Going through songs I have yet to cover in the Willow Digital archive (As One Voice), I found I have never looked at Peter Grant‘s take on the Beatitudes.
The sheet music can be purchased in three convenient iterations at Willow. There is a tasty instrumental snippet there to hear as well. Peter is wise enough to keep the text as close to the original as possible. In Australia, the Peter Kearney hymn is the one commonly used, but this simple direct take is worthy of consideration.
My backing is less delicate than his.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek and the gentle, they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who mourn, comfort will surely be theirs.
Blessed are the hungry and thirsting for right, they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blesses are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
© 2015 Peter Grant. Published by Willow Publishing
For a long time, the Beatitude setting of choice in the US was “Blest Are They,” but since that song has been removed from many parishes’ repertoire, I’ve noticed an uptick in parishes reverting back to the oldie “We Are The Light of the World” (Greif). Of course, we also have the Dameans’ “Beatitudes” and Dan Schutte’s newish “O How Blessed.” Then, there’s the bilingual “Blessed Are You/Mapapalad Kayo” by Ricky Manalo and Jesse Manibusan. Scot Crandal also has a nice setting called “Rejoice in the Promise of Jesus” with a text by Delores Dufner.
Even with all those alternatives, I’ve noticed GIA and OCP promoting a couple new settings that have been published recently, no doubt trying to fill the void left by the departure of “Blest Are They.” At OCP, Sarah Hart has a new one called “Blessed Are You.” Meanwhile over at GIA, their VP of sacred music Kate Williams used a text by Adam Tice to compose her own version, “Rejoice, Be Glad.” She got it published just in time to be included in the Gather hymnal’s 4th edition.
Thanks, Ryan.
That’s a lot of choice for something that will used only here and there. I suppose once you find something that works it will stay selected for years.
Geoff
As if I didn’t list enough settings there, I just realized I missed “Lead Me, Lord” by John Becker. I’m sure there are lots more out there, too.
There are lots more. Surprisingly few older ones (unless they got written and then forgotten).
https://www.liturgytools.net/2023/01/hymns-songs-based-on-the-beatitudes-matt-5-3-to-12.html