Church Music

This is the last of the new additions to OCP’s Breaking Bread for 2023. They have added some Gospel, some Spanish and some Filipino music. Outside that, the OCP house style is getting less up tempo and more country ballad. That may mean more singable but less of a template for the rest of the English speaking world. I will get back to the Southern hemisphere’s music I think.

This is a Michael Joncas text that is designed for the Baptism of the Lord, which is just around the corner. It has been set the Tallis’s THE THIRD TUNE and KINGSFOLD, but this is a charming new setting by Casey McKinley. It is another singable, country influenced tune.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP, where the text is in their preview.

The late Albert A. Goodson wrote this gospel classic in the 60s and it has turned up for Breaking Bread in 2023.

It’s lovely coming across songs from genres that are foreign to me, but I don’t think many Australian parishes are really up to singing Gospel.

The text is here. OCP sell the sheet music here. Then again Hope Publishing also sell an arrangement that looks more interesting and put in the 12/8 that it really is.

My backing uses a Gospel style in BIAB and the OCP arrangement.

There are a few entries left in OCP’s new additions for Breaking Bread in 2023.

This is a recent Tom Kendzia hymn taking on Ecclesiastes (and Pete Seeger). There is a bridge that doesn’t show up until after 3 verses and four choruses, which has a key change from C to Eb then back for the last chorus.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP, where the text is in their preview.

This is so lovely from Chris Brunelle:

Wow, a midi powered version:

Here is another Christmas song I was given, this time by local Tasmanian songwriter, Frank Vincent. It is a most singable prayer for this time of year.

He sent the text and chords:

I tried to make a fake sheet and backing, which are somewhat approximate:

This is Frank singing the song:

I have been lucky enough to receive two Christmas songs from Australian songwriters.

Greg Schiemer’s “Carol of the Magi” is what you need if you are looking for something out of the ordinary. It has a longing feeling in the 12/8 rhythm. The verses need a cantor but the refrain is for everyone and goes of into inventive harmonies for the choir when the text is repeated. Greg has sent in his songs before – “Poorman’s Heart and “Hymn for Mary MacKillop”, which you can search for on this site.

He sent this message about the song:

Here’s a carol you might like to share at Christmas. Anyone can use it absolutely free of charge. Carol of the Magi was written in 1985 and owes much to the refugees who became neighbours during the previous decade and eventually close friends. The three voices in the repeated refrain can be sung by any available male or female voice in a suitable register. The melody of the refrain seemed unstoppable hence the fade out as Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar continue on their journey. Wishing every Christmas blessing to friend and outsider alike.

Y0u will get the idea from the sheet music that Greg has provided.

He also sent an MP3 backing:

I made one with a different (wrong!) feel:

Sarah Hart got another spot in Breaking Bread for 2023 with this joyous song of welcome and gathering from 2019. It is another song of hers with a country feel.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP. They provide the text here.

The is a very singable Eucharist waltz from Sarah Hart, who has become one of the most prolific Catholic songwriters of our time. The refrain is intentionally kept simple and memorable to be sung while processing.

A lot of her songs have a country feel to them and this is no exception. By the way, my non-scientific survey shows that OCP music is getting less up tempo and more ballad focused (ie less Spirit & Song) and this includes their more youthful contributors. There is an an opening in the market for other approaches but is seems unlikely to come from mainstream OCP/GIA axis. I suspect it will come from schools but young people’s music is a mystery to me.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP, where the text is in their preview.

I used the preview to make a BIAB backing to help us learn it.

This is a lovely gentle song for Eucharist in Spanish that has been selected for Breaking Bread in 2023. It is by Colombian American songwriter Iván Díaz. There is also an English text by Estela García-López and Tom Booth.

THIS IS A HIT SONG.

The text is at OCP where you can purchase the sheet music.

My backing follows the Spanish text but you can see the slight differences for the English text in their preview.

The next song selected for Breaking Bread 2023 is actually “May the Angels Be Your Guide” which I blogged here from my ragged copy of the Guitar Accompaniment Book from OCP. It was written in 1998 so maybe it was in, then out and is in again.

Which brings us to a new setting of Genevieve Glen‘s text “Oh, Who Can Know the Mind of God”. I have previously blogged it set to MORNING SPRING.

This setting is by Justin Wedgewood and is simple, dignified and lovely. The sheet music can be purchased at OCP where the text is in their preview.

This is a Swiss army song from a liturgical perspective as it covers pretty much everything and could be used pretty much anywhere in the mass. The useful text is by John T. Kyler and it is set by Orin Johnson and it was added to Breaking Bread for 2023. It was composed only a couple of years ago but has a timeless quality.

The sheet music can be purchased at OCP where the text is in their preview.

Their version is quite grand but it sounds like Appalachian folk to me – son of BEACH SPRING! It is in 5/4 time so was a dog to put on Band in a Box.