Church Music

This is an absolute belter from Judy Bailey called “Inspired to Serve”.  It is No 79 in As One Voice: the Next Generation.  Looking ahead, she has another five more songs coming up in the collection in addition to this one and “Call for Mercy” so that is something to look forward to.

I couldn’t mimic the whoop at the end of the verses in Band in a Box, so you’ll have to do that yourselves while singing along or listen to excerpt at As One Voice or her website.  I note that the CD version starts with the bridge, which is not a bad idea.

Verse 1

Come along join the song that is stirring our days
Let the earth touch the sky with extravagant praise
Raise your hands lift them high as you ride the wave – Come on
Woah…God is good

Verse 2

We are one we belong we’re the family of God
We’re a body united together we’re strong
Here to stand in His name, here to make a change – Come on
Woah…God is good yeah

Chorus

Set free and I am on fire
Spirit is lifting me higher
Here we go here we go
Inspired to serve

Verse 3

Come along join the song we are taking this chance
Let us follow the leader the Lord of the dance
We will rise with the challenge loud and strong – Come on
God is good yeah

Chorus

Bridge x2

I’m gonna serve I’m gonna serve
I’m gonna serve the Lord forever

I’m gonna serve I’m gonna serve
I’m gonna serve the Lord forever

I’m gonna serve I’m gonna serve
I’m gonna serve the Lord forever now

Chorus

© Dyba Music / Judy Bailey 2003.

Michael John Poirier’s song “In the Light” is No78 in AOV NG and essentially an extended chant.  You could sing it all the way through or select an appropriate verse and repeat that.  The CD has a lot of instruments coming in and out and complimentary vocal lines coming in and out that could be ad libbed as needed.  The introduction is the whole verse played once.

The sheet music can be purchased at WLP.

The speed indicates a crochet =70.  I suspect they mean a minim.

For those with the As One Voice: Next Generation book you can sing along with my backing to learn the song.

I had planned to have more posts on general issues on Church Music, but I seem to have been caught up in trying to do backings for all of As One Voice: the Next Generation.  I may get back to more general topics at some stage but as I am more than half way through I thought I should restate some things I probably mentioned last year.

• Buy the book.
• You can listen to samples on the website of all the songs but it helps to listen to whole song on the CD if you get a chance.
• The backings are really more for learning than use in a mass, as the melody line is mixed a little high for usual use in a backing, but there is nothing other than copyright permissions (which your church already has) preventing their use in a mass.
• Buy the book.
• All the backings are made on Band in a Box and involve no human playing at all.  This is mainly to save time and simplify the process.  I could add human musicianship, and singing for that matter, but I don’t think it is necessary for this purpose.
• I see no reason that a church short of musicians could not buy Band in a Box and make their own backings.  It is simpler than recording and endlessly modifiable -rpts, key,        +/- melody line etc.
• On the other hand some song styles don’t lend themselves to BIAB, especially chants, so it’s not the answer for everything.  Unaccompanied singing is suggested in those cases.
• I have yet to overcome my unreasonable prejudice against Hillsongs.
• I have yet to overcome my distaste for a certain style of choir singing that turns up on mainly American church music.
• Despite that, I have found little to complain about in the selections made at Willow for this collection, other than that they had made a deliberate choice to include a lesser number of strictly liturgical songs than in AOV Vol 1&2.
• Buy the book!
• Try to get everyone interested in new material (ie your liturgists)
• Don’t give up on the assembly, but remember that some don’t easily cope with the syncopation that is in nearly every song in AOV NG.
• By all means sit at your computer and sing along loudly.  If anyone complains, invite them to sing too.

…and buy the book.

This beautiful song, “In Every Age”, by Janet Sullivan Whitaker is No 77 in As One Voice: the Next Generation. Based on Psalm 90, this song is listed for use in Lent and at funerals and has wider applications for more general use. I couldn’t get the feel of the excellent version on the CD sung by Jasmine Forsythe so I went for a simpler more rhythmic arrangement. You can also listen to a version (? Whitakers) at the spiritandsong site.  There is even a pdf (nonprintable) of the song. The sheet music can be purchased at spiritandsong.

It might be that the subtle variations in the verses might be too much for the assembly, so a cantor might have to sing the verses and leave the chorus for everyone else.

Verse 1

Long before the mountains came to be

and the land and sea and stars of the night,

through the endless seasons of all time,

you have always been,

you will always be.

Refrain

In ev’ry age, O God, you have been our refuge.

In ev’ry age, O God, you have been our hope.

Verse 2

Destiny is cast, and at your silent word

we return to dust and scatter to the wind.

A thousand years are like a single moment gone,

as the light that fades

at the end of day.

Refrain

Verse 3

Teach us to make use of the time we have.

Teach us to be patient even as we wait.

Teach us to embrace our ev’ry joy and pain.

To sleep peacefully,

and to rise up strong.

Refrain

Refrain

You have been our refuge

You have been our hope.

© Janet Sullivan Whitaker 1988, 1999.

“I Will Choose Christ” by Tom Booth is No 76 in As One Voice: the Next Generation.  A lovely song with applications for RCIA and confirmation, but again is more a solo gospel vehicle than a song for the assembly.  It has lots of odd timings and gaps and two (count ‘em) key changes.  The stated speed of ~94 is a little fast – 84 matches the recording and the feel better.  If you go looking on youtube there is a performance at the crystal cathedral, a black gospel version and a version with children doing actions.

Probable errors

p237 third line second bar – the bass E in the Gm chord is probably on  3^rd beat, not the second.

p239 second line, first bar – I don’t think the F is an accidental F# sounds right.

If you haven’t bought AOV NG yet, you can buy the sheet music at spiritandsong.

Refrain

I will choose Christ,

I will choose love,

I choose to serve.
I give my heart,

I give my life,

I give my all to you.

Verse 1

How many times must He call my name,

And show to me that He is God.
And as a servant He calls to me:

“You must serve too.”

Refrain

Verse 2

Christ my teacher and healer,

Teach my heart and heal my soul.

And as I walk this road with you,

Teach me to love.

Refrain (key change)

Verse 3

And as I look upon your cross,

So must I die with you.
And with the death of my own desires,

I shall rise with you.

Refrain x2 (another key change!)

© Tom Booth 1991, 2009.

)

John Angotti’s song “I Send You Out” is No 75 in AOV NG.  It has an obvious application for sending forth and baptism.  If you listen to the CD the refrain is repeated at the end several times with key changes, guitar solos and lots of different parts thrown in, which would be fun, but is not in the music as written in AOV NG.  I suspect the tune is too fiddly for an assembly.

The text is available here. The sheet music can be purchased at WLP.

)

This is a song of encouragement from Gina Ogilvie and Monica O’Brien called “I Raise You Up.”  You will find it at No 74 in As One Voice: the Next Generation.  It’s one of those songs sung from God’s perspective that are meant to be discouraged these days.  That’s enough reason for liking it.  Another is the oddly restrained short refrain, the key change and the coda repeating the initial thought.  In other words it doesn’t just follow a formula.  It’s sounds like a song for a school assembly, but that doesn’t mean it could not be sung in other contexts where encouragement is needed.

It is available to purchase for download at As One Voice.

Verse 1

I draw you close in prayer,

I hold you in my heart.

You are held with loving arms,

You’re safe and you are secure.

Verse 2

You are within my thoughts

Each day and through the night.

No need to feel afraid,

In love there is no fear.

Chorus

I raise you up so you can see the road ahead.

I raise you up with wings so you can fly.

Verse 3

I ground your dreams in prayer,

Surround you with guiding light.

Your life is a precious gift;

Be blessed with each step you take.

 

Chorus

Chorus (key change)

Chorus

I draw you close in prayer,

I hold you in my heart.

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2009.

As One Voice: the Next Generation

Number 73

“I Give You My Heart” by Reuben Morgan

Hillsong

Not a fan

error p230 second line bracket marked 1 should start over the first bar.

This one seems to have sheet music all over the net including arrangements for many instruments here. There are also purchase for download copies (eg here).

I’ve tried to capture their 70s lounge feel in my backing.

Verse

This is my desire:
To honour You.
Lord, with all my heart,
I worship You.
All I have within me,
I give You praise.
All that I adore,
Is in You.

Chorus

Lord, I give You my heart,
I give You my song.
I live for you alone.
Every breath that I take,
Every moment I’m awake,
Lord, have Your way in me.

© Reuben Morgan / Hillsong Publishing 1995.

Oh good, a Eucharist song.

“I am the Bread of Life” (No72 AOV NG) is a welcome song if only because the commonly used song (Toolan) of that title has ridiculous vocal range requirements.  It is by WLP artist, Tom Kaczmarek.

It is a laid strum along with a little R&B styling in it. The vocal on CD is not to my taste, much too bland, so there’s lots of potential to sing it better. Then again, I have closely followed their arrangement in my backing, so I’ll say at least that was worth stealing. The sample of the song available from his parish website link above, is very different from the one on the AOV NG CD and sampled on their website and you might prefer the more traditionally sung version.

The last phrase of the verse has something musically interesting – honestly, have a listen.  The verses are really quite well written and you could pick and choose the appropriate thought for the particular liturgy – like picking verses in “All Are Welcome”.

The text is available here and here.

Another failed attempt by myself to make a backing for a TAIZE chant.  “I am Sure I Shall See” is No 71 in AOV NG.  Better to learn it from Youtube and do it unaccompanied I think.

I am sure I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Yes, I shall see the goodness of our God,

Hold firm. trust in the Lord.

© Ateliers et Presses de Taize.