Church Music

I’m having a good time with the emmanuelworship collection fifteen doing backings in styles most unlike theirs.

This one is by Dominic Dougherty and suggests he has been indulging in the fourteenth century English mystics. I’m a big fan of The Cloud of Unknowing but he may have been reading Rolle’s The Fire of Love. It is a slow burn praise and worship song that doesn’t get as noisy as some of their songs.

The sheet music is free at their site.

I nearly went cross eyed getting all the syncopation entered a note at a time and I suspect I have not got it 100%. My backing is fairly restrained.

1 God, I feel you next to me.

God, I feel the warmth against my skin.

God, I feel your call within me, burning deeply, consuming my heart.

2 God, I know your love for me.

God, I know you died so I could live in you.

I know you have a plan, so I can stand in you and not apart.

Chorus

Desire, it’s burning up inside, calling me to life, a life of praise.

And I, dedicate my life to your cause, your light, to bring you praise.

Verse 1

Chorus

Bridge x2

As I open up, I am overwhelmed,

I’m flooded by the want to know your more.

And as you come to me, God you give me rest,

And I’m flooded by the want, to know you more.

Chorus

ⓒ 2018 emmanuelworship

This is another great Roby Curtis song from the emmanuelworship collection fifteen. It is a song of abandonment to God with allusions to a Pentecost experience.

This song is a catchy as all get out and loaded with hooks. The sheet music is free at their site.

I quite like what they have done with this song in their style, but my backing is in a lighter indie idiom. The half time instrumental break didn’t fit my version, so my instrumental section is more basic, but BIAB did a great job.

1 Teach me Lord, your ways, I am broken at your feet.

I’ve been lost and away, blinded by lies.

In your arms I return, you revive my weary heart.

Make me whole again, I’m a child of your grace.

Prechorus

I lose sight of all that you’ve done for me, all that you’ve done for me.

I’ll stand firm your kingdom is calling me, kingdom is calling me.

Chorus

You must increase, I must decrease, this emptiness only you complete.

Love is so real, it costs and it hurts, it empties us completely of self.

I seek to be all that the Father has made, an image of love, pure in my ways.

Your power is perfect, your grace is enough, from the desert I’m coming.

Tag

Coming back to life, woah-o-o-o-oh.

Coming back to life, woah-o-o-o-oh.

2 Help me speak your words, breath life into my bones.

Spirit take control, Jesus you’re my cornerstone.

Prechorus/Chorus/Tag

Bridge x2

Like a desert storm, blow into this room.

Kingdom language, the fire of Pentecost today

Instrumental

Bridgex2

Woah oh oh, woah oh- o-o-oh, woah oh oh, woah oh oh, woah oh oh,

Oh-o-o-o-oh.

ⓒ 2018 emmanuelworship

This is a song for Lent from emmanuelworship written by Roby Curtis. They have many collections of sheet music available for free download associated with the Ignite conferences they run in Brisbane. I also have some out of print collections from decades ago that I might get to eventually.

The text is rather impressionistic but speaks to the power of feeling forgiven so a calmed down version would suit a second rite of Reconciliation.

There is a particular style they use that works well for youth assemblies but might terrify a parish. To that end I will cease trying to make BIAB sound like emmanuelworship and try their songs in different styles to see if they survive. I did mention they tend to be very long, so the risk is I will be boring, but I neglected to mention the sudden octave leaps lying in wait for the unwary to keep us awake. In general they are soloist material with singalong choruses that all start quietly and then go on an emotional roller coaster of dynamics.

While the sheet music is free it is not free of typos, most of no significance, but I’d replace the C#/A with C#m/A in the instrumental if you don’t want to be jarred badly.

My backing is sort of spooky triphop.

Part 1

I hear your voice, speak in the desert.

I see your light, shine through the shadows.

I lost my way, the voice of the shepherd.

It calls my name, and tells me I am loved.

Part 2

I will never be forgotten, I am called

To live in Kingdom ways, awake this heart of stone.

I look upon your gaze, Father I am loved.

I will not be afraid.

Tag

I trust in you alone.

Woah oh own, I trust in you alone,

Oh oh oh, I trust in you alone,

Oh oh oh, I trust in you alone, oh, oh, oh.

Part 4

We are but dust, and like dust, we shall return.

Yet we are loved, and your love, it calls us on.

And we are made, created image of your love.

Our hearts they trust, reckless abandon to your love. Oh.

Bridge x4

Through the ashes we rise, above all the lies,

Setting our eyes towards the Kingdom way in us.

With the angels and saints, declaring your name,

We embrace your legacy and mission on the earth.

Instrumental

Part 5

The Gospel calls my name to be,

Faithful, turn my eyes from evil ways.

Jesus, out of darkness you have saved me.

Extended Tag x8

I will trust in you alone, oh, oh, oh.

Outro

ⓒ 2018 emmanuelworship

After some absolutely liturgical Australian music from John Burland, I will do another album from emmanuelworship from Brisbane, which is largely praise and worship music and often less applicable for mass.

Their music is aimed at adolescents and has an emotional quotient that is rather high. Their house style is to start quietly with a pad keyboard sound and guitar arpeggios and leading to drums the full band and mayhem. There is much repetition, instrumentals, woa-oa’s and bridgework involved and a good time is had by all. They are all long and vehicles for band and solo voice (large note ranges) with singalong choruses.

I will look at the collection fifteen from 2018.

This is a song with an Easter theme by Liam Desic. It would be useful for schools heading into Holy week. (except no alleluia’s in Lent – Easter to Pentecost then)

My backing is trying outdo them with noise but for the rest of the album I will be making backings in other styles to see if there are useful songs behind the style for those who can’t go there.

The sheet music is free at emmanuelworship.

1 Thorns and nails that have pierced your flesh.

Stretching wide your loving embrace.

Hearts of stone they will see your face.

Light of mercy and violent grace.

Chorus

Alleluia, Jesus paid it all. Alleluia, Christ our saving God.

2 On the wretched hill up high.

The Lamb of God is sacrificed.

Throne of Heaven in twisted form.

Hung the man that you called upon.

Chorus

Rpt Verse 1

Chorus

Instrumental

Breakdown

Woa-oa oa oa! x4

Bridge x2

Pulled down a broken man (Your love is coming back for me.)

Laid down behind a stone. (Your love is coming back for me.)

Only to rise again. (Your love is coming back for me.)

Death never held you down. (Your love is coming back for me.)

Instrumental

Chorus x2

Outro

Woa-oa oa oa!

ⓒ 2018 emmanuelworship

The last song in John Burland‘s collection, Gathered As Your People Lord, is, fittingly, the recessional. You could nicely cover the whole service except for the parts of the mass from this collection. Once again he uses words from the mass itself along with Mark 16:15, John 17:18, Matt 28:18-20 and 1 John 4:9-12.

While you can see its usefulness in schools, once again, there is no reason it could not be used in any parish for any age. I suppose that since the school system is the only successful area of the Catholic church in Australia, Burland, along with Andrew Chinn and Michael Mangan, would be using the education sector as his main source of income, while also writing songs for the rest of us.

The sheet music can be obtained following the directions on his site or using this form. For $10 you get five great, liturgically useful songs. Perhaps the ACBC should be looking here for examples.

This sounds a bit like Goanna to me (that’s good). He suggests playing it capo 3 in D but I’d take it down a couple of notches for pastoral reasons. My backing doesn’t have enough cow bell.

Chorus

Come on let’s go out to all of the earth

So ev’ry nation ev’ry people hear God’s Word.

Let’s go in peace to love and serve the Lord

And be the face of God, the love of God to all.

1 Your Word O God burns deep in our hearts,

To live your ways, and trust in Your love.

Sisters and brothers, it’s out time to start

To share the great love of our God.

Chorus

2 Lord by your grace, your mercy we show,

Bringing compassion and justice for all.

Carrying your Word so ev’ryone will know

Your saving love is there for all.

Chorus

3 Carrying your Word so ev’ryone will know

Your saving love is there for all.

Chorus

And be the face of God, the love of God to all.

And be the face of God, the love of God to all.

ⓒ 2021 John Burland

I case you don’t remember them, this was Goanna:

I am looking through John Burland‘s latest collection of five songs called Gathered As Your People Lord. They are songs for Mass, and this is obviously the one for Eucharist. It is stately and restrained, and like this whole collection is suitable for any assembly, including but not especially, young people.

John’s text is based on John 6:35-40, 3:16, 1:36 and the words of the Mass. The music is a collaboration with Phillipe-Marc Anquetil.

The sheet music costs $10 in electronic form for all the songs, using this form or the instructions at the site. He puts his lyrics up on his website.

Chorus

Jesus Bread of Life, God’s beloved Son

Through the body of Jesus, we share in Your life.

Jesus Bread of life, God’s gift of love,

By your dying and rising, You give eternal life.

Feed us, heal us, Jesus here with us, we gather at your feast.

1 Lamb of God, you take away our sins, through Your gift of living sacrifice.

At your altar we gather in your name, we are one in the life of Christ.

Chorus

2 Bread of life, God’s love for us revealed, the broken and longing will be healed.

Through Your mercy, we come to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Chorus

3 Jesus Christ, hope of the world proclaimed, calls us to live united in God’s name.

Redeeming love, flowing from the cross, selfless love offered to us.

Chorus

ⓒ 2021 John Burland and Phillipe-Marc Anquetil

This is another great song from John Burland‘s latest collection Gathered As Your People Lord, that is suitable for Gifts and Communion. It is a collaboration with Gen Bryant, whose song, “Revive Our Hearts” I blogged here. The text is based on John 6:35, 53-57, John 1:36, Ephesians 1:7 and parts of the mass.

The sheet music for this collection can be ordered using this form or by following the instructions at his blog. He provides lyrics at his site for his songs.

I enjoyed making a backing for this one:

1 Bread of life, nourish us, hope for the world, Bread of Life.

Blood of Christ, end our thirst, unending love poured out for us.

Pre-chorus

Blessed be God forever, blessed be God forever.

Chorus

Though we’re not worthy of your presence, we’re invited , we are loved.

This living sacrifice you gave us, made upon your holy cross.

You come to us, we receive this gift of love.

2 Word of God, speak to us, open our hearts to know your truth.

Lamb of God, grant us peace, You take away our sins and free us.

Pre-chorus

Chorus

Bridge

Blessed be God forever, blessed be God forever.

Blessed be God forever, blessed be God forever.

Chorus

Chorus

ⓒ 2021 John Burland and Gen Bryant

This is another gathering song from John Burland‘s newest collection Gathered As Your People Lord.

Like the title track it is a lively and engaging 6/8 hymn to bring the assembly together. It doesn’t go above a C and gently syncopates its way singingly. He based the text on John 14:6, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 1:14 and 1 Chronicles 29:11-14. The music is by Burland and Philippe-Marc Anquetil.

You can order the sheet music using his form or by using the details at his site.

I wasn’t letting the fact that he does his own instrumental only tracks stop me making my own.

Chorus

We are your people Lord, gathered it’s you we adore.

We come together as God’s holy Church

Where the lost and the hungry no longer search,

Blessed and broken we come to proclaim, and worship God’s holy name.

1 The Word that shows us the way, speaking truth and giving new life.

God’s Word that burns in our hearts ev’ry day, one people one body in Christ.

Chorus

2 In faith we gather as one. This journey of life goes on.

In faith we gather with love for our God, one people one body in Christ.

Chorus

3 With hope and joy in our hearts, seeking grace for a new start.

Trusting in God overflowing with love, one people one body in Christ.

Chorus

… and worship God’s holy name.

ⓒ 2021 John Burland and Philippe-Marc Anquetil

I’ve looked at lot of Australian Catholic Songwriters, but I haven’t focused on John Burland yet. Like Michael Mangan, he is perhaps best known for his work with young people and schools, yet his songs are also fine for adults and assemblies in general. Australia seems to have a knack for popular hymn writers for schools who also are appropriate for a wider audience.

I have blogged some of his songs already:

Come, O Holy Spirit

Come to the Table

Celebrating in the Spirit

Do This in Memory of Me

Come Share This Meal

“Come to the Table”, for example, is a song for Eucharist that we have used for many years. I think it is an excellent example of a hymn tune with enough variation to be memorable but still singable. It is in AOV NG 33. I play it capo 3 for convenience. The first two choruses and verses exhibit a corporate liturgical voice, with the build to the key change showing a different musical structure and a switch to the voice of God for two lines. The key change makes sense as the elevation of our voices after the encounter with God in the Eucharist. Even with the key change it doesn’t go above C. None of his songs are in CWB II, but he would be a good exemplar for contemporary song – OK he’s been going since the 1990s but that is still somewhat contemporary.

All this is preliminary to looking at his new collection, “Gathered As Your People Lord”. There are five songs written for liturgy and it is very much not just for young people.

The title track is an impressive gathering hymn. It is a unifying song in preparation for Eucharist. The text is by Burland and inspired by Matt 18:20, John 14:6, 1 John 4:9-12 and Psalm 149:1,5. The music a collaboration between him and Stephen Leiweke.

John Burland provides lyrics at his website and all his CDs and music books can be purchased using the order form. The digital download for this collection is only $A10.

My backing is a waltz rather than the 6/8 specified in the music, but 6/8 in BIAB always tends Celtic which wasn’t needed here.

Chorus

Gathered as your people, Lord, one body in your love,

Gathered as your people, Lord, one body in your love,

We are called by name we are here to proclaim

Your Word that brings life to us all.

Gathered as your people Lord to worship your holy name.

1 Gathered in God’s love, each of us so beloved.

That God’s only Son Jesus died for us, then rose to bring us new life.

Chorus

2 Gathered in your name, your promise remains the same.

“For where two or three gather in my name I will be there with you.”

Chorus

Bridge

One people standing so strong. One people singing the song.

One people standing so strong. One people singing the song of our faith.

Instrumental

3 Gathered in this place, your Spirit fills us with grace,

With your Word Lord bringing truth for us, your Word lighting our way.

Chorus

… to worship your holy name.

ⓒ 2021 John Burland and Stephen Leiweke

I need to remind myself sometimes that the hymn choices, while selected to match the liturgy and the readings, are the least important musical part of the service. We use Paul Taylor’s “Mass of St Francis” and the Celtic Alleluia for the musical parts of the mass.

Entrance: Seek Ye First (Lafferty) AOV 1/48

Gifts:  A Trusting Psalm (Bates) AOV 1/115

Communion: Bread Broken, Wine Shared Bread  (Horner) AOV 2/155

Recessional: Lift Up Your Hearts (O’Connor) AOV 1/156

I look at the choices from my former parish in Queensland and steal all their good ideas: