From the seemingly inexhaustible supply of liturgical music for funerals in CWB II there is this much loved song by Ernest Sands with a refrain based in In paradisum and verses from Psalm 27 (26).
The text is here. The sheet music can be purchased at OCP.
This is yet another funeral song, this time Bob Dufford‘s adaptation of In paradisum.
CWB II just gives the refrain, so if you want the whole song with all the verses you’ll have to buy it at OCP, where the text is in their preview.
The range of songs just for funeral liturgies emphasises what a tremendous source volume one of CWB II is. This song also is a reminder of how maddening the lack of chords symbols is. The keyboard accompaniment at OCP is exactly the same arrangement by Dan Schutte, but with the chord symbols – so they had to do actual work to strip them away to disadvantage guitarists and keyboard players who use chords – absolutely maddening.
I’ve only done a backing for the refrain as found in CWB II.
This is just the ICEL text of In Paradisum set to TALLIS’ CANON.
1 May saints and angels lead you on,
Escorting you where Christ has gone.
Now he has called you, come to him
Who sits above the seraphim.
2 Come to the peace of Abraham
And to the supper of the Lamb:
Come to the glory of the blessed,
And to perpetual light and rest.
Mary at Godsongs posted about this lovely song by Michael Joncas. It is his paraphrase of Psalm 23 and a prayerful response to the Covid 19 epidemic.
The text and music have been posted here for now but I think I’ll have to take the lyrics I printed below down in a year.
His beautiful piano arrangement is well beyond me so I simplified the structure and found chords to make a BIAB arrangement.
Chorus:
O shelter me, O shelter me:
the way ahead is dark and difficult to see.
O shelter me, O shelter me:
all will be well if only you will shelter me.
© The Jan Michael Joncas Trust 2020
This is more like it:
I’m skipping Philip Duffy’s chant setting of ICEL’s “Song of Farewell” (153) because BIAB CAN’T DO CHANT.
CWB II also has funeral songs for the procession to the place of committal.
This one is by James Quinn, the first verse being his translation of In paradisium and the second verse his own work. It is here set to SONG 1.
The text is here with the verses reversed. His translation of In paradisium is also here.
This is another “Song of Farewell”, this time by the wonderfully talented and prolific Sr Jennifer O’Brien. She uses the unaltered ICEL text from the Order of Christians Funerals, which you can find here.
The refrain is singable by an assembly but the verses are all different and will need a cantor.
I had figure out the chords for my backing from the keyboard music in CWB II, but really it was silly for them not to include them in any suitable song in this collection.
This is another funeral song and another version of the “Song of Farewell.”
This has a text by Delores Dufner and it is here set to RICHMOND.
The text is on page nine of this brochure, which has other good funeral song suggestions. They also use the tune AMAZING GRACE, which is probably better known and so better for participation.
Most sheet music I have seen put this song in G, as below, but CWB II brings it down to F (thanks be to God).
This version of a “Song of Farewell” for a funeral is by Dennis C. Smolarski SJ and is set to OLD 100th so everyone can sing along.
OCP have the sheet music and the text is in their preview.
BIAB in organ mode:
I still working through the best part of Catholic Worship Book II – volume one, which is full of songs for particular liturgies. I’m covering songs I haven’t already blogged.
In the funeral section is this text by Richard Frederick Littledale set to MELITA by John Bacchus Dykes.
Together In Song had the chords so I could make this backing more easily.
1 O Lord, you died that all might live
And rise to see the perfect day.
The fullness of your mercy give
To this our friend for whom we pray.
O Lamb of God, Redeemer blest,
Grant him/her eternal light and rest.
2 Lord, bless our friend who died in you,
As you have given him/her release.
Enliven him/her since he/she was true,
And give him/her everlasting peace.
O Lamb of God, Redeemer blest,
Grant him/her eternal light and rest.
3 In your green, pleasant pastures feed
The sheep that you have summoned hence;
And by the still, cool waters lead
Your flock in loving providence.
O Lamb of God, Redeemer blest,
Grant him/her eternal light and rest.
4 Direct us with your arm of might,
That with our friend we may all come
To dwell within your city bright,
Jerusalem, our heav’nly home.
O Lamb of God, Redeemer blest,
Grant him/her eternal light and rest.
This is the ICEL text from the Order of Catholic Funerals set to WINCHESTER NEW.
1 I know that my Redeemer lives,
And on that final day of days,
His voice shall bid me rise again:
Unending joy, unceasing praise!
2 This hope I cherish in my heart:
To stand on earth, my flesh restored,
And not a stranger but a friend,
Behold my Saviour and my Lord.
