Church Music

Judy Bailey has provided another excellent contribution at 106 in AOV NG, “Praying God.”  She has recycled a couple of old hymns and come up with something special. Her songs in this collection are not the usual kind of material you find here and perhaps not being American or Australian helps her to stand out style wise.

© Dyba Music / Judy Bailey 2000.

Getting back to As One Voice: the Next Generation, at No 105 is Paul Melley’s song “Our Help is from the Lord.”  He’s had a brave stab at a rocking Psalm with some success, although using words like “whence” jars somewhat and the verses fit somewhat awkwardly to the tune.  If you are going to rock out a psalm, at least be brave enough to have a modern respectful rendering of the text.

If you are happy to have a cantor do the verses, I’m sure it would be fine, as the chorus is catchy and easy enough for assembly to belt out.

If you have AOV NG you can sing along to my backing to learn the song.

[22/2/2014 – NB – Some of these backings are pretty lousy. I have better ones for the Holy Holy and Gloria here.]

This mass by Paul Taylor was one of the six recommended settings, and one of two that I thought feasible for the suburbs.  I have noted previously that the musicians at our training sessions expressed reservations in that while it was easy to sight read, it was not particularly memorable.

On the plus side, you can download the melody line version and MP3s of cantors and organs doing the pieces here, and I suggest you do that and once you have printed out the music sing along and decide for yourself.  My wife thought there was nothing wrong with it and that’s my mind made up for me.  I’m not convinced it’s a masterpiece but the Gloria at least has some triplets and accidentals to at least try to be distinctive.  I don’t like the acclamations, however.  They have musical equivalent of an upward inflection.

Even if you thought the music on the dull side, what could be done to make it less so?  Imagine if Dire Straits were playing at your mass and you asked Band in a Box to have a stab at that.  I’m not sure if it helps, but it is certainly different to the organ version.

Gloria

Holy Holy

We proclaim

When we eat

Save us

Amen

Lamb of God

*NB post edited 4.11.2011

Another Paul Baloche song, with music by Brenton Brown, is No 104 in As One Voice the Next Generation.  “Our God Saves” is another P&W slow burn, build up to freak out song.  A simple sentiment expressed simply and repetitively, but that’s the genre, so good luck to them.  Baloche teaches the song here.

Astonishingly, charts for all Baloches’s songs are available free on his web site.

Verse

In the name of the Father
In the name of the Son
In the name of the Spirit
Lord we’ve come

We’re gathered together
To lift up Your name
To call on our savior
To fall on Your grace

Rpt Verse

Prechorus
Hear the joyful sound of our offering
As your saints bow down, as your people sing
We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings
And the world will see that

Chorus
Our God saves, our God saves
There is hope in Your name

Verse

Prechorus

Chorus

Coda
Mourning turns to songs of praise
Our God saves, our God saves
Our God saves, our God saves
Our God saves, our God saves

© Thankyou Music / Integrity’s Hosanna! Music / Leadworship Songs 2007.

 As One Voice:

http://www.asonevoice.com.au/index

 Singing the Unsung: support materials

http://www.livingthequestions.com/xcart/files/dvd/bell/STU%20Supplemental%20Materials.pdf

 Wild Goose song catalogue

http://www.wgrg.co.uk/pages.php?page=songs_a-z_1&osCsid=sinqgerbd02hp0gp2bi8fk0ks4

If you want to suggest a song or lead us in song, talk to me after the session, e-mail me at geoff@sixmaddens.org or leave a comment on the blog.

Paul Baloche provides No 103 in AOV NG, “Open the Eyes of My Heart.”  There isn’t a lot lyrically to this song but it’s not a bad pop song.  I prefer his “Flowing River” which has more liturgical uses I think, but this is OK.  It must be because everyone seems to have done a version of it – just check YouTube.  Baloche’s version is here.

The sheet music in AOV NG has a glitch on p325, 2nd line – going into the second repeat can’t be right, there has to be a missing bit of the note left over from the previous bar.

The song can be purchased for download at spiritandsong.

My backing follows the printed music but the last bit could be repeated until the end of time if desired.

Open the eyes of my heart Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart,
I want to see You. I want to see You. (4x)
To see You high and lifted up,
Shining in the light of Your glory.
Pour out Your power and love,
As we sing holy, holy, holy.

Open the eyes of my heart Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart,
I want to see You. I want to see You. (2x)
To see You high and lifted up,
Shining in the light of Your glory.
Pour out Your power and love,
As we sing holy, holy, holy.

Holy, holy holy. Holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy, I want to see You.

© Integrity’s Hosanna! Music 1997.

No 102 in AOV NG is another winner from Amanda McKenna.  A great pop song but also an entrance or communion song.

Chorus

One Body in Christ

Called to share the Good News with the world.

Each of us gifted, made in God’s image,

We have a story to tell, a story of love.

Verse 1

We have been baptized in Christ,

The love of our God poured into our hearts.

Called to share the mission of Christ,

The Spirit of God alive in our hearts;

To be a light of welcome in the darkness of exclusion,

An out-stretched hand of love to ev’ryone.

Chorus

Verse 2

To give voice to the voiceless,

The unheard in the wilderness,

An outstretched hand of love to ev’ryone.

Chorus

a story of love.

© Amanda McKenna 2007.

Since the rest of Haugen’s Mass of Creation is pretty much the same as previously, it’s back to AOV NG.

No 101 is a funk hymn, “On and On” written by Steve McGregor and sung by his Re: Mission Choir on the CD.  You can see them perform the song live here.

Verse 1

I’m gonna make a noise,

I’m gonna make a joyful sound.

I’m gonna sing my soul,

I’m gonna sing so all may know

Chorus

The Lord is good and his mercy everlasting;

The Lord his truth goes on and on.

Verse 2

I’m gonna dance for joy,

I’m gonna dance before my king.

I’m gonna move my feet,

I’m gonna move in time and rhythm,

Chorus

Verse 3

I’m gonna bring my praise,

I’m gonna come into his courts.

I’m gonna lift my voice,

I’m gonna lift my arms and wave them

Chorus

© Steve McGregor 1996.

I’ve picked the “When We Eat This Bread” acclamation.

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,

we proclaim your Death, O Lord,

until you come again.

The tune is changed to accomodate the few word changes but most of it is intact and very familiar.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.