My backing does it no favours but will give you the idea. I switched on BIABs fake organ and increased the tempo from 65 to 80.
He has set it SATB, so I’d like to hear it done at 65, unaccompanied, in four parts – I’m sure that would work if your choir is up to it on Good Friday.
This is a song by Stephen Kirk for Holy Thursday. It is another lovely song, but your cantor will need a fair old range to cope, especially in the third stanza. The assembly should be fine singing the refrain.
You will find the sheet music under “Resources” at his website.
Refrain
Do you understand what I’ve done to you?
Do you understand what I’ve done to you?
1 You call me master and Lord, and rightly; so I am.
If I then, The Lord and Master have washed your feet,
You should wash each others.
Refrain
2 I give you a new command, that you love one another
As I have loved you; By this everyone will know
You are my disciples.
Refrain
3 At the moment you don’t know what I’m doing,
But later you will understand.
I have given you and example so you may do as I have done.
Stephen Kirk, a Catholic musician from Canberra, is coming to Tasmania in November and barring unforeseen circumstances I hope to attend his workshop. I have not heard of him, but his site shows years of activity.
He has lots of music there to purchase, but under the resources tab there are some of his songs to look at for free. You have to register to do this.
This is his setting of Psalm 115, and it is rather nice. Your cantor will need to hit a held high E.
Response
Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ. x2
How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.
Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds.
Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make: I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people.
Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ. x2
This is another song from Adelaide, by Peter and Lauren Bierer. While written for the 2022 Diocesan Assembly it has a use as a gathering song or for Pentecost.
I didn’t get fooled into Dm7 chords this time. The sheet music is here.
I was at a small songwriter’s workshop last weekend arranged by Monica O’Brien and I am still decompressing a little.
I met some wonderful talented songwriters and was inspired by what they are all up to. Peter and Lauren Bierer from Adelaide were there, and they have a couple of great songs posted by the Adelaide Archdiocese.
This one was a sung prayer for communal discernment and action leading up to the Plenary, but has obvious uses beyond that.
I thought he was trying to unsettle us – and we really do need some unsettling, but I was just playing Dm7 instead of Dmaj7 chords.
In the clip you can see how it was used under spoken prayer.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
