Monica O’Brien mentioned Dolly McGaughey in one of her newsletters. She is a Torres Strait Islander who has a unique voice and has written remarkable songs.
They strike me as indigenous chant like Taize perhaps, that could be used in a similar way.
This is a reflective song of praise. The sheet music is available from Willow and I recommend you listen to the snippet there of her singing to get the idea. Her songs have been haunting me since I started listening, I’m not sure why.
My backing may help to sing along with:
You are the light of the world sent from up above.
I’ll let you lead the way and I will follow you.
There is no darkness around as soon as you appear.
This is another recent Australian song, this time from Brigid McNally. She is another of the great song writers who have emerged from the fruitful area of Catholic schools, whose music has a use in the wider church community. She has recently become a Willow contributor.
This is a song of praise that would work as a recessional, with a singable range that has an obvious use for young people that would not preclude its use in a parish situation.
The sheet music can be purchased at Willow, where there is a sample recording to listen to.
You can also sing along with my backing to learn the song.
Refrain
We are called to love, we are called to serve,
We are called to share the joyful news.
We are called to praise, called to proclaim,
Called to be on earth the heart of God.
1 Jesus, Lord, we praise you, for the love within your heart.
We give you glory and we honour you.
Thank you for your help, Lord, you give to us each day.
Bless our hearts we give them now to you.
Refrain
2 Take our hearts and hold them, make them forever yours.
Fill them with your spirit and your love.
Stay with us forever and let us follow you.
May your love for us be ever known.
Refrain
3 May people see your goodness, in all your gifts to them.
Enrich your church today with your kind heart.
Help us serve you truly as we answer to your call.
This is an Australian chant style mass that Chris is using successfully at his church.
Brother Michael Herry fms is an icon of Australian Catholic music and it is always worth a dive into his ridiculously deep archive, most of which is now freely available.
This mass being chant, it is pointless making BIAB backings, but thankfully it is not necessary.
He has full sung through tutorials and melody lines to guide you at Marist Music, so the choir and assembly can practice at home. The keyboard accompaniment can be purchased for download at Willow. There are no chords on the music so you have to be able to play piano or organ, no fudging, so lets me out I’m afraid. Of course, this will work best if your priest wants to sings their bits and get a chant dialogue going.
In another 2024 song from Willow, we have another Eucharistic hymn with music by Michael Harvey, this time with lyrics by Monica O’Brien. That’s two new songs for communion for us to consider to make our liturgies renewed and more Australian based.
I am enjoying putting Michael Harvey’s music into BIAB, which I think means it is distinctive and memorable.
As I can’t find any YouTube clips yet, you can sing along with my backing to learn it before you buy it. I even bothered to put the “poco rall” in at the end for a change.
Refrain (Rpt 1st time)
To the table we are called, to the banquet of the Lord.
We are gathered for the feast where we will see the face of God and live!
By your grace we are gather here in faith.
In this meal we are made whole.
1 In the body that is gathered, by hope that calls us here.
In our longings and our struggles, we place our trust in you.
Refrain
2 Bread and wine become your body by the faith that draws us near.
In this sacred meal of promise, we know your saving grace.
Refrain
3 In this mystery now before us we pray for unity,
For healing of our broken world, for peace be restored.
* After reading Chris’s comment, I thought I’d see what entering just the piano notes into BIAB would do. It usually just sounds mechanical, but until we get proper recordings it might give you an idea of the actual written music rather than a backing that I have based on the chords and melody alone.
This is a very recent song (ie this year) for Eucharist from Willow Publishing, with a text by Gina Oglivie set by Michael Maurice Harvey. It would also be fine for Gifts.
It is nice to see a lyric by Gina Ogilvie, who usually does the music. The sheet music is available in F and D, but D is too low for general use. I’d probably play it in F but capo 3 to make my life easier.
I couldn’t find any recordings of this song but Harvey has done a remarkable job with the setting.
Sing along with my backing to learn it:
1 Called to the sanctuary we come bringing the gifts that we offer.
This sacred moment is blessed, our spirits unified.
Standing at the altar with off’rings of our hearts,
Together in this holy place, bread and wine the symbols
The mystery that’s created and in your love we find grace.
Refrain
Here at the table, in the presence of our God.
We bring our hopes, our dreams and our fears,
In this communion love draws near.
2 Turning to you now in wonder, Ignited by your love,
Lives that are broken are mended, our voices raise in song
Standing at the altar with off’rings of our hearts,
Together in this holy place, bread and wine the symbols
The mystery that’s created and in your love we find grace.
This is a setting of Psalm 22/23 by Gen Bryant. It was listed by Monica O’Brien in a recent newsletter as a suggestion of recent Australian composed music for our liturgies.
It would be nice to have Gen Bryant’s psalms collected into an e-book as, judging by this one, they would be worthy of our use more generally.
This is another of Monica O’Brien’s selection of recent Australian songs.
This is by Michael Harvey and Ronelle McKay and has themes suitable for Lent and Confirmation. It has us singing in the voice of Jesus, which upsets some people, but it makes sense in context. It is a gentle but uplifting ballad.
This is another of the modern Australian songs suggested by Monica O’Brien in her recent newsletter.
This is by Amanda McKenna and for all those who cannot stand to hear Sebastian Temple’s “Prayer of St Francis” again – as I noted in my blog post it is a simple song that is difficult for an assembly to sing well – here is an alternative.
The sheet music can be purchased and downloaded at Willow. I picked the version in “A”, but would recommend the arrangement in “C” for general use. I’ll just play capo 3.
I made backings in both keys, to sing along with to learn the song. It is a gorgeous melody.
A
C
Refrain
Make me a channel of your peace, make me a channel of your peace.
In her recent newsletter, looking at the advanced age and distant origin of the songs we sing in Australian parishes, Monica O’Brien put up some good examples of Australian music we could be using. They are all songs that are available to be purchased as sheet music and downloaded to be used to freshen up our tired musical liturgies.
Born Anew – Br James Maher Make Me a Channel – Amanda McKenna Live Life Anew – Michael Harvey & Ronelle McKay We Gather at Your Table – Gina Ogilvie & Monica O’Brien A Hymn of Healing for the Church – Br Michael Herry The Lord is My Shepherd Psalm 22/23 – Gen Bryant
James Maher msc wrote “Born Anew” for the 125th anniversary of St Mark’s parish, Drummoyne. It is a baptismal song, but with application as a recessional. It is in a fine country style.
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.
