Church Music

We’ve never used this either so again it is just a new song to learn.  I have chosen the response for ordinary time.

Alleluia x8

Speak, O Lord, your servant is listening;

You have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia x8

Our local liturgical committee has made a decision that we will use the revised Mass of Creation as one of our new settings for the parts of the Mass.  This is for largely practical reasons.  We have never done this Gloria before, so we don’t have to unlearn the old version.  The Sanctus has only minor changes, as does the Lamb of God so it was thought it would be less of a challenge.

Refrain

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

Verse 1

We praise you,

we bless you,

we adore you,

we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King,

O God, almighty Father.

Refrain

 Verse 2

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world,

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

have mercy on us.

Refrain

 Verse 3

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.  Amen.

Refrain

Inspired by the AOV conference last year, we are trying out sessions to enhance our singing and praising at St Edward the Confessor Daisy Hill.

They will be at 7pm on Friday nights from May 13th.  We will be learning new songs from As One Voice the Next Generation and participating in John Bell’s DVD program, “Singing the Unsung.”

It should be fun and definitely not music practice.  All are welcome even if you think you can’t sing (You can – just read the ten golden rules available here.)

100 not out

Amanda McKenna’s “No Hands but Ours,” is No 100 in AOV NG.  An uptempo update of St Theresa’s prayer (and St Francis’s as well).  AOV suggests its use for confirmation or recessional and that’s fine by me.

The sheet music can be purchased for download at As One Voice.

Chorus

Christ has no hands but ours,

No feet for the journey but ours.

We have been called to bring God’s love into this world.

Christ has no dreams but ours,

No eyes of compassion but ours,

We are his body here on earth to bless the world,

Bless the world.

Verse 1

Where there’s hatred and injustice,

Make us channels of your peace.

Be the face of Christ to others,

Shining for all to see.

Chorus

Verse 2

When it’s peace that we are seeking

Then it’s peace-filled we must be.

Show our love for one another,

Shining for all to see.

Chorus

Verse 3

Sing sweetly to the Father

And the Son who set us free.

Holy Spirit be our loving,

Shining for all to see.

Chorus (minus the last “bless the world”)

With no eyes but ours and no feet but ours,

No hands but ours

To bless the world

© Amanda McKenna 2007.

Trisha Watts in country swing mode gives us “Never Hide Your Love,” no 99 in AOV NG.  I like this a lot – it still has her trade mark accidentals and quirkiness despite being in a fairly set song style.  I reckon it would work for gifts if you are looking for a liturgical excuse to use it.  Otherwise around a campfire with friends would be even better.

This was apparently written for Saint Mary of the Cross (Mackillop) a big fan of country music.  You can see the super group of Trish Watts, Gina Ogilvie and Amanda McKenna perform the song here.

My only concern is the last line of the first verse, “we’re doing the best that we can” is not the best Trisha can do. Let’s look for alternatives:

eg

finding diamonds amongst the sand

or

given with wide open hands

or

and working on our tan

…perhaps it is harder than it looks.

Refrain

Never see a need without doing something about it.

Never hide your love without doing what you can.

Travel the Dreamtime tracks if you dare,

Find the sacred living there.

Never hide your love without doing what you can.

Verse 1

We are travellers here in this ancient land,

Offering hope and healing,

We’re doing the best that we can.

Refrain

Verse 2

Watch the little children, they’ll show the way.

Open your heart to freedom,

Reach out in love today.

Refrain

© Trisha Watts 2008.

No 98 in “As One Voice: The Next Generation” is the song of the WYD 2008 in Sydney.  “My Witness You’ll Be” is by Patrick Keady of emmanuelworship.  I did not enjoy playing it – too long, too many repeats in seemingly random order (a common emmanuel trait).  It didn’t stick (ie no-one wanted to keep playing it, unlike their other songs – we still do their Fire Mass – has it been updated?)

I’m listening to their version again now – it has it charms.  Parts to jump up and down, parts to stand and sing – I suppose it ticks the boxes.  I think perhaps my backing is too fast but there you go.

Verse:

You will receive power

When the Holy spirit falls on you… (repeat)

Chorus:

And you will be My witnesses!

To the ends of the earth, the ends of the earth

To all nations and distant lands

My witness you’ll be, My witness You’ll be

Verse

Chorus

Chorus
Bridge:

To the cities and towns – hey! – and country plains

‘Cross mountains and oceans, to ancient lands.

Proclaiming the truth in every tongue

‘Your sins are forgiven by the death of the Son’

To the rich and the poor, the old and the young

‘This gift is for you, this gift is for you…’

etc…

© Patrick Keady 2006.

No 97 in AOV NG is another song by Steve Angrisano of OCP via USA, “My Soul is Thirsting.”  You can hear his version here, although that is a different version to the piano driven one on the AOV NG CD. You can even watch him teach the song – he plays it capo 5 (ie uke chords). Based on Psalm 62 it is a professional, sweet song with little to stand in it’s way for liturgical use. It can be purchased for download from spiritandsong.

I personally find those qualities somewhat distracting and prefer Australian settings, but that is likely just unreasonable prejudice.

My backing is pure MIDI.  I have noticed that when BIAB renders a song with no sampled audio in it, they are turning out a bit strange.  It is not so noticeable on this slower song, but I fear there are still a couple a slipped notches in the rhythm track. I’ve had to go back and fix some of the more rhythmic backings that were pure MIDI.

Refrain
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God,
thirsting for you, my God.

Alternate Refrain
As morning breaks I look to you;
be my strength this day.
As morning breaks I look to you;
be my strength this day,
be my strength this day.

Verse 1.

O God, you are my God,
and I will always praise you.
In the shadow of your wings
I cling to you and you hold me high.

Refrain

Verse 2.

Through the day you walk with me;
all the night your love
surrounds me.
To the glory of your name
I lift my hands, I sing your praise.

Refrain
Verse 3.

I will never be afraid,
for I will not be abandoned.
Even when the road grows long
and weary
your love will rescue me.

Refrain

© Steve Angrisano 1997.

Judy Bailey is proving the real eye opener of this collection as I’d never heard of her and every song of hers that Willow have picked for this collection has something special about it.  No 96 in AOV NG is her song, “My God Knows.”  It is an unusual song that ends up with the verse and chorus being sung simultaneously (& at the same time!).  This is magic stuff.  My backing just follows the music in the book, which is less inventive than the arrangement on the CD.  She builds on the simple idea beautifully.

Verse 1

My God knows ev’rything about me,

Ev’rything about me, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 2

My God knows ev’rything I’m needing,

Ev’rything I’m needing, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 3

My God knows when my heart is aching,

When my heart is aching, my God knows. (Rpt)

Chorus

God is love, God is with me.

Ev’ry thing about me, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 4

My God knows, ev’ry time I struggle,

Ev’ry time I struggle, my God knows. (Rpt)

Verse 5

My God knows where my life is going,

Where my life is going, my God knows. (Rpt)

Chorus

© Dyba Music / Judy Bailey 2006.

)

Anne Maree Higgins fabulous pop song “Mission to Love” is No 95 in AOV NG.   The sugar coating does not disguise the hard message of verse two.  I’m sure it would work as entrance, gifts and recessional at least.  My backing is pure MIDI I’m afraid and as is frequently the case does not do the song justice.  You can hear the proper version at her Myspace page.

Verse 1

Love is the greatest gift, that we can give, that never fails.

Love’s meant to lead the way, to stretch our hearts, to make a change.

We know the spirit’s present when we put selfish ways aside.

We give God’s life to others when we can go the extra mile.

And everyone will see that

Refrain

Now our love will be forever,

A mission of love, a mission of love.

And now our love will last a lifetime, a mission of love.

You’re the centre of our lives.

Verse 2

Love’s not for holding back or loving those that love you too.

It’s not enough to say that good things come to those who wait.

Show mercy to the hostile, do good to those who wouldn’t care,

Make peace with old resentments, talk to the hardest hearts and share.

And everyone will see that

Refrain

© Anne Maree Higgins 2006

On Good Friday we have No 94 from AOV NG, “Love Never Ends.”  This was written by Paul Mason, one of the greats of Australian liturgical music and is based on 1 Corinthians 13.  It is therefore ideal for weddings or if that reading is appropriate to a particular mass.

It can purchased for download at Score Exchange.

Mason has put enough variety into the writing that it should be done a simply as possible and I think the version on the CD lets the songwriter down a little in this case.

Verse 1

If I have the gift to speak in tongues,

If I have the faith to move mountains

But do not have love;

If I have the gift of prophecy,

If I comprehend all mystery

But do not have love, I am nothing.

Refrain

Love is patient, love is kind.

Love is not jealous, Love’s not pretentious.

It’s never self-centred, and not easily angered.

Love keeps no record, and love is not rude or proud.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; love never ends.

Verse 2

If I give the poor all I possess,

If I give my life to holiness

But do not have love;

If I speak in tongues and prophecise,

If I learn the knowledge of the wise

But do not have love, I gain nothing.

Refrain

Love never ends.

© Paul Mason 2007.