guitar friendly, it is no less playable than the old one.  The Gloria will take a degree of relearning however.

So half the Bishop’s six masses are suitable for the suburbs and thank the Lord for Paul Taylor and Paul Mason.

I’ve done some basic backings on BIAB for the main parts of the mass, so I suggest you download the assembly version here and sing them until you’ve forgotten the original versions.  It should only take a thousand repetitions or so.

Gloria

Gospel Acclamation

Holy Holy

We Proclaim

When We Eat

Amen

Lamb of God

22/3/25

Wendy noticed I had left off the music for the “Save Us” and she is quite right – the music I was given way back then didn’t have it and I didn’t notice.

Looking back, these acclamations are unusual as they are all very different in tempo and melody, although they end sort of the same.

Thanks so much, Wendy.

Michael Mahler’s take on Ps 27 is No126 in AOV NG.  It’s a bit wishy washy actually.  There is a longer than usual sample to listen to here.

The problem is we are doing John Bell’s Singing the Unsung DVD course at the moment and his setting of Ps 27 is so much better I wouldn’t bother with this one.  (I did find a version of John Bell’s  setting on Youtube.)

Still, you can learn Mahler’s song from my backing if you like and I may well be wrong about it.

Another song not from AOV NG, but suggested by one of the lovely people coming to sing at “Sing along with Ed”, every Friday night at St Edward’s, Daisy Hill. It was written by Michael Murphy of “Wildfire” fame and, I gather, discovered and arranged for church use by Ed Gutfreund and available through GIA in David Haas’s arrangement.  It is a gospel blues and I apologise for a rather gallumphing version.  I suspect it is well known in the US and the version I was shown was brought back from Canada.  This version has sensibly been dropped from G to E and is now accessible the groaners in the assembly.

Verse 1

John tells us of a city so high up above,

Where we’ll meet in a spirit of love.

We’ll meet over yonder in that heavenly place.

There we’ll see each other face to face.

Chorus

I can almost see the lights of the city,

Shining down on me.

I can almost see the lights of the city.

Forever Lord, I shall be free.

Verse 2

John tells us of a time, when time will be no more,

In the days, when the trumpet shall blow.

We’ll meet over yonder, in that heavenly place.

There we’ll see each other, face to face

Chorus

Verse 3

John tells us of the water, which brings us to life.

When we drink, we will not thirst forever more.

When we’re born, in that water, a heavenly place.

We’ll be brothers and sisters, face to face.

Chorus

© Michael Murphy

Not from As One Voice: the Next Generation, but suggested by a correspondent.  Written by Jenny Lee Riddle and made famous by Gateway Worship, you can hear their version here.  Not sure about ending musical phrases with a hanging “the” myself.

There is an SATB arrangement of this, which is a bit of a surprise.

My backing is probably a little approximate.

Verse 1

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song,

to Him who sits on
Heaven’s Mercy Seat
[Repeat]Chorus
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!

Verse 2
Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King.Chorus

Verse 3

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your name is power, breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery

Chorus

© Jenny Lee Riddle

A beautiful chant from Taize and I still haven’t found a way of doing backings for chants that don’t sound odd. No 125 in AOV NG is “The Kingdom of God.”  This sounds better.

The kingdom of God is justice and peace

and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Come, Lord, and open in us

the gates of your kingdom.

© Ateliers et Presses de Taize.

No 124 in AOV NG is Matt Redman’s, “The Heart of Worship.” It sounds like a mea culpa for all his P&W noise making but is more likely just a song that suits a mood of worship that is not assisted by more uplifting songs.  You can hear his version here.

A lot of praise and worship material has sheet music arrangements all over the web and this is no exception (eg here). It can be purchased for download at several sites on the net including onlinesheetmusic.

Verse 1

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart

Prechorus

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You’re looking into my heart

Refrain

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You Jesus

Verse 2

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Prechorus

Refrain

It’s all about you, Jesus.
It’s all about you, Jesus

© Thankyou Music 1999,2001,2003.

“The Call” is another song from James Maher msc and is No 123 in AOV NG.  It is one of those songs we aren’t meant to sing, because it is sung from the perspective of God. Since this requires imagination, this song is only accessible and a consolation for those possessing the charism of thought.  In other words it’s fine.

There is a whole James Maher concert on Youtube that includes this song at 13:43.  Julie Jenkins sings the version on the CD and it has to be her singing on this live version as well.  The technical quality of this concert is extraordinary and contains versions of other James Maher compositions I’ve done backings for, “Closer Than You Know,” and “Spirit of Heaven.”

Refrain 

You are the one that I love.

Yours is the hunger I feed.

Yours is the life, yours is the living.

You are the one that I love. (Rpt)

Verse 1

Try to let your fear dissolve.

Let my spirit hold your heart.

Love your hidden self and let it live.

Come to me, be with me.

Feel the ease of trusting me.

Together we have bread to break and give.

Refrain

Verse 2

Hear the call I’ve given you,

Though at times it pierces you,

It will not fade as other voices do.

The heart of you remains with you;

My choice of you, my claim on you.

Embrace your life so others may live too.

Refrain x2

The one that I love

© James Maher msc 2002.

What a lovely reflective (and short song). I’m referring to No 122 in AOV NG, “Take This Day.”  It was written by Penny Elsley, who appears to be remarkable and versatile young lady.  My backing for once avoids overdoing things.

Take this night and take this day,

Let all sorrows fade away.

With you always I will be,

For you are my own,

For you are my own.

Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am God,

In the silence where I am,

In the silence where I am.

© Penny Elsey 2008.

No 121 in AOV NG is “Sweet Redeemer,” by Steve Angrisano and Sarah Hart, who are both big news in the States. This is a reconciliation song and a fine pop song too.

It is available for purchase for download at spiritandsong.

This is different to the version on the AOV NG CD which leaves out verse 2.  It has a lovely fiddle part that I have tried to do in MIDI in the backing…sigh.

Verse 1

King of Kings, blessed Jesus,
hand of mercy, giver of grace;
I have come to sing glory,
to lay my heart before you
in this place.

Refrain
Sweet redeemer,
I surrender all I am to you.
Sweet redeemer,
I surrender all I am to you.

Verse 2

I was lost and you found me;
in the darkness, you were my light.
When I fell down, you forgave me,
lifted me up and held me to your side.

Refrain

Bridge
From the shadows of the tomb
you called me,
you rolled away the stone.
From the burden of my sin
you saved me,
you made my heart your home.

Refrain

© Steve Angrisano 2001.

That’s two Michael John Poirier songs in a row. No 120 in AOV NG is “Strength for the Journey.”  This is another nice song of encouragement, which you can hear here.

The sheet music in AOV NG has an error:

top line p375 there is no note for “strength”

Also while not an error as such, bottom line p376 – suggests it ends at the end of the third verse, which is unlikely and better to follow the CD and finish on the refrain.

He has a lovely piano intro that I have replaced with MIDI harmonica – a regrettable lapse in my taste but I think I almost get away with it.

The text is here.