David asked about this song by Jodi Page Clark. It is a few collections including “Singing the Faith” and the “Celebration Hymnal”.
The text is here. I don’t have the music so I thought it would be fun to figure it out. It has some sort of weird timing and even now I’m not sure I’ve got it right. I was trying to follow the track at small church music which I figure should be accurate. For what it is worth, here is an approximate backing and I hope it doesn’t confuse anyone further.
This version has a more regular timing and smooths things out, but since I don’t have the sheet music I don’t know who is right.
This is a nice-sounding piano arrangement, but the chord changes are not happening on the appropriate beats. I first heard this song, many many times over, when I was a teen living with my parents. We had a recording of the group “The Fisherfolk” singing this, recorded live in a theatrical stage presentation. The timing isn’t confusing, if you just allow that it’s 4/4 time for one measure, followed by a 2/4 measure, and then back to 4/4. This is true for the 1st, 2nd and 4th lines of each verse. The 3rd line of the verse is a simple 2 measures of 4/4. In the chorus, the phrase “Kyrie Eleison” is chanted 3 times. The first 2 times, it follows the 4/4, 2/4, 4/4 pattern. The 3rd time, it is sung to 4 measures of 4/4. I love the timing; it creates a very moving, intensely forward-moving quality that makes it heartfelt and pleading and prayer-like, appropriate in this desperate cry for mercy. And so fitting for our times.
I don’t mean to come across as know-it-all, but I first heard this song something like 45 years ago when I was young and idealistic; it made such a deep impression on me. Only just within this last year, did I finally make a heartfelt search for it. I looked and looked for a printed version of it, but couldn’t find one already published. I wanted to sing it for the Franciscan Sisters where I play the piano for their morning masses. They loved it and want me to do it again sometime. I would be happy to send a written arrangement with melody and guitar/piano chords, if you would like.
I’d love to see your arrangement of the piece, Dorothy, as I wasn’t happy that I had it figured out at all.
I’m glad you found it straight forward, and perhaps when I see real music for it will be obvious, but I’m afraid my musical skills are somewhat limited and not even Band in a Box can save me all the time.
cheers
Geoff
I would love to have a copy of the piano arrangement for my choir director. I have searched everywhere and can only find guitar chords
I would be interested in this please. Heard it at my school and loved it.
Do you have the correct score? An SATB score will be preferred.
I’ve found the sheet music: the time-signature changes between C and 6/4 at the end of almost every bar – except for a few in the middle. Great to sing, a lot harder for rhythm players to deal with.
I too would love to get a copy of Dorothy’s written arrangement. Our pianist does not know it too well.
I would also like a copy thanks.
Ant