I was afflicted with a burst of wishful thinking and, as Chris pointed out, put the wrong setting of the this song up yesterday. OCP have included the Daniel Partridge setting of Harry Hagan‘s text with an additional verse by James Quinn – Benedictine + Jesuit, such diversity. Partridge is a lay catholic and brass expert.
OCP says this one is “accessible to choir and assembly alike”. I’d say suitable for some assemblies. The third and sixth verses have a different tune. The cunning setting has diminished chords and is not quite sure what key it in. Have a look at the sheet music and the text in OCP’s preview. You can purchase the sheet music at OCP as well.
I made a backing and like the music, but it appears lively music is not favoured for Breaking Bread these days.
I even like the sound of this choir, it sounds like a normal choir, rather than the odd sounding ones you often hear on OCP and GIA recordings. They sound great acapella.
He tells the story of how the song happened in the videos below.
There is a wordless interlude to be sung after the second and fourth verses. It is a lot of fun and a joyous Advent song. It has more life in it than most of the new OCP offerings, but then it was written more than twenty years ago.
The next new OCP song is this 2018 offering from Tom Kendzia. It is an entrance with a Gospel tinge.
The sheet music is at OCP, where the text is in their preview. Without a sprightly accompaniment, as in the lyric video, it may wind up a bit pedestrian.
By the time I get to Advent I generally have a look at the OCP additions. The idea that OCP would tell a church what songs are allowed, continues to boggle my mind, but we should at least be confidant that any songs promoted by them should be at least usable. The question is, unless the songs were selected for us by OCP would anyone use them in preference to their current repertoire. So let’s have a look.
This is a song for Eucharist by Cyprian Consiglio OSB, who on heard on the radio the other day, as he has been visiting Australia. It is based on Gospel readings and sung in the voice of Christ if that is still OK. The minor key suits the sentiment and the tune is most singable so this one is a worthy selection for sure.
I drove down to Hobart (~3 1/2 hours) for Stephen Kirk‘s workshop on music in the Eucharist.
It was part of a Parish Mission Plan, that I hadn’t heard of, so I can’t be paying much attention apparently.
The presentation went through the basics of why we sing and how we choose what we sing, which was to the point and useful. He also went into functional issues, like avoiding sudden distracting change, being attentive to the liturgical flow and the use of silence. He emphasised that music should not dominate the liturgy and definitely not become a barrier to participation. He went through each part of a typical mass, suggesting the appropriate feel for each portion and I had no arguments with his guidance. His approach was open to many styles of music and based on his lived ministry in the area.
I liked his contrast of the typical suburban, low church liturgy that emphasised presence/feast/ fellowship with the higher church, Cathedral style emphasising the sacred and transcendence. He suggested the former could lack transcendence and the latter the closeness to God. He suggested an Incarnational approach as a bridging construct to avoid the excesses of each. My take is that in a cultural sense, Australians typically find their way to transcendence through the fellowship of a low church approach, and too much input that is foreign to their experience of the sacred is a barrier to finding that, but obviously that will vary from place to place and may well be evolving. I have certainly been struck at times in my life, by the unexpected and transcendent work of the Spirit, through well done “low church” style Liturgy.
He was kind enough to do some singing, despite a voice seemingly ravaged by the previous night’s concert.
His “Open Up” was used as an example of a gathering song.
“We Adore You” was his example of a communion song.
He used examples from his “Mass of Clare” in his talk about songs for the Eucharistic Liturgy.
There were thirty or so music ministers there, mostly from Southern Tasmania, and I’m sure it was a good investment by the Archdiocese and hopefully is to be part of ongoing support for parish music ministers.
Addendum: There was a write up in the Catholic Standard, with comments from yours truly on page three.
I am about to have a break from blogging for a couple of weeks, so I’d better have a look at Advent. This might be provisional, because we are going to get suggestions from our coordinator, but barring any of my suggestions being too jarring, this is a plan.
I would like all Australian music, so none of this stuff about cold nights and snow, and keep much the same music for the four Advent celebrations and pick one distinct, matching song for the readings for each week.
Entrance: Advent Song (Browne/Wood) GA 281 – Chorus/Verse 1/ Chorus will get us gathered with a summer feel for Advent.
I have found that with the small numbers here 15-20 or so, it works better to have instrumental backing that I have made during the communion procession, and have a Communion/Thanksgiving song afterwards, otherwise the Priest is left hanging, waiting for me to finish playing and singing.
For that song then:
Week 1: A Voice in the Wilderness (Robinson) AOV 1/60
Week 2: Prepare the Way of the Lord (Boniwell) CWB II 250
Addendum 27/11/2024: Advent Chant (Porter/Kirkland) AOV 2/123, has been added for the lighting of the candles and we are going to use Hurd’s “To You O God” as the seasonal psalm as we won’t be playing the same mass each week this Advent. and we thought it better to use something familiar. We will have silence and contemplation after communion. The selections are still mostly Australian.
This is a sincere sung pray, inspired by Psalm 5, and written by Dolly McGaughey, from the Torres Strait. I should have mentioned by now that the fine arrangements are by Lindsay Scandrett.
The songs I have looked at so far of hers look to be suitable as Taize style chants. When you listen to her voice at Willow, where you can get the sheet music, you will feel peace.
I’ve really enjoyed making backings for these songs:
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.
