Monthly Archives: April 2012

A text by J.M.C. Crum to the tune Noel Nouvelet, that is very northern hemisphere in its Easter imagery. I’m sure it is better known as “Now the Green Blade Rises.” Remind yourself of the tune with the excerpt at … Continue reading →

A recent text by Brian Wren (1981) set to a familiar old tune by John Darwell from the 1700s, as you can tell from the sample at AOV. It is a setting of Ps 140. Listen to it played on … Continue reading →

This is a request from Frenzy Cool in the Phillipines. It isn’t one we’ve ever used – we use the Bernadette Farrell tune instead.  It is by Cyprian Consiglio who appears very prolific. I’ve worked this out from the sample … Continue reading →

My wife, who is a cradle catholic, knows all these old songs. Attributed to Ignaz Franz, translated by Clarence Walworth and a couple of hundred years old it comes from an old Viennese songbook. An excerpt at AOV plays it … Continue reading →

Words: Henry Francis Lyle Music: William Henry Monk Extra points for singing it without bursting into tears. The excerpt at AOV is lovely. YouTube is full of versions: here, here, here, etc. There are more verses, but I’ve stuck with … Continue reading →

This song is nearly ninety years old and is our priest’s favourite song.  It is by Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan and when sung well by an enthusiastic assembly is something special – or to put it another … Continue reading →

Sebastian Temple has set the words of St Francis in this song. The excerpt at AOV shows it can be sung sensitively, but this is a song that can suffer under the hands of the assembly. It is very simple … Continue reading →

This song, also known as “Anna’s Song”, has a gorgeous tune by Robin Mann and some striking lyrics by Norman Habel. Listen to a sample at AOV to get the idea. Robin Mann explains the origin of this strange Christmas … Continue reading →

A Christmas song by Kathy Poelker that is randomly placed here, possibly as a children’s song. We have used it for its calypso lightness and it works well. Lazy guitarists (like me) will do it capo 1. Some uninterested children … Continue reading →

A chant that is what it says by Phil Porter and Elaine Kirkland.  We’ve used it quite a lot over the years and it is a very useful piece, especially when done as the two part round as suggested. Listen … Continue reading →