Church Music

“Starmaker” is an unusual song from Michael John Poirier, and is No119 in AOV NG.  Laid back yet catchy, it is really just a fine pop song and I have no idea of any liturgical use to which it could be put.  There are images from the Psalms but I don’t think it corresponds enough to any specific psalm to be used there.  I suggest you listen to it on the AOV NG CD if you can or get the song however you can – it is outstanding.

My backing isn’t nearly as sure footed as his version but at least you can learn the song by singing along.

James Maher msc wrote, “Spirit of Heaven” and it is No 118 in As One Voice: the Next Generation.  Phil Simmons sings the song on the CD and I struggle with his style of singing (oh yeahs etc.), but the song lifts in the chorus when he is joined by the other singers.  The song is both a Eucharist song and a Pentecost song in a P&W style.  If you want to hear it how we heard it at the AOV conference last year go here.  Or you could just sing a long to my backing.

Verse 1

We gather in your name,
We gather to give praise.
We gather now to listen for your word.

We gather here as one,
Your pilgrims on the way,
Remembering your promise to be near.

Refrain

Spirit of heaven, fill this place!
Spirit of power, now arise!
Spirit of fire enflame our hearts –
Jesus alive!

Open our minds to know your truth.
Open our lives to live your word.
Make us your witnesses today,
To all the world.

Verse 2

We gather in your name,
We bring to you our lives.
We break the bread in memory of you.

We come just as we are,
Hungry to your feast,
Renew us with your living bread today!

Refrain

© James Maher 2008.

Keith Duke’s chant, “Spirit Divine” is No 117 in AOV NG. I don’t know if I’m getting any better at backings for chants but, as I’ve said before, learn it, then acapella is the way to go.

It can also be purchased as part of a huge collection of chants at Kevin Mayhew.

Spirit of love, enfold and teach us;

Spirit of peace, rest deep within;

Spirit of change, transform and heal us;

Spirit divine;

Spirit divine.

© Kevin Mayhew 2005.

This is not from AOV NG but from the http://songsofpraise.org website and was spotted by my friend Frankie from our parish.  She suggested I listen to it but the MIDI file was unlistenable really.  You can hear that, but more importantly download the sheet music from here.  I trimmed some redundant bits and made a backing that suggests there is a pretty good song in there.

Verse 1

Pour Your Spirit out upon me,
Let Your living water flow.
Let Your river quench my thirsty heart,
Touch me deep within my soul.
Waves of mercy crash upon me
In their wake my strength will grow.
As I wait upon Your Spirit, Lord,
Let Your living water flow!

Verse 2

Pour your Spirit out upon me,
Let Your holy fire consume.
Set my heart ablaze with a passion
For You rose up from the tomb!
May Your holy flame refine me,
For I know You’re coming soon.
As I wait upon Your Spirit, Lord,
Let Your holy fire consume!

Verse 3 (key change)

Pour your Spirit out upon me,
Let Your rain now start to fall.
Drench my weary soul with mercy sweet,
As I listen for Your call.
Your shower of love is so refreshing,
You, alone, are All-In-All.
As I wait upon Your Spirit, Lord,
Let Your rain now start to fall!

Copyright © 1999 Tom Lascoe, Larry Holder and Elton Smith

I’ve already done backings for this mass starting here.  Rex Urbano from Our Lady of Fatima asked for MIDI files so he can use them on his keyboard at church.  I’ve made MIDI versions of the BIAB files my usual backings were made from, so if anyone needs them e-mail me and confirm that your church has the licence for Paul Mason’s mass.  They aren’t the same as the MP3s because I mainly use the realtracks in BIAB now so I have to use a different style to allow a MIDI version.

Rex also asked for a backing for the Our Father, which I had not done as, shamefully, we rarely sing it at St Edwards.  I made him a MIDI for the piece up the the embolus only.

I’ve made an MP3 of the BIAB/MIDI that conveys the Latin style of his melody, although I’m not sure if it’s the sort of Latin of which Rome approves.

Don’t forget to download the assembly version of his mass here.

No 116 in As One Voice: the Next Generation is Ana DaCosta and Susan Hookong-Taylor’s song, “Song of the Cross.”  This is at least an Easter song but I’m sure it fits in the other liturgical slots – gifts, ? recessional.  It goes high in the verses, so perhaps have a cantor do that and leave the chorus to the assembly.  It is from Canada so it must be a good song.

You can hear a snippet and purchase the sheet music for download at spiritandsong.

I prefer the version on this Youtube clip to the overproduced version on the CD.  My backing is the usual attempt to ring something decent out of Band in a Box.

Refrain

Love lifted on the cross for me:
my Lord, my God, my salvation.
Love lifted high to set me free:
my Lord, my God, my salvation.
Verse 1

Behold the wood of the cross,
behold the lamb that was slain.
Behold your king comes victorious,
behold he has risen again.

Refrain

Verse 2

O be exalted, O God,
above the heavens and the earth.
For by your cross and resurrection
you have redeemed the world.

Refrain

Verse 3

Give glory to the Father,
give glory to the Son,
give glory to the Holy Spirit;
give glory to the Holy One.

Refrain

© Shue Be Dhoo Music / SOCAN and Ann DaCosta 2001.

This meditative, reflective piece by Duke Kerr, “Something Wonderful,” is 115 in AOV NG.  You can hear the whole song here done by the Re: Mission Choir.  Alternatively you could learn it using my backing.

Verse 1

God is doing something wonderful.

God is doing something marvellous in me.

God is doing something precious, precious in me.

God is doing something wonderful.

God is doing something glorious in me.

God is doing something beautiful, beautiful in me.

Verse 2

God is doing something wonderful.

God is doing something marvellous in you.

God is doing something precious, precious in you.

God is doing something wonderful.

God is doing something glorious in you.

God is doing something beautiful, beautiful in you.

Verse 3

Just keep doing something wonderful.

Just keep doing something marvellous in me.

Just keep doing something precious, precious in me.

Just keep doing something wonderful.

Just keep doing something glorious in me.

Just keep doing something beautiful, beautiful in me.

Coda

Beautiful, wonderful, marvellous,

glorious, wonderful, wonderful in me.

© Duke Kerr 2008

This is the daddy of all Australian P&W songs, Darlene Zschech’s, “Shout to the Lord,” coming in at No 114 in AOV NG.  This works well as a recessional and should be sung slowly and the tendency to speed up as the chorus gets noisy should be resisted.  I’ve been singing this old warhorse too long to completely despise it, as I should considering my irrational dismissal of all that is Hillsong.  I’m sure you’ve heard Hillsong’s version, so how about American Idol – I kid you not.

The sheet music is all over the net (eg here) and can be purchased for download at several sites including musicnotes.

My backing has the usual arrangement.

My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord
All the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work
Of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You
Forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares
To the promise I have in you.

© Darlene Zschech / Hillsong Publishing 1993.

Another P&W offering from Matt Redman, No 113 in AOV, “Shine.”  This is perhaps the most “quiet start to crazy freak out” P&W song of all time.  It’s odd structure has only one verse (repeated once) a chorus that grows longer as the song goes on and bridge before further chorus mayhem.

It can purchased for download at various places on the net including musicnotes.

You can hear his version here.

I really like this hope filled song by Jared and Rebecca Haschek, which is No112 in AOV NG.  It sounds country to me, like a classic John Denver song.  The speed stated at 112  is too fast, ~100 is better.  I think it would work to gather the assembly for mass beautifully.

Jared Haschek is the arranger of many of the songs found in this collection and they are both in the group, “Compliments of Gus.”

Verse 1

When you feel your day is at its end
When you pray for rest around each bend

When the road you walk has been too long
May our love keep you strong

Verse 2

When the words you speak have lost their flow
And both the sun and spirit low

When steps are hard and shadows long
May our love keep you strong

Chorus

May you find your shelter in these walls
Let us share your journey’s trials and joys

May your feet find rest when day is long
May the peace of God be in your song

Verse 3

When you feel that all you know has changed
Seasons pass but truth remains

When times of hardship come along
May our love keep you strong

Chorus

Verse 4

When the light of life begins to fade
Christ be near and Christ proclaim

His mercy, grace, and peace live on
May his love keep you strong

Chorus x2

May the peace of God be in your song

May the peace of God be in your song

© Jared Haschek and Rebecca Haschek 2005.