Church Music

Way back when the Praise to God hymnal was put together Monica Brown was Sister Monica Brown SGS and making songs for children. Now she has lots of music for adults as well, especially to assist with meditation. This is a nice article about Monica.

I recall her songs from when my children were small and they were always welcome for First Communion classes and the like. It’s great that her music is still in print and available.

I any case the editors of PTG are to be applauded for seeking out women’s voices and not all of them were nuns. This was originally sourced from a collection called, Let the Children Come, but is now available as sheet music in the collection, Praise and Blessings. You can get MP3s and sheet music at her Emmaus site.

This is another case where all you get is melody line in this collection. So I made up some chords. Watch out for the key change for the last chorus – D to Eb.

Chorus

We belong. We belong.

You and I we belong to Jesus.

So together let’s sing our belonging song

And praise and thank our God.

1 We belong just like a branch to a tree,

Just like flower to the seed.

That’s just how it’s supposed to be.

Chorus

2 We belong just like the tear to the eye,

Just like a smile to the face.

That’s just how it’s supposed to be.

Chorus

3 We belong just like children in a family,

Just like love between friends.

That’s just how it’s supposed to be.

The editors of Praise to God actually used two collections from Sister Miriam Therese Winter. “Spirit of God in the Clear Running Water” and “God Gives His People Strength” were from Joy is Like the Rain, and I have blogged them both already. You can still purchase sheet music for that collection at the Medical Mission Sisters.

I have a copy of her book, Why Sing? that I got second hand, probably at a LifeLine Bookfest – I miss them but its for the best that I am far away from those sales as I have no more room for books. There are copies of her book at Abebooks at the moment.

“The Visit” is from a different collection called, Knock, Knock, which is also available at that site. It is about Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth. There is further background at Godsongs. It is too gentle a song for congregational use, but would make a nice solo in the right context.

1 She walked in the summer through the heat on the hill.

She hurried as one who went with a will.

She danced in the sunlight when the day was done.

Her heart knew no evening who carried the sun.

2 Fresh as a flower at the first ray of dawn.

She came to her cousin whose morning was gone.

There leaped a little child in the ancient womb,

And there leaped a little hope in ev’ry ancient tomb.

3 Hail, little sister, who heralds the spring.

Hail, brave mother, who carries the King.

Hail to the moment beneath your breast,

May all generations called you blessed.

4 When you walk in the summer, through the heat on the hill.

When you’re wound with the wind and one with the will.

Be brave with the burden you are blessed to bear,

For it’s Christ that you carry ev’rywhere, ev’rywhere, ev’rywhere.

© 1968 Medical Mission Sisters

I blogged this song by Sister Miriam Winter here, and her version is indeed in the Praise To God hymnal, but the editor Nicolas Falzun OP gave us bonus material with his own setting of her text.

It’s an interesting tune with a neat modulation into the chorus and a bit of a jerk back into the verse, but if you love the text and want a new setting he has written one for you.

I mentioned in my post about this song that the words were a little odd. Father Falzun has rewritten them and they are – less odd – in his version. Since this hymn is unobtainable and as far as I can tell, this hymnal is the only place on earth it is available, I’ll post his setting so you can see how he “improved” the words.

This is getting a bit obscure. This song from the Praise to God hymnal doesn’t appear to have been in any sheet music collection and I can only find it as the title track on an album of Australian Christian folk songs by Maureen Carroll. It was written by Damian West, although as the guitarist on Carroll’s album he is listed as Damien. The text as actually attributed to Damian West (alt), which means the editors have amended the words, but since I can find no trace of the song anywhere, I don’t know what has been changed. The sheet music is in this hymnal’s hand-written style they use for their own arrangements.

Having no idea what it is meant to sound like, I set the tempo to 135 and made a backing that is probably not folky enough, but it does sound like very early praise and worship from 1979.

1 Rejoice, you children of God; rejoice you children of faith.

God has sent his son to save us from all suffering and death.

Refrain

So let us rejoice, shout out our praise,

Thank the Lord with all our hearts.

He is the Joygiver, peace sharer for all humankind.

2 Believers of the risen Lord; sing the glory of our king.

He has come to renew us with bread that gives us life.

Refrain

3 O hear those soul saving words of the prophet crucified to death.

Hearts are made pure and joyful by the saving blood of Christ.

I’d love to know more about these songs – let me know if they are still in use anywhere or if there is more to know about the circumstances involved.

I will post the sheet music as it it unavailable anywhere I can find, but I will take it down if there is any way of getting the sheet music that is found.

For the remaining song that Praise to God used from Sister Margaret Scharf‘s collection, I Hear You Calling, she took inspiration from Psalm 145.

This is case where the editors have made their own arrangement and used their handwritten style, whereas with “Mary’s Song” it appears to have been a cut and paste of what was already in her book.

This song a lovely gentle reflection of gratitude and praise. Her music has been a lovely surprise. Yahweh could be replaced with “My God” or “Our Lord” or such.

1 You Lord have always been true to your promise,

Supporting all people who stumble and fall.

You lift us and hold us as Shepherd and Father.

We hear and respond to your call.

Refrain

I find my strength in the Lord.

He feeds me with the joy of his word.

Embracing his people in truth and in love;

With praise and with thanks do I sing, to Yahweh Creator King!

2 I lift up my heart and I reach out towards you.

The kingdom of Yahweh is her and now.

You dwell in our hearts; your message life giving.

Together we meet and we grow.

Refrain

Bridge

Together we journey, and come before you.

You fill us with Spirit and Life.

When darkness draws near and we can’t see the way,

You guide our steps with your light.

Refrain

3 I think of the love of my brothers and sisters,

Which strengthens me daily and urges me on,

To carry the cross and to welcome the kingdom,

To join in the story and song.

With both the hymnal and the source collection long out of print and no way I can find to purchase the sheet music, I will post it here, but I am happy to take it down if anyone can find where the sheet music is available.

The second song from Sister Margaret Scharf‘s book I Hear You Calling that found its way into the Praise to God hymnal, is a joyful Trinitarian text that will just need “Yahweh” replaced with “Father” to be useable.

It sounded a little country to me, but I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy myself. I like it.

1 Yahweh, with your tender love,

You lead me to the heights above.

You hold me close, so I have no fear,

And from there I see your world.

Creation’s song has been fulfilled.

My heart begins to sing, as you are near.

Refrain

And the sun has never shone brighter;

The sky has never been so blue.

there’s never been a moment like the present.

I’m glad I’m present with you!

Just to walk by your side means I’ve nothing to hide,

And my fear will go away.

You call from within; new life to begin,

And there’s never been a happier day.

2 Jesus, Lord, you take my hand,

And lead me through the desert sand,

To where I thirst for you, the Living Water.

The river of life begins to flow.

You call, in love to come, to grow.

We walk together to our loving Father.

Refrain

3 Spirit blowing where you will,

Putting life in trees so still.

Hear the birds sing songs of joy and peace.

I watch them spread their wings in flight.

My heart responds with sheer delight!

You come and love and set my spirit free.

Refrain

This is out of print and unavailable anywhere:

One resource that the editors of Praise to God used when compiling their hymnal, was the work of Australian nuns. They took three songs from the book, I Hear You Calling by Sr Margaret Scharf OP. These makes sense as the Dominican Fathers put the hymn book together and she is a Dominican Sister. Looking at all she has been up to since then, she must have been very young when she wrote these songs.

It is very dispiriting sometimes researching old hymnals. When I look for traces on the internet of her book the only hit I get is my own website. I’ve decided that since there is no way to get copies of these out of print songs, I will post the sheet music, but I am happy to take them down if the copyright holder objects.

I suppose nuns are particularly qualified to write songs about Mary. Certainly this one isn’t over sentimental, so that is a start. The obvious inspiration is the Magnificat and as someone whose protestant upbringing has made me allergic to much Marian hymnody, this didn’t give me hives.

Chorus

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Be it done to me according to your word.

I stand before you hands outstretched, my soul is calm and still.

Lord I only want to do your will.

1 Through your love your vision has revealed to me,

The child that I will carry will set all mankind free.

You have blessed me with your grace; I am unworthy, Lord.

Your name is to be praised, and your kingship adored.

Chorus

2 The Lord has done great things for me and holy is His name.

The Spirit burns within my heart like an eternal flame.

He protects the poor of the wrld; fills the starving with good things,

And as he promised Abraham, He is our saving King.

I like looking for the origin of what are these days obscure hymns in the Praise To God Hymnal, which the editors found outside the major hymnbooks that were already available.

This song was taken from the Hymnal for Young Christians, and if you are quick about Amazon has a second hand copy. The song itself is an old text by Charles Wesley with a new setting in 1966 by Rev Ian Mitchell, an Episcopalian minister, active in their Folk Mass movement. This article gives a flavour of the times he was a part of.

This text has been set by a few others, Handel anyone, but good luck finding this out of print setting anywhere – hence its posting below. There are variations in the text from version to version – I note the text from PTG.

The instructions were “with vigor”, which I failed to do in one backing, so I did another.

1 Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Mortals, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.

Refrain
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! x2

2 The Lord, the Saviour, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains,
He took his seat above;

Refrain

3 His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
To Christ the Lord are giv’n:

Refrain

4 Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord, the Judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:

Refrain

Someone must have the sheet music in Malaysia and Singapore, as I found some clips:

The next two sources used by Praise to God, were Go Tell Everyone from the Medical Mission sisters, which had the the title track, which I’ve already looked at, and Leo Watt’s Go Where He Leads that had, “With a Gentle Love“.

Having done those I can look at this song from the collection, Go Up to the Mountain from the Weston Priory. They published the Gregory Norbet songs of the time and a few I haven’t met in other collections turn up in PTG, like “Something Which Is Known”. He based the text on 1 John 1 and it was apparently a song well known in its time.

The Priory posts both the lyrics and the sheet music if you after them.

I somehow made a peaceful version of this one, without my usual overdoing things.

1. Something which is known
   to have been from the beginning:
   this we have heard and seen with our own eyes;
   something we have touched
   and have carefully watched:
   the Word who is life, this we share with you.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

2. This is the life of our God, so gracious,
   Word become flesh:
   there is no greater wonder.
   All that we have witnessed became new vision:
   this our hope for you,
   alive in God’s own spirit.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

3. He it is in whom we have found the light of truth,
   source of our hope, abiding gift of God’s love.
   Through that love we pass and are born in life unending:
   Jesus, our Lord, the fullness of our joy.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Our Priest has told me about a collection from his home in India called With Joyful Lips. I found a pdf of it online and it is a huge and somewhat terrifying melange of styles and layout that must mean the musicians in India are amazingly adaptable. I’m not sure have enough years yet to live to do a deep dive on that collection.

Anyway this tune even got to India with this wonderful version:

The other Christmas song from Five Australian Christmas Carols, that was used in Praise to God, is the well known – in Australia – song, “Carol of the Birds”.

Like “The Three Drovers”, his song has words by John Wheeler and music by  William G. James. It is also mentioned in the bemused article that I noted yesterday – it confused their correspondent.

It should not, as here we are merely adding our voices to the song of the “bushbirds” rejoicing in the birth of the Saviour. What could be simpler. You’ll hear this mainly by choirs or in schools. I’m afraid traditional Christmas carols are the go here, or risk the ire of the assembly who want to sing them.

Looking at this sheet music, it is identical to that in PTG – they just squashed it onto one page, so they have just copied and pasted. This practice leads to the messiness of this collection, with many different styles, unlike the informity of AOV for example. Even though their hand written style for their own arrangements is not the most user friendly, as a consistent style across all the pieces, it would have made more sense.

Well, making backings in 6/8 in BIAB isn’t always simple as yesterday and today’s backings demonstrate. I don’t like switching to waltz time but the results are rarely great in 6/8, so perhaps I should have.

1 Out on the plains, the brolgas are dancing.
Lifting their feet like horses prancing.
Up to the sun, the woodlarks go winging.
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing.

Refrain
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day!

2 Down where the tree ferns grow by the river.
There where the waters sparkle and quiver.
Deep in the gullies, bellbirds are chiming.
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming.

Refrain

3 Friarbirds sip the nectar of flowers.
Currawongs chant in wattle-tree bowers.
In the blue ranges lorikeets calling.
Carols of bush birds are rising and falling.

Refrain