Church Music

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.

No 111 in As One Voice: the Next Generation is John Angotti’s “Send Out Your Spirit, Lord.”  This has to have liturgical uses since the text is from the lectionary!  The internet, but not AOV NG, tells me it is Ps 104. At last I got to use a bossa rhythm from Band in a Box, so that’s a change from straight 4/4. This song has to use a cantor as the verses are so different from each other and convoluted that there is no way the assembly will follow it.  You can hear Josh Taddeo + a choir  do this live here, with much over-emoting from Mr Taddeo.  It is still probably better than Angotti’s version on the AOV NG CD that has way too much R&B whimpering.  I found a powerpoint presentation of Angotti’s version with words suitable for projection here.

The text is available here. It can be purchased for download at Voices As One.

Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien wrote this song called, “See, I Make All Things New,” which is No 110 in AOV NG.  This has all the Trisha Watts hallmarks, wandering out of the set key, strange rhythmic shifts – unmistakable and delightful.   It is suggested as a song for anointing,which is fine.  I’m not sure the assembly will ever sing the verses, but the refrain would be singable.

Refrain

See, I make all things new
New as night turns to morning
The Spirit is calling
I’m with you
I make all things new

Verse 1

The rivers are bursting with life
The stars in the night sky sing praise
Come to me in joy
Come to me in song
All of creation rejoice!

Refrain

Verse 2

Trust in the promise of life
Colour the earth with my love
Come to me in joy
Come to me in song
Open your hearts rejoice!

Refrain

© Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien 1998.

Tom Locksley provides No 109 in AOV NG, “See His Love.”  The CDs have Tim Hughes version. I can’t find much about the songwriter on the net, there isn’t even anything in the bio section of AOV, but the song is popular enough.

The sheet music can be purchased for download at various sites on the net including musicnotes.

Stephanie Richmond’s version is here and there are plenty of others on Youtube.  Mine is a bit grittier than Hughes’s version.

Verse 1

See His love nailed onto a cross
Perfect and blameless life given as sacrifice
See Him there all in the name of love
Broken yet glorious, all for the sake of us

Chorus

This is Jesus in His glory
King of Heaven dying for me
It is finished, He has done it
Death is beaten, Heaven beckons me

Verse 2

Greater love no one could ever show
Mercy so undeserved, freedom I should not know
All my sin, all of my hidden shame
Died with Him on the cross, eternity won for us

Chorus

Bridge

Such love, such love
Such love is this for me

Chorus

© Thankyou Music

No 108 in AOV NG is “See Him”, another celtic chant style song by Keith Duke.  I haven’t had a lot of luck trying to make decent backings for chants and I’m not sure things are any better this time.

See Him silent and lifeless;

See him alone and forlorn;

See him broken and helpless

Crowned with a garland of thorns.

See him as son and as brother;

See him related to all;

See him throught the grief of a mother;

Hurting the most of all.

See him as healer and teacher;

See him as helper and friend;

See him as prophet and preacher;

Ignore him? I doubt you can.

© Kevin Mayhew 2005.

No 107 in As One Voice: the Next Generation is another Gina Ogilvie and Monica O’Brien song, “Reach Out.”  It sounds like another song for encouraging high school students but would work as entrance or recessional in a mass as well.  I suspect it could be a good deal more raucous than Gina Ogilvie’s version.  The 3rd verse is more of a bridge, cleverly using the second half of the verse and a quieter version of the chorus.

The sign that the D.S.S at the top of page 338 refers to is missing, and should be at the start of the chorus.

Verse 1

How can we stand and wait and wonder what might be?

Can you see the hope that’s calling you and me?

When we hear the Spirit’s voice we have a choice to make.

Step out with courage now, for our future’s sake.

Refrain

Reach out in faith and in love, guided by God’s Word.

Standing together as one; our voice will ring across the land.

Verse 2

All your people long for peace, we long to be restored.

We have a task to do to work in one accord.

We will strive for unity the world has never seen.

Be bold and take a stand, new hope will be revealed!

Refrain

Verse 3

We pray for everyone who gathers here to day,

We seek the Spirit’s love to guide us on our way.

Act with integrity in all we do and say.

We know we’re not alone, stand and let us…

Refrain

Standing together as one, our voice will ring across the land.

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2007.