tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69632541064993247432024-03-06T07:01:09.386+11:00Sing Lustily and with Good Courage!My thoughts on Congregational Song in the Catholic Church, and some of my own doggeral and verse.<br><br><b>"Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength." (John Wesley)</b>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-49160091608546139912011-10-12T18:09:00.002+11:002011-10-12T18:11:22.471+11:00Having a go...With the new Roman Missal in my hand, and also with <a href="http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Missal/Music/ProcessionalBook.pdf">the Processional Book</a> prepared by the Society of St Gregory for the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, I decided to have a go at writing some music for the Communion Antiphon for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time when I am next cantoring at my local parish. I used the first antiphon from the missal and Psalm 20 (19) from the <a href="http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/RGP/psalmDisplay.cfm?psalm_id=232" target="_blank">Revised Grail</a> for the verses.<br />
<br />
Here are the results:<br />
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30762751/We%20will%20ring%20out%20our%20joy.pdf" target="_blank">PDF of the Communion Chant "We will ring out our joy"<br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30762751/We%20will%20ring%20out%20our%20joy.mid">Midi file of the Communion Chant "We will ring out our joy"</a><br />
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Tell me what you think. It isn't supposed to be high art, or Gregorian chant. It is supposed to be easily singable by a parish not too interested in music while they go to communion.Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-22266602438550503272011-04-25T11:59:00.002+10:002011-04-25T12:16:40.974+10:00Gregorian Chant versus Modern DittiesWhile I am posting here, I will put a link to this article in Canada's National Post <a href="http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/04/22/in-the-search-for-the-voice-of-god-some-believe-gregorian-chants-are-preferable-to-folk-music/" target="_blank">"In the search for the Voice of God, some believe Gregorian chants are preferable to folk music"</a> (to which Fr Z drew my attention <a href="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/04/gregorian-chant-v-folk-music-a-parish-in-toronto-fr-z-rants/" target="_blank">here with his comments</a>).<br />
<br />
I had some experience of this during the Triduum just completed. On Thursday night, I attended the <a href="http://scecclesia.com/?p=5454" target="_blank">Pontifical Solemn Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday night at St Aloysius</a>. The music was simply sublime. There was plenty of congregational involvement, for instance, in the singing of the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and other responses. And of course, in the "Pange Lingua" at the end. But it was simply a delight to hear these ancient chants where they belong, not on a CD, but in Church. As my feet were being washed by Bishop Meeking, the choir was singing the beautiful chant "Ubi Caritas", which I know well, but which I have never heard used before in the setting for which it was written.<br />
<br />
Then my little Lutheran heart was a little disappointed when I attended my local parish for the Good Friday service. Instead of the great chorals such as "O Sacred Head", we had "Were you there when they crucified my Lord" and "We remember". No "Reproaches" at the vernation of the Cross. No "Pange Ligua" either. Don't get me wrong - the music was well presented by the musician and cantors. It just was so... 1970's, rather than the rich heritage of the Church for this day. As the article in the Canadian National Post describes it, I had to listen to the radio to hear anything of this heritage.<br />
<br />
And then I was really annoyed at the Easter Vigil. Once again, the actual text of the rite offers so much in terms of psalmody and antiphons that could have been sung in any number of ways, if not in chant. The Asperges ceremony was done in complete silence! (I have in fact, <a href="http://singlustily.blogspot.com/2007/10/asperges-sprinkling-hymn.html" target="_blank">written a hymn using the verses from the Missal</a> that could have been sung at this point.) But again, we had various folk style songs instead of the psalms in response to the readings, often not bearing any connection with the appointed psalms. Don't even get me started on the song they used to replace the Litany of the Saints. Suffice it to say, it (a) wasn't a litany, and (b) included a lot of people who are not saints. We did sing the French easter carol "Now the green blade rises", but other wise there was no traditional Easter hymnody at all. Again, don't get me wrong. The choir and musicians did an excellent job. It was just the selection of music that left me feeling hungry for more.<br />
<br />
I finally got my "more" at the dawn service at St Paul's Lutheran Church at Box Hill on Sunday morning, at least "more" in terms of hymnody, and got to sing <a href="http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/h/h128.html" target="_blank">"He is risen, he is risen, tell it with a joyful voice"</a> at full throttle (well as full as I could manage at 6:30am, anyway!).<br />
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All this grumbling is simply to say: we have the riches of 2000 years to use in our liturgies. During Holy Week, very many of the texts have been actually set down in the rite for use. It's time, folks, to revive this heritage for the sake of the Faith!Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-18789286656510547352011-04-25T11:25:00.001+10:002011-04-25T12:00:47.487+10:00Hymn for Holy SaturdayI haven't posted on this blog for a long while, but today I saw that Deacon John had posted the (anonymous) patristic reading from the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday, and it reminded me that I had written a hymn based on this text. I note that I haven't posted it here before. So here it is for your benefit. My suggested tune is <i>Wie soll ich dich empfangen</i> by Melchior Teschner, which <a href="http://www.hymntime.com/tch/non/de/wiesolli.htm" target="_blank">you can listen to here</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Today a heavy silence<br />
reigns over all the earth;<br />
a silence and a stillness,<br />
and not a word is heard.<br />
The King himself is sleeping,<br />
the trembling earth is still,<br />
our God-made-flesh, though resting,<br />
now consummates his will.<br />
<br />
He’s gone in search of Adam,<br />
our father, his lost sheep;<br />
he visits those in darkness<br />
and in death’s shadow deep.<br />
He’s gone to free from sorrow<br />
lost Adam in his bonds,<br />
and Eve, with him held captive,<br />
who for her freedom longs.<br />
<br />
Thus says their true Creator<br />
and truest Son of Eve,<br />
“I order you, O sleeper,<br />
awake from death and live!<br />
For I did not create you<br />
to lie in Hades’ cell.<br />
I am your Resurrection;<br />
you dead, arise from hell!”</blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-71822527227636037092009-12-26T09:54:00.003+11:002009-12-26T11:49:16.539+11:00Est ist ein Ros' entsprungenMany people are unaware that the beloved German carol "Est ist ein Ros' entsprungen" exists in two versions - an original Catholic version and an altered Protestant version. Certainly the choir director and conducter at St Paul's Box Hill were unaware of this, printing the Catholic version (with full and accurate translation) in the service order while the Choir actually sang the Protestant version.<br /><br />The difference comes about because the original carol is a hymn about Mary. There are many different variations - the original had 23 verses in all (see <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6963254106499324743" target="_blank">here for the complete history on The Hymns and Carols of Christmas</a>) - but they definitely fall into two camps: the Catholic Carol and the Protestant version.<br /><br />Here is the Catholic Version as printed in the St Paul's Lessons and Carols program:<br /><br /><blockquote>1. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen,<br />Aus einer Wurzel zart,<br />Wie uns die Alten sungen,<br />Von Jesse war die Art,<br />Und hat ein Blümlein bracht<br />Mitten im kalten Winter<br />Wohl zu der halben Nacht.<br /><br />2. Das Röslein, das ich meine,<br />So uns das Blumlein bringt,<br />Maria ist's, die Reine,<br />die uns das Blüm'lein bracht';<br />Aus Gottes ew'gem Rat<br />Hat sie ein Kindlein g'boren<br />Bleibend ein reine Magd.<br /><br />3. Das Blümelein, so kleine,<br />Das duftet uns so süß,<br />Mit seinem hellen Scheine<br />Vertreibt's die Finsternis.<br />Wahr' Mensch und wahrer Gott,<br />Hilft uns aus allen Leiden,<br />Rettet von Sünd' und Tod.<br /><br />Translation:<br /><br />1. A Rose has sprung up, from a tender root. As the old ones sang to us, its lineage was from Jesse. And it has brought forth a flower in the middle of the cold winter, right upon midnight.<br /><br />2. The Rosebud that I mean, of which Isaiah told, is Mary, the pure, who brough us the Flower. At God's immortal word [strictly, "God's eternal Council"], she has borne a child remaining a pure maid.<br /><br />3. The Flower, so small, that smells so sweet to us, with its clear light dispels the darkness. True man and true God! He helps us from all trouble, saves us from sin and death.</blockquote><br /><br />Note that in this version, the rosebush is the line of Jesse, Mary is the "Rosebud", and Jesus is the "little flower" that she brings forth. <br /><br />The Choir sang that word for word except the second verse which followed a more Protestant understanding of the identity ofthe "Rose" in the song (<a href="http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Es_ist_ein_Ros_entsprungen_(Michael_Praetorius)#Original_German_text" target="_blank">which appears to stem from Praetorius 1609 according to Wikipedia</a>):<br /><br /><blockquote>2. Das Röslein, das ich meine, davon Jesaia sagt,<br />hat uns gebracht alleine Marie, die reine Magd.<br />Aus Gottes ew’gem Rat hat sie ein Kind geboren<br />wohl zu der halben Nacht.<br /><br />Translation:<br /><br />2. The Rosebud that I mean, of which Isaiah told, Mary alone, the pure Maid, has brought us; Out from God's eternal Council, she has borne a child half-way through the night.</blockquote><br /><br />So, you see, there is quite a difference. In Praetorius' version, the Rose is always and completely Jesus only, not Mary. My oldest German hymnals don't even have this carol in it - it appears only to have re-entered German Lutheran usage in the middle of the 20th Century. In one way, it just goes to prove that we often don't really understand the words of the carols that are so familiar to us.Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-36037255240325823262009-12-26T09:29:00.006+11:002009-12-26T12:13:43.202+11:00Lessons and Carols at St Paul's Lutheran Church Box HillWell, we did have an enjoyable Christmas this year. Our children are growing up, so instead of going to the 6:30pm Family Mass at their school's mass centre, we went to 8:30pm Lessons and Carols at their Lutheran Parish of St Paul in Box Hill. I then went to Midnight Mass in my parish, and in the morning we were back at St Paul's so the rest of my family could make their Christmas communion. That also gave us time to have a relaxed Christmas Eve dinner of seafood together, before opening the first gift - a new Nativity set.<br /><br />Midnight Mass at my parish was a bit of a disappointment. Except for four carols instead of four hymns, it was just spoken mass like any Sunday. No incense, no carols, no chant (not even sung congregational pieces of the liturgy), in fact, come to think of it, I didn't even see a Christmas tree! The young woman who played the piano and led the singing was very good (a great talent, even), but she wasn't given much scope for anything other than the carols. It was all over in 45 minutes.<br /><br />Lessons and Carols at St Paul's, however, was a great treat. The choir and organist there are top notch, and their selection was brilliant. Here is the program:<br /><br /><blockquote>Processional (Choir): Wexford Carol / "Good People all, this Christmas time" (arr. by John Rutter)<br /><br />(Choir and Congregation) Once in Royal David's City (arr. P. Ledger)<br /><br />(Congregation) Joy to the World<br /><br />(Choir) Remember Christians all (Thomas Ravencroft)<br /><br />(Choir) Est ist ein Ros' entsprungen (auf Deutsch - see <a href="http://singlustily.blogspot.com/2009/12/est-ist-ein-ros-entsprungen.html" target="_blank">my separate entry above about this text</a>)<br /><br />(Congregation) Of the Father's Love Begotten (sung alternately between Men and Women)<br /><br />(Choir and Congregation) O Little Town of Bethlehem (arr. Vaughan Williams, Philip Ledger, Thomas Armstrong)<br /><br />(Choir) Ave Maria (Franz Biebel) - "Lutheranised" - <a href="http://scecclesia.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/ave-maria-at-st-pauls-lutheran-church/" target="_blank">see my other blog on this</a>.<br /><br />(Congregation) Away in a manger (arr. David Willcocks)<br /><br />(Choir) Starry Night (words by Anne Willcocks, music by David Willcocks) - this was a real treat, containing a surprisingly Catholic Mariology for a Lutheran service (<a href="http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.com/pdf/13/9780193432727.pdf" target="_blank">see here for full words and music</a>)<br /><br />(Congregation) Silent Night <br /><br />(Congregation) The First Nowell<br /><br />(Choir) Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child (an unusual but effective setting by Kenneth Leighton)<br /><br />(Choir) From heaven above to earth I come (one verse based upon an organ prelude by J.S. Bach)<br /><br />And of course:<br /><br />Recessional (Congregation) Hark the Herald Angels sing</blockquote><br /><br />My daughters enjoyed this service immensely (as did the rest of us), singing happily and staying awake for the whole service - which ended around 10pm.<br /><br />For anyone brought up in the Protestant traditions, singing and music is soooo essential to the Christmas celebration. If only we Catholics could learn from this...Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-92196051782412629242009-12-21T23:11:00.001+11:002009-12-21T23:11:59.080+11:00A great Christmas Carol siteWhile looking for the history of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", I found this site, which is quite terrific in many ways:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/index.htm</a>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-45071915044283887432009-12-21T22:53:00.002+11:002009-12-21T23:02:37.711+11:00The O AntiphonsI just came across <a href="http://www.wdtprs.com/JTZ/o_antiphons/" target="_blank">Fr Z.'s little site on the "O Antiphons"</a>. <br /><br />We have been singing these as a family devotion during the lighting of the Advent wreath this year in John Mason Neale's beloved versification. Problem is the vast array of "modernisations" of Neale's hymn. It is hard to find any agreement among the modernisers, so we are using his traditional text. <br /><br />But then it is hard to find a hymnal that gives all seven verses. Perhaps the reason is that Neale's original version - <a href="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/draw_nigh_draw_nigh_emmanuel.htm" target="_blank">if this website is anything to go by</a> (and the reproduction of the various originl editoins seems to indicate that it is) included only five of the seven antiphons.<br /><br />Here are Neale's original verses: <br /><blockquote>1. Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel<br />And loose Thy captive Israel,<br />That mourns in lonely exile here,<br />Until the Son of God appear;<br /> Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel<br /> Is born for thee, O Israel!<br /><br />2. O Rod of Jesse’s stem, arise,<br />And free us from our enemies,<br />And set us loose from Satan's chains,<br />And from the pit with all its pains! <br /> Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel<br /> Is born for thee, O Israel!<br /><br />3. Thou, the true East, draw nigh, draw nigh,<br />To give us comfort from on high!<br />And drive away the shades of night,<br />And pierce the clouds, and bring us light!<br /> Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel<br /> Is born for thee, O Israel!<br /><br />4. Key of the House of David, come!<br />Reopen Thou our heavenly home!<br />Make safe the way that we must go,<br />And close the path that leads below.<br /> Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel<br /> Is born for thee, O Israel!<br /><br />5. Ruler and Lord, draw nigh, draw nigh!<br />Who to Thy flock in Sinai<br />Didst give, of ancient times, Thy Law,<br />In cloud and majesty and awe.<br /> Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel<br /> Is born for thee, O Israel!</blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-3959817747027184422009-09-11T01:34:00.005+10:002010-03-12T11:09:20.829+11:00Songs in Word of Life's "Top 100" Not approved by NLCMB review of "As One Voice"How much difference would <a href="http://singlustily.blogspot.com/2009/09/hymn-titles-rated-yes-by-national.html" target="_blank">the National Liturgical Commission Music Board's evaluaton of songs</a> make to the standard of music sung in our parish liturgies if all parishes scrupulously followed their recommendations (something which, by the way, will only happen in your dreams)? <br /><br />One indication would be to compare <a href="http://singlustily.blogspot.com/2009/09/hymn-titles-from-as-one-voice-rated-no.html" target="_blank">the list songs in "As One Voice" that did not get the NLCMB's approval</a> with <a href="http://www.freelink.com.au/top100.htm" target="_blank">Word of Life's "Top 100" hymns</a>. (Word of Life would know - they are the main licencing body used by Australian Catholic parishes and have all the stats). <br /><br />Thirteen of the WOL "Top 100" did not get the NLCMB's "tick". They are as follows (the number indicates the song's ranking on the list of the Top 100):<br /><br /><blockquote>3 Come to the water (Andersen, F)<br />6 Come as you are (Brown, D)<br />15 Companions on the Journey (Landry, C)<br />19 Our supper invitation (Bates, K)<br />20 Galilee song (Andersen, F)<br />28 Song of the body of Christ (Haas, D)<br />32 Blest be the Lord (Schutte, D)<br />61 Celebrate (Brown, M)<br />64 Yahweh is the God (Norbet, G)<br />86 To be your bread (Haas, D)<br />90 We are many parts (Haugen, M)</blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-38838156521802390022009-09-11T01:27:00.004+10:002010-03-12T11:12:59.920+11:00Hymn titles from "As One Voice" rated "NO" by the National Liturgical Commission Music BoardTitle Author Number<br />A circle of love (Sandier) II:114<br />A journey remembered (Bates, Kevin) II:047<br />A shepherd I'll be to you (Bates, Kevin) I:001<br />A Voice in the wilderness (Robinson, Chris) I:062<br />Act Justly (Watts, Trisha) I:050<br />Advent Chant (Porter) II:123<br />All Creation sings (Reid) II:045<br />All I ask of you (Norbert, Gregory) I:150<br />All the ends of the earth (Hurd, Bob) I:004<br />Always there (Coleman) II:036<br />And the Father will dance (Landry, Carey) I:113<br />As grains of wheat (Rosania) II:153<br />As the deer longs (Hurd, Bob) I:120<br />Be it done unto me (Hurd, Bob) I:119<br />Be with me Lord (Joncas, Michael) I:116<br />Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Walker, Christopher) I:066<br />Behold the Cross (Hurd, Bob) I:105<br />Bless the Lord (Smith) II:083<br />Blessing on the King (Lynch, Michael B.) I:104<br />Blest be the Lord (Schutte, Dan) I:179<br />Bread broken, wine shared (Horner, Robyn) II:155<br />Break open the word and renew the face of the earth (Paxton, Ray) I:038<br />Bridegroom and bride (Bell/Maule) II:042<br />Bring many names (Wren/Young) II:010<br />Called to create (Spence/Lewis) II:121<br />Celebrate (Brown, Monica) I:044<br />Christmas in the scrub (Newton) II:168<br />Come as you Are (Browne, Deirdre) I:031<br />Come now, Holy Spirit (Kearney, Peter) II:087<br />Come to the water (Andersen, Frank) I:074<br />Comfort, comfort all my people (Mann, Robin) II:012<br />Communion Song (Grant, Peter) I:187<br />Companions on the Journey (Landry, Carey) I:188<br />Create in us (Hannah) II:021<br />Creator and poet (Sears, Sandra) II:084<br />Different gifts (Russell) II:013<br />Do not be afraid (Farrell, Bernadette) I:079<br />Do not worry (Reid) II:122<br />Don't be afraid (Bell/Maule) II:070<br />Dreams and visions (tanner) II:061<br />Easter People (Light) II:147<br />Enemy of apathy (Bell/Maule) II:075<br />Enviatu Espiritu (Hurd, Bob) I:095<br />Everlasting your love (Hurd, Bob) I:128<br />Father Welcomes (Mann, Robin) I:024<br />Feed us now, bread of life (Mann, Robin) II:093<br />First Sunday Advent (Smith, Colin) I:108<br />Flow river flow (Hurd, Bob) I:163<br />For you are my God (Foley, John) I:178<br />Freedom is coming (Fjedur) I:061<br />From heaven you came (Kendrick) II:077<br />Galilee Song (Andersen, Frank) I:005<br />Give thanks (Smith) II:017<br />Glorify the Lord with me (Doheny) II:026<br />God beyond all names (Farrell, Bernadette) II:023<br />God has made us a family (Landry, Carey) II:111<br />God is good (Chan) II:120<br />God is rich in mercy (Landry, Carey) II:027<br />God of all the earth (Winter/Maker) II:134<br />God's Circle of love (McRae) II:038<br />Going home (Halloran/Millward) II:082<br />Great is thy faithfulness (Chisholm/Runyan) II:127<br />Halle, halle, halle (Carribean) II:046<br />Heal me O God (Norbert, Gregory) II:052<br />Heaven and earth (Bell, John) II:053<br />Here in the busy city (Murray/Hopson) II:166<br />Holy, holy, holy Lord (Ham, Liat Chung) I:173<br />How lovely is your dwelling place (Joncas, Michael) I:041<br />How shall I call you (Mann, Robin) I:047<br />I am the Light of the world (Hayakawa, Greg) I:176<br />I found the treasure (Schutte, Dan) II:022<br />I have seen the Lord (Hurd, Bob) I:098<br />I know that my Redeemer lives (Soper) II:034<br />I rejoiced (Walker, Christopher) I:069<br />I say yes, my Lord (Pena, Donna) I:155<br />I shall dwell in the Lord's house (Ramondo) II:069<br />I will lift my eyes (Conry, Tom) I:084<br />I will sing and make music for the Lord (Smith) II:028<br />I will sing for ever of your love (Horner, Robyn) II:161<br />Icon of grace (Watts, Trisha) II:057<br />If today you hear his voice (Crocker) II:072<br />If we all could live in peace (Trad. Austrian) II:115<br />I'll be always loving you (Watts, Trisha) I:082<br />I'll sing your song (Marshall, Erica) I:034<br />In love we choose to live (Cotter) II:063<br />In the beginning was love (Rowe/Wolf) II:110<br />In the brightness (Horner, Robyn) I:070<br />In the radiance of your gaze (Honer) II:009<br />Jesu Tawa Pano (Matsikenyiri) II:015<br />Jesus Christ is waiting (Bell/Maule) II:008<br />Joyful in hope (Herry, Michael) I:020<br />Lady Mary (Sears, Sandra) I:117<br />Lead us break bread together (USA Folk Hymn) II:098<br />Let all creation dance (Darwall/Wren) II:130<br />Let all the earth (Haugen, Marty) II:152<br />Let God's dream be born (Bates, Kevin) II:030<br />Let there be peace on earth (Miller/Jackson) I:190<br />Lift this child (Anna's Song) (Mann/Habel) II:125<br />Light of Christ (Zaragoza, Rufino) I:143<br />Lord of the Dance (Carter, Sydney) I:018<br />Love calls me back (Bates, Kevin) II:025<br />Love is the greatest gift of all (Marshall, Erica) II:086<br />Love will bring them home (Marshall, Erica) I:121<br />Loving Spirit (Murray/Trad) II:133<br />Masithi Amen (Molefe/Trad.) II:090<br />May we come to know the Lord (Gagnon) II:019<br />Mother Earth (Brown, Monica) I:157<br />My heart is a stable (Sears, Sandra) I:147<br />Nearer my God to thee (Adams/Mason) II:154<br />New People, New life (Beha, Helen) I:011<br />O God Nothing can take us from your love (Walker, Christopher) I:139<br />O God, hear us (Hurd, Bob) I:022<br />O Lord, your tenderness (Kendrick) II:107<br />On holy ground (Pena/Kodner) II:103<br />One Body (Watts/O'Brien) II:146<br />Open the heavens (Boniwell) II:163<br />Our blessing cup (Hurd, Bob) I:007<br />Our supper invitation (Bates, Kevin) I:185<br />Passionate God (Fulmer) II:068<br />Praise and glory (Zaragoza, Rufino) I:051<br />Pulsing spirit (Dufner/Trad.) II:058<br />Returning our gifts (Porter) II:065<br />Sanctus and Benedictus (Bell/Maule) II:081<br />Santo (Trad. Argentinian) II:092<br />See his hands (Sears, Sandra) II:048<br />See I make all things new (Watts/O'Brien) II:007<br />Send forth your spirit O Lord (Walker, Christopher) I:107<br />Sing to God (Kirkland) II:105<br />Sing to the Lord (Alstott, Owen) I:046<br />Song at the Centre (Haugen, Marty) II:106<br />Song for the Journey (Marshall, Erica) II:108<br />Song of gathering (Wise, Joe) I:023<br />Song of the Body of Christ (Haas, David) I:027<br />Speak from your heart (Brown) II:051<br />Spirit blowing through creation (Haugen, Marty) II:157<br />Spirit come transform us (Norbert, Gregory) I:096<br />Spirit of life (Mangan) II:043<br />Star-child (Murray/Young) II:018<br />Summoned by love (Watts/O'Brien) II:020<br />Table of plenty (Schutte, Dan) II:162<br />Taste and see (Hurd, Bob) I:067<br />Taste and see (Robinson, Stephen) I:088<br />Taste and see that the Lord is good (Barr) II:151<br />The Bridge Song (Bolton) II:006<br />The deeper River (Hannah) II:062<br />The fullness of God (Andersen, Frank) II:159<br />The great Southland (Bullock) II:141<br />The Light of Christ (Fishel, Donald) I:186<br />The Spirit of the Lord (Horner, Robyn) I:101<br />The story we share (Kearney, Peter) I:093<br />The whole world is waiting for love (Misetich) II:148<br />They'll know we are Christians (Scholtes) I:130<br />This day was made by the Lord (Walker, Christopher) I:183<br />This is all our joy (Horner, Robyn) II:100<br />This is the day (Joncas, Michael) I:193<br />Three round table rounds (Bates, Kevin) II:160<br />To be your bread (Haas, David) I:065<br />To you O my God, I lift up my soul (Hurd, Bob) II:014<br />Travel on (Carter, Sydney) II:033<br />Wake up (Watts/O'Brien) I:008<br />We are many parts (Haugen, Marty) I:086<br />We are marching (Trad. African) II:074<br />We believe (Walker, Christopher) I:149<br />We shall draw water (Inwood, Paul) I:072<br />We shall overcome (Adap. Horton et al.) II:149<br />We welcome this child (Kearney, Peter) II:144<br />We welcome you little baby (Holmes) II:112<br />Welcome home (Andersen, Frank) II:145<br />When I needed a neighbour (Carter, Sydney) II:136<br />When the night (Toolan) II:091<br />When we eat this bread (Joncas, Michael) I:099<br />Where is your song, my Lord (Kearney, Peter) I:122<br />Where there is love (Haas, David) I:087<br />Who will speak if you don't (Haugen, Marty) II:102<br />Yahweh (Norbert, Gregory) I:068<br />You are mine (Haas, David) II:002<br />You are the voice (Haas, David) II:080Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-54781317629115303912009-09-10T23:56:00.002+10:002009-09-11T01:27:11.319+10:00Hymn titles rated "Yes" by the National Liturgical Commission Music BoardThis is the first in what I hope will be a series of investigations into a new document entitled "Hymn Titles from Australian Resource Books - Rated "Yes" by the NLC Music Board".<br /><br />In paragraph 108, <a href="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20010507_liturgiam-authenticam_en.html" target="_blank">Liturgiam Authenticam</a> made the following stipulation:<blockquote>Within five years from the publication of this Instruction, the Conferences of Bishops, necessarily in collaboration with the national and diocesan Commissions and with other experts, shall provide for the publication of a directory or repertory of texts intended for liturgical singing. This document shall be transmitted for the necessary recognitio to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.</blockquote>Well, that was in 2001, and since then, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has commissioned the National Liturgical Music Board to compile a list of “approved hymns” for use in the liturgy. <br /><br />The task that faced this group was so immense that they simply had to put some limits on it. In the end, they decided to go through five readily available collections, “As One Voice”, “Gather Australia”, “Catholic Worship Book”, “New Living Parish Hymnal”, and “Together in Song”. Also, they excluded from this initial scan any liturgical or ritual music, since this will largely depend upon the new translations.<br /><br />The criteria by which they judged the songs seems to me to be rather too broad, especially in relation to the texts:<br /><br /><blockquote>MUSICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA<br /><br />1) The music should enable the fostering of participation<br />2) The Technical aspects of musical language – melody, rhythm, pitch etc. / instrumentation/ and<br />accompanimental styles must enable participation.<br />3) Musical style must promote a sense of the “sacred” and avoid profane;<br />4) Music must reflect the ideals of true art and beauty.<br />5) Music must properly support text being sung-proper relationship of verbal and music accents etc.<br />6) Maintenance and promotion of traditional sacred repertoire – including chant and melodies<br />especially where they remain in the collective consciousness of catholics<br /><br />TEXT EVALUATION CRITERIA<br /><br />Several criteria were proposed to guide judgements about the suitability of texts, ie that they be:<br />· scriptural<br />· apt for the season<br />· theologically robust<br />· thematically and linguistically coherent<br />· in ‘modern/classical’ language (rather than in archaic or temporarily contemporary<br />language)<br />· in common possession and with likely appeal<br />· with poetic power.<br /><br />Those versions have been preferred which:<br />· use ‘you’ rather than ‘thou’<br />· do not include words or phrases with an obsolete or archaic ring<br />· use inclusive rather than exclusive language in reference to human beings<br />· do not conflate verses<br />· have more effective rhyme.<br /><br />LITURGICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA<br /><br />1. Liturgically related to Scripture: A= Strongly Scriptural… B = Based on Scripture i.e. used as a departure point for poetic reflection<br />2. General Seasonal Suitability<br />3. Not Liturgical<br />Refer: Not specifically for the specified season– but liturgically suitable for another <br />Pastoral Judgement:<br />1 widely used ; 2 sometimes used 3 rarely used</blockquote>I am afraid that "Pastoral Judgement" in a number of cases led to approving songs that would have been much better left out. On the other hand, "robustness" seems an odd category to use to evaluate the theological appropriateness or otherwise of a text.<br /><br />In any case, the result was quite a long list (about 750 titles) that got a “yes” vote. Although the resulting list has been sent to Rome for approval (as LA required), it is, I understand, now a public document. Unfortunately, it is not yet available on the ACBC website (I understand this is due to external factors beyond the control of the ACBC office). If you want a copy, I suggest you email Bernard at bfk at ozemail dot com dot au .<br /><br />The practical usefulness of such a list is really as a basis for a future resource to be published. As of this moment in time, there are no more available copies of three of the hymnbooks surveyed: New Living Parish, Catholic Worship Book, and Gather Australia (I understand that the remaining copies of the latter two went up in smoke when the Feb 7 bushfires burnt down the publisher’s storehouse).<br /><br />And, of course, the real upshot of this document in the mean time is that from it one can infer which hymns and songs in the current resources DID NOT get a tick. It is my intention to publish this lists for each resource - starting with "As One Voice".Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-24281520672357136052009-05-18T22:24:00.002+10:002009-05-18T22:27:35.481+10:00More Great Online ResourcesAnd here are a few extra suggestions from Ben George on my other blog:<br /><br /><a href="http://isaacjogues.org/" target="_blank">http://isaacjogues.org/</a><br /><a href="http://lalemantpolyphonic.org/antoine_daniel_mass_parts/" target="_blank">http://lalemantpolyphonic.org/antoine_daniel_mass_parts/</a>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-9128904079155626892009-05-17T13:50:00.005+10:002009-05-17T14:49:46.902+10:00Online Resources recommend by Jeffrey A. Tucker in "Sing like a Catholic"<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/12699133/Sing-Like-a-Catholic?autodown=pdf" target="_blank">Jeffrey A. Tucker, in "Sing Like A Catholic"</a> recommends a number of very good online resources. Here are the links.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.musicasacra.com" target="_blank">MusicaSacra.com</a><br /><a href="http://chabanelpsalms.org/responsorial_psalms.htm" target="_blank">Chabanel Psalms</a> (these are really good)<br /><a href="http://musicasacra.com/books/gregorianmissal-eng.pdf" target="_blank">Gregorian Missal</a><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/7540098/The-Parish-Book-of-Chant" target="_blank">The Parish Book of Chant</a><br /><a href="http://anglicanhistory.org/music/gradual/gradual.pdf" target="_blank">Anglican Use Gradual</a><br /><a href="http://www.musicasacra.com/books/americangradual1.pdf" target="_blank">American Gradual</a>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-3671897373677251422009-05-17T13:50:00.001+10:002009-05-17T13:50:42.142+10:00"Sing like a Catholic"?Yesterday, at the Anima Conference, I picked up a book from Mary Long's bookstall (from the Catholic Bookshop next to St Francis in the City) called <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/12699133/Sing-Like-a-Catholic?autodown=pdf" target="_blank">"Sing like a Catholic" by Jeffrey A. Tucker</a> (the link, BTW takes you to a page where, for free registration, you can download a full copy). <br /><br />It is a passioned piece intended to follow up where Thomas Day's 1995 book "Why Catholics Can't Sing" with a practical guide to the restoration of the "treasure of inestimable value" (Vatican II) which is the traditional sacred chant of the Latin Rite in our parish liturgies.<br /><br />There is some talk - of which I would be fully supportive - of inviting Mr Tucker to come to Melbourne to give some lectures/training sessions - but perhaps I am jumping the gun by even mentioning this in public?<br /><br />His modus operandi is Fr Zuhlsdorf's "brick by brick" strategy. All it takes (all it HAS taken in the States) to begin a true revival of the true music of the Roman Rite of the Mass is dedicated and voluntary enthusiasts who have the support of their parish pastor to have a go and start learning and using the traditional chants in their liturgies. Get informed and experienced by attending training days, colloquiums etc. Download the music from the internet for free (he gives a host of sites that are now on the web, foremost of which is <a href="http://musicasacra.com/" target="_blank">MusicaSacra.com</a>), form a schola of singers, and go for it. Of course there is more to it than that, but the first requirement seems to be the will to do something rather than nothing.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I am in two minds about Mr Tucker's project.<br /><br />1) My first mind is to say "Yea and Amen". After attending Fr Lawrence Cross's Byzantine liturgy at the ACU chapel last Friday at 12noon (something I do every now and again) I am reminded of how beautiful a liturgy can be when the music that is sung is an organic part of the liturgy itself. Although I won't say a lot more about my "first mind" at this point, let the Reader understand that I see the restoration of chant in the liturgy as "a good thing".<br /><br />2) But then my second mind kicks in - primarily because my task today is prepare the music for the liturgy at our "mass centre" at the girl's Primary School for next Sunday morning when I am rostered on as Cantor. This "second mind" is what I want to give some time to in this blog.<br /><br />The liturgy in our parish has been on the up and up over the last four years or so. Two parish pastors ago, what happened at Sunday morning mass was so laid back it was almost horizontal. It was a valid Eucharist (more or less), but sometimes strained the definition of "liturgy" to breaking point. The pastor had been there for a dozen years, and this was "the way things were done" in our "community". A change of pastor's saw, as ever, a change in style of the liturgy, and it was a step in the right direction. Two years later another change of pastor has brought in another giant step in the right direction, and, thanks to the wise guidance of the intervening priest, the liturgical good sense of the new pastor has been widely accepted without comment.<br /><br />That being said, music is still a problem. Many weeks the mass is spoken except for tape recorded songs. The groups who do provide music put a lot of effort and skill into leading the singing of the songs, but still the choice of song material is a little sad, and the emphasis continues to be upon the songs in the classic four-hymn sandwich rather than on the ordo or the propers of the mass. For eg. only at masses for which I am cantor is there a sung psalm and Gloria. <br /><br />I myself am limited. I have tried encouraging others to join me to form a small choir, but with no success (keep in mind that the congregation at our mass centre is under 100 generally). I also have no musical backup – again, not through lack of trying. I have received criticism during the singing of the psalm because "no one wants to listen to your [ie. my] voice when they come to mass". Fair enough. Why should they? So I am disinclined to use music that would have large parts of me singing solo.<br /><br />So, here's what I do.<br /><br />I use a good quality keyboard with midi-file programs to provide the accompanying music while I cantor. I aim to have all the usual ordinary parts of the mass sung, although Kyrie and Lord's Prayer continue to be said. I use modern settings generally rather than chant settings (although I would love to introduce the simple settings we use unaccompanied when I cantor at lunch time masses at the Cathedral). I chose three or four hymns that follow <a href="http://singlustily.blogspot.com/2007/02/my-10-commandments-for-forming-parish.html" target="_blank">my guidelines for good hymnody</a> for the procession, communion and recessional (the fourth being for the offertory). For the communion, I tend to favour the use of simple repetitive chants such as Taize or Michael Herry's stuff so people can sing them without having to look at the overhead screen for the words while they are moving about.<br /><br />In general visitors (rather than regulars) have commented upon my choice of music favourably, and it seems that the midi-file thing works very well in the circumstances (and yes, the keyboard can do a passable imitation of an organ).<br /><br />So that's the reality. I applaud Mr Tucker's ideals and wish I could see them in my time and in my parish, but for the moment it seems like the hope of heaven rather than anything truly achievable. <br /><br />And my one and only misgiving about the whole project of restoring the chant (which somewhat qualifies my "Yea and Amen" in my first mind) is that it seems that this is done at the expense of hymnody. I know we have had some god-awful songs thrust upon us over the last forty years, but the Church universal also has a treasury of hymnody which could be described as "of inestimable value". The Sunday mass is about the only time when Catholics ever come together for worship, and if they don't learn to sing hymns at mass, where will they get the value of this rich treasury? <br /><br />Perhaps it is the Lutheran in me, but if Mr Tucker says he wants Catholics to "sing like Catholics", why is it that what he seems to be proposing actually proposes that Catholics SING LESS in the liturgy, and LISTEN MORE to the choir or schola? Is this entirely healthy? At least in the Byzantine liturgy with Fr Cross, all those present joined in singing the choirs pieces. I don't see it as a step forward in Catholic sacred music to silence the congregation to the point of being a prayerful audience. This isn't an expression of some post-Vatican II "participation theology" at work in my mind here, it is the conviction that singing praise to God is an valuable act of worship for the soul and the Church, whether in the choir or in the pews. Of course they don't have to sing everything all the time (I am in favour of good choirs singing a polyphonic Sanctus without the congregation jumping in to spoil it all), but they need to have an opportunity to sing to God – and hymnody provides that opportunity. Hymnody and chant ought not to be seen as enemies or as “either/or”. Lutherans after all (there I go again) are capable of doing both well.<br /><br />Any way, over to you for discussion.Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-25311350260004148692009-01-25T11:55:00.002+11:002009-01-25T12:02:37.722+11:00Is this the Revised Grail Psalter???Click to enlarge and laugh.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG72VGukq6Ar_gEWCD3hjuqGbkdPDummhsa62PlChaUcz3VJVMreym_U9ywr8RHdQi-5Pzf-P5gMH7-pC1TI3eNHI-DXE8RmcUf18hQBCsE_Whusp5vo-AVrBTJrPwWCWlhN3ULJUY_lHQ/s1600-h/psalm_151.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG72VGukq6Ar_gEWCD3hjuqGbkdPDummhsa62PlChaUcz3VJVMreym_U9ywr8RHdQi-5Pzf-P5gMH7-pC1TI3eNHI-DXE8RmcUf18hQBCsE_Whusp5vo-AVrBTJrPwWCWlhN3ULJUY_lHQ/s400/psalm_151.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295030379192972210" /></a><br /><br />HT to <a href="http://ironiccatholic.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-translations-arent-all-bad.html" target="_blank">Ironic Catholic</a>, who got this via <a href="http://minoroutside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CMinor</a>, who originally got it from <a href="http://intrepidsoprano.blogspot.com/2008/12/very-lost-books-of-bible.html" target="_blank">the Intrepid Soprano</a>, who got it from <a href="http://sinden.org/2008/11/151-psalm.html" target="_blank">Sinden.org</a> who got it from <a href="http://topmostapple.blogspot.com/2008/11/november-bullet-points-25th-anniversary.html" target="_blank">Tompmost Apple</a> who got it from etc. etc....Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-33181381033048620382009-01-19T16:45:00.004+11:002009-01-19T16:50:34.369+11:00Hymn for the Conversion of St PaulIn case you are wanting do take up the <a href="http://cumecclesia.blogspot.com/2008/12/celebrate-feast-of-conversion-of-st.html" target="_blank">Holy Father's suggestion of observing the Conversion of St Paul this Sunday</a>, here is a song you might want to use. You can sing it to Aurelia ("The Church's One Foundation"). I don't have an author for it. It is a modernised version of a hymn that appeared in Lindemann's Daily Office book, which I pilfered back when I was doing the Lutheran Worship Resources project.<br /><blockquote>We sing the glorious conquest <br />before Damascus' gate,<br />when Saul, the persecutor, <br />came breathing threats & hate;<br />the ravening wolf rushed forward <br />to make the sheep his prey,<br />but see! the Shepherd met him <br />and claimed his life today!<br /><br />O glory beyond telling <br />that struck across his path!<br />O light that pierced and blinded <br />the zealot in his wrath!<br />O voice that spoke within him <br />the calm, reproving word!<br />O love that sought and made him <br />the servant of the Lord.<br /><br />Lord, teach your Church to love you, <br />& in the darkest hour<br />of weakness and of danger <br />to trust your hidden power.<br />For by your grace & mercy <br />Paul's hate & fear were bound,<br />and in your bold opponent, <br />your chosen saint was found.</blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-46399917428367332212009-01-19T16:43:00.006+11:002009-01-19T16:45:34.075+11:00An Ode to the Error Code?Searching for midi files today, I came across this little ditty:<br /><blockquote>"Drat!" The Herald Angel says,<br />"Page Not Found," the screen displays.<br />"404": the error code;<br />Where's that page? It just won't load!</blockquote><br />Unfortunately, it was telling me I couldn't find the midi file I wanted. But what a nice way to do it! <a href="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/from_greenlands_icy_mountains.htm&no_cj_c=1" target="_blank">Source</a>.Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-77793018233029238272008-12-15T09:39:00.006+11:002008-12-15T10:14:12.027+11:00Rorate Caeli - Advent ProseIt has been a while since I have posted a song here, so here are two versions of <a href="http://www.ceciliaschola.org/pdf/rorate.pdf" target="_blank">Rorate Caeli</a> which I have prepared. The first is an English setting to the traditional chant (click on the pictures for the full sized version - my apologies for the difference in notation between pages one and two - I did these at different times and haven't had the time to put the difference right) and the second is a metrical paraphrase to a German chorale tune.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMIpCPqOxUL2J4FDgixd65swmviNeQlK5YbEt5Nym_pbyPX3OQBny0jnufL3GzWKnEI6K6cQOsr6Seu1McS8tkmDUU82Cnbjwk7-lx_mtiBa_SKlwOLD6pzJUqb0Rey0-xGDTpX7DXhME/s1600-h/Advent+Prose+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279786534571750882" style="FLOAT: center; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMIpCPqOxUL2J4FDgixd65swmviNeQlK5YbEt5Nym_pbyPX3OQBny0jnufL3GzWKnEI6K6cQOsr6Seu1McS8tkmDUU82Cnbjwk7-lx_mtiBa_SKlwOLD6pzJUqb0Rey0-xGDTpX7DXhME/s400/Advent+Prose+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUGZgH4UlJ-DyX5IQqkv04L5DZCnYRljMz9PbybhUFuRpIJFXR6k0f8DcD5BXWslx1dGFO1Y3pLBVfT3wYTA2017rNoYRnk0KHmV6Y2wdszVoEP-ag87Vx9Uf5B4W3uQdGDNm6xUZMyqf/s1600-h/Advent+Prose+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279786541391651794" style="FLOAT: center; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUGZgH4UlJ-DyX5IQqkv04L5DZCnYRljMz9PbybhUFuRpIJFXR6k0f8DcD5BXWslx1dGFO1Y3pLBVfT3wYTA2017rNoYRnk0KHmV6Y2wdszVoEP-ag87Vx9Uf5B4W3uQdGDNm6xUZMyqf/s400/Advent+Prose+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />HYMN By David Schütz<br /><em>(Based on the Tune: Wer nun den lieben Gott [Neumark])</em><blockquote>Do not be angry, Lord, forever<br />do not remember how we've sinned.<br />Your holy city and your temple<br />where once we praised you, lies in ruin:<br /><em>Pour down, O heavens, from above,<br />righteousness, peace, salvation, love.</em><br /><br />Like those unclean, we sinned against you;<br />like faded leaves, we drift away.<br />Your face is hidden from your people,<br />our sins have caught us in their sway.<br /><em>Pour down, O heavens, from above,<br />righteousness, peace, salvation, love.</em><br /><br />“You are my witnesses, my servants;<br />I chose you that you may believe.<br />I am the Lord, there’s none beside me;<br />look to none other power to save.”<br /><em>Pour down, O heavens, from above,<br />righteousness, peace, salvation, love.</em><br /><br />“O comfort, comfort all my people,<br />my saving power shall not be slow.<br />So do not fear, for I will save you;<br />your scarlet sins shall be like snow.<br /><em>Pour down, O heavens, from above,<br />righteousness, peace, salvation, love.</em></blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-28147259943452898092008-08-22T11:17:00.003+10:002008-08-22T11:40:53.881+10:00A Peter and Paul SongHere is another one that I haven't posted yet. I wrote it for the Festival of St Peter and Paul with which the Pauline Year began. The tune <a href="http://www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/eic/documents/PeterPaul.MID" target="_blank">(click here for the midi file)</a> is a modified version of "Faith of our Fathers" - the ENGLISH not the American version. Also, it has been modified so that the music for the first couplet is repeated (note that the midi file begins with an introduction).<blockquote>1. Eternal God we give thanks to you<br />today for Peter and for Paul.<br />In grace you chose them for yourself<br />and consecrated them for all.<br />You made Paul blind so he could see;<br />and gave to Peter heaven's keys.<br />Their faithful service brought the faith to us,<br />so may their prayers bring us to you. <em>(Repeat)</em><br /><br />2. You called the fisherman from mending nets<br />and taught him how to fish for men.<br />You turned the persecutor's heart around<br />to preach your name in every land.<br />You made Peter to be "the Rock",<br />and Paul the preacher of the Cross.<br />Their faithful witness won the martyrs' crown,<br />so may their prayers bring us to you <em>(Repeat)</em></blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-16005475203198366852008-08-21T16:54:00.003+10:002008-08-21T16:58:03.236+10:00A hymn in honour of St Peter (for 21st Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A)I had forgotten that I had written this, and only found it today as I was preparing for leading singing at Mass this Sunday. It is very suitable for the Gospel for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) and for any festival of St Peter. Tune: Any 8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7 tune will do, try "Ode to Joy".<br /><br /><blockquote>1. When the Lord asked his disciples,<br />“Who do people say I am?”,<br />they replied, “Some say Elijah,<br />some a prophet—just a man.”<br />“But,” he told them, “more important<br />is the answer you would give.<br />I now ask you: what do you say?<br />Speak the faith by which you’d live.”<br /><br />2. When Saint Peter said to Jesus,<br />“You’re the Christ, the Son of God!”<br />he confessed the truth from heaven,<br />not revealed by flesh and blood.<br />Then the Lord Christ said to Peter,<br />“On this Rock I’ll build my church.<br />God will bind and loose in heaven<br />what you bind and loose on earth.”<br /><br />3. For our priests and for our bishops,<br />and for Benedict, our pope,<br />let us pray to God the Father,<br />firm in faith and strong in hope.<br />Let us take hold of the promise<br />made by Jesus Christ our Lord:<br />“Never shall the gates of Hades<br />overcome the Church of God.”</blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-6068687734434475582008-08-15T17:13:00.002+10:002008-08-15T17:14:24.761+10:00Revising songs that use the "name" Yahweh?There have been some who have asked whether it would be possible to give a list of songs that use the pseudo-name Yahweh for God, and to suggest possible alternatives. <br /><br />For instance, the popular (with a certain set) Frank Anderson song "Strong and Constant" has the line "I will be Yahweh who walks with you". You could sing this as "I the Lord will always walk with you" (which also actually makes better sense).<br /><br />But my question is: Name one song that uses "Yahweh" which might actually be worth singing or might be worth perpetuating with alterations?<br /><br />I think this is a good opportunity just to completely scrap the whole sorry lot. There is a saying that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but if it is completely stuffed, one could say, don't bother stuffing around with it.<br /><br /><em>[Actually, I can name ONE song that uses "Jehovah" and is worth singing, but most hymnals have already altered it: "Guide me, O thou Great Jehovah" is now universally sung as "Guide me O thou Great Redeemer". It is worth singing, but then it comes from a different time and a different school of hymnody than the modern "Yahweh is my buddy" stuff.]</em>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-45842747060160738682008-08-14T13:48:00.004+10:002008-08-15T09:54:30.590+10:00Letter to the Bishops Conferences on the Name of GodI have not yet had a rant about a subject that has infuriated me for years: the use of the "name" of God "Yahweh" in so many popular Catholic liturgical songs. Now, thanks to the Congregation for Divine Worship, it looks as if I don't have to, as they have done a good job for me.<br /><br />Of course, the story is all over the blogosphere by now (most citing <a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804119.htm" target="_blank">this CNS news story</a> that has interesting statements from the big publishers OCP and GIA), but you may be interested to read <a href="http://www.execulink.com/~dtribe/blog/Name%20of%20God.pdf" target="_blank">the source document in this regard</a> (when dealing with the Vatican, always, ALWAYS find the actual document in question rather than rely on news reports).<br /><br />And here it is folks, for you to cut and paste and refer to:<blockquote>Congregatio de Cultu Divino<br />et Disciplina Sacramentorum<br />Prot. N.213/08/L<br /><br /><strong>Letter To The Bishops Conferences On "The Name Of God"</strong><br /><br />Your Eminence\Your Excellency:<br /><br />By directive of the Holy Father, in accord with the congregation for the Doctrine Of The Faith, this Congregation For Divine Worship And The Discipline Of The Sacraments deems it convenient to communicate to the Bishops Conferences the following as regards the translation and the pronunciation, in a liturgical setting, of the Divine Name signified in the sacred <em>tetragrammaton</em>, along with a number of directives.<br /><br />I. Expose<br /> <br />1. The words of Sacred Scripture contained in the Old and New Testament express truth which transcends the limits imposed by time and place. They are the Word of God expressed in human words, and, by means of these words of life, the Holy Spirit introduces the faithful to knowledge of the truth whole and entire and thus the Word of Christ comes to dwell in the faithful in all its richness (cf. John 14:26; 16:12-15). In order that the word of God, written in the sacred texts, may be conserved and transmitted in an integral and faithful manner, every modern translation of the books of the Bible aims at being a faithful and accurate transposition of the original texts. Such a literary effort requires that the original text be translated with the maximum integrity and accuracy, without omissions or additions with regard to the contents, and without introducing explanatory glosses or paraphrases which do not belong to the sacred text itself.<br /><br />As regards the sacred name of God himself, translators must use the greatest faithfulness and respect. In particular, as the Instruction <em>Liturgiam authenticam</em> (n. 41) states:<br /><br />"In accordance with immemorial tradition, which indeed is already evident in the above-mentioned "Septuagint" version, the name of almighty God, expressed by the Hebrew tetragrammaton and the rendered in Latin by the word Dominus, is to be rendered into any given vernacular by a word equivalent in meaning. [Iuxta traditionem ab immemorabili receptam, immo in (…) versione "LXX virorum" iam perspicuam, nomen Dei omnipotentis, sacro tetragrammate hebaraice expressum, latine vocabulo "Dominus" in quavis lingua populari vocabulo quodam eiusdem significationis reddatur."]"<br /><br />Notwithstanding such a clear norm, in recent years, the practice has crept in of pronouncing the God of Israel's proper name, known as the holy or divine tetragrammaton, written with four consonants of the Hebrew alphabet in the form <em>hwhy</em>, YHWH. The practice of vocalising it is met with both in the reading of biblical texts taken from the lectionary as well as in prayers and hymns, and it occurs in diverse written and spoken forms, such as, for example, "Yahweh", "Yahwè", "Jahwè", "Jave", "Yehova", etc. It is therefore our intention, with the present letter, to set out some essential facts which lie behind the above-mentioned norm and to establish some directives to be observed in this matter.<br /> <br />2. The venerable biblical tradition of Sacred Scripture, known as the Old Testament, displays a series of divine appellations, among which is the sacred name of God revealed in a <em>tetragrammaton </em>YHWH <em>(hwhy)</em>. As an expression of the infinite greatness and majesty of God, it was held to be unpronounceable and hence was replaced during the reading of sacred scripture by means of the use of an alternate name: "Adonai", which means "Lord".<br /><br />The Greek translation of the Old Testament, the so called <em>Septuagint</em>, dating back to the last centuries prior to the Christian era, had regularly rendered the Hebrew <em>tetragrammaton </em>with the Greek word <em>Kyrios</em>, which means "Lord". Since the text of the Septuagint constituted the Bible of the first generation of Greek speaking Christians, in which language all the books of the New Testament were also written, these Christians, too, from the beginning never pronounced the divine <em>tetragrammaton</em>. Something similar happened likewise for Latin speaking Christians, whose literature began to emerge from the second century as first the <em>Vetus Latina </em>and later, the <em>Vulgate </em>of St Jerome, attest: in these translations, too, the <em>tetragrammaton </em>was regularly replaced by the Latin word "<em>Dominus</em>", corresponding both to the Hebrew <em>Adonai </em>and to the Greek <em>Kyrios</em>. The same holds for the recent <em>Neo-Vulgate</em>, which the Church employs in the liturgy.<br /> <br />This fact had important implications for New Testament Christology itself. When in fact, St Paul, with regard to the crucifixion, writes that "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name" (Phil 2:9), he does not mean any other name than "Lord", for he continues by saying, "and every tonne confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil 2:11; cf, Isaiah 42:8: "I am the Lord; that is my name"). The attribution of this title to the Risen Christ corresponds exactly to the proclamation of his divinity. The title in fact becomes interchangeable between the God of Israel and the Messiah of the Christian faith, even though it is not in fact one of the titles used for the Messiah of Israel. In the strictly theological sense, this title is found, for example, already in the first canonical Gospel (cf. Matthew 1:20: "the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream"), and one sees it as a rule in the Old Testament citations in the New Testament (cf. Acts 2:20: "the sun shall be turned to darkness ... before the day of the Lord comes (Joel 3:4); 1 Peter 1:25: "the word of the Lord abides for ever" (Isaiah 40:8)). However, in the properly Christological sense, apart from the text cited in Philippians 2:9-11, one can remember Romans 10:9 ("if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"), 1 Corinthians 2:8 ("they would not have crucified the Lord of glory"), 1 Corinthians 12:3 ("no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit") and the frequent formula concerning the Christian who lives "in the Lord" (Romans 16:2; 1 Corinthians 7:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:8; etc).<br /><br />3. Avoiding pronouncing the <em>tetragrammaton </em>of the name of God on the part of the Church has therefore its own grounds. Apart from a motive of a purely philogical order, there is also that of remaining faithful to the Church's tradition, from the beginning, that the sacred <em>tetragrammaton </em>was never pronounced in the Christian context, nor translated into any of the languages into which the Bible was translated.<br /><br />II. Directives.<br /><br />In the light of what has been expounded, the following directives are to be observed:<br /> <br />1. In liturgical celebrations, in songs in prayers the name of God in the form of the <em>tetragrammaton </em>YHWH is neither to be used or pronounced.<br /><br />2. For the translation of the biblical text in modern languages, destined for the liturgical usage of the church, what is already prescribed in n. 41 of the Instruction <em>Liturgiam Authenticam </em>is to be followed; that is, the divine <em>tetragrammaton </em>is to be rendered by the equivalent of <em>Adonai/Kyrios</em>: "Lord", "Signore", "Seigneur", "Herr", "Senor", etc.<br /><br />3. In translating, in the liturgical context, texts in which are present, one after the other, either the Hebrew term <em>Adonai </em>or the <em>tetragrammaton </em>YHWH, Adonai is to be translated "Lord" and the form "God is" is to be used for the <em>tetragrammaton </em>YHWH, similar to what happens in the Greek translation of the Septuagint and in the Latin translation of the Vulgate.<br /><br />From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, June 29, 2008.<br /><br />+ Francis Card. Arinze<br />Prefect<br /><br />+ Albert Malcolm Ranjith<br />Archbishop Secretary<br /></blockquote>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-12685668785735914002008-05-24T23:07:00.004+10:002008-05-24T23:33:38.840+10:00Thomas Aquinas' Corpus Christi Sequence Lauda SionBig dilemma at the moment. I am on music in my local parish tomorrow morning. Its Corpus Christi and the question is: Do I dare to sing <a href="http://romaaeterna.jp/liber2/lu0945.html" target="_blank">the Sequence, <em>Lauda Sion</em></a>?<br /><br />Now, <em>Lauda Sion</em> is a very tricky text. There are a few English translations (<a href="http://miparroquia.galeon.com/Ciclos/Ciclo_A/Uk_A/Cycle_A_uk.htm" target="_blank">The one in the missal</a> is dreadful, but this <a href="http://musicasacra.com/forum/?PostBackAction=Download&AttachmentID=50">one is better</a>).<br /><br />The problems are principally the following:<br /><br />1) it is extremely long (24 verses!)<br /><br />2) the 8.8.8 metre is unusual, and it goes pear-shaped at verse 19 (8.8.8.8) and then again at verses 23 and 24 (8.8.8.8.8)--so there are no well known tunes to sing it too<br /><br />3) None of the English translations are modern, and some are really twee (eg. "the very music of the breast") or tortured ("We break the Sacrament; but bold / and firm thy faith shall keep its hold; / Deem not the whole doth more unfold / than in the fractured part resides") or simply grating ("the bread for God's true children meant, that may not unto dogs be given"--I know the biblical allusion, but can one actually sing this?)<br /><br />4) No Catholic hymnal I possess has any setting of it at all, not even the Adoremus Hymnal (I did find a translation to the original Gregorian tone in the New English Hymnal and a paraphrase by Alexander Ramsay Thompson in the Australain Lutheran Hymnal). <br /><br />Given all this, it is no wonder that no one knows the damn thing. Yet the Liturgy Office of England and Wales lists it in their draft "<a href="http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/AYWL/Corerep.pdf" target="_blank">Core Music Repertoire</a>" (which is quite a neat document in itself).<br /><br />Now, here's the rub. Do I dare to sing it tomorrow morning? My parish priest usually likes a bit of music or something solo during the offertory instead of a hymn, so this would be a perfect opportunity to stick it in as a solo piece. In Latin? Or in English? <br /><br />PS. While doing this blog, <a href="http://miparroquia.galeon.com/Ciclos/Ciclo_A/Uk_A/Cycle_A_uk.htm" target="_blank">I came across this Spanish(?) site</a> that has all the missal texts for the Sundays of this year on it in easy printing PDF form. Check it out!Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-58606430793899485942008-05-15T14:00:00.007+10:002008-08-01T19:45:29.919+10:00"Festival of Joy": A Corpus Christi Hymn to a tune by my daughterMy daughter has written a tune which she wants to play at mass. It is a little repetative, but very simple, despite its rather odd metre: 667.667.77.667. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOyJPW-QQhkVXSUNRhdUiKtTKxgVpAvI0QmxwO84qAvUHxelvqkJVJV_jrDcSGMb1NIY67A-jqnlxAkXjYZ93RnVZtuzAu9IKuwvWXFkEpp9NNUqChEUo9idYjXyBEqxZ854IluCdUPaY/s1600-h/Festival+of+Joy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOyJPW-QQhkVXSUNRhdUiKtTKxgVpAvI0QmxwO84qAvUHxelvqkJVJV_jrDcSGMb1NIY67A-jqnlxAkXjYZ93RnVZtuzAu9IKuwvWXFkEpp9NNUqChEUo9idYjXyBEqxZ854IluCdUPaY/s400/Festival+of+Joy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229482999208527762" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Festival of Joy</strong><br /><em>A hymn for Corpus Christi<br />By David Schütz to a tune by Madeline Schütz-Beaton (667.667.77.667)</em><br /><br />1. Come, all those who labour!<br />Come, all who are weary!<br />Come, find comfort and relief!<br />Here God welcomes you and <br />Here God gives salvation<br />At the table of the Lord.<br />Here the weary find their rest.<br />Here the hungry will be fed.<br /><br /><em>Chorus: </em><br />In this heav'nly banquet,<br />In this marriage feast, yes,<br />In this festival of joy.<br /><br />2. Here the angels gather,<br />Here the saints of heaven<br />Join the Church of God on earth.<br />Here God gives his riches,<br />Here the Fount of Wisdom<br />Pours his grace for all the world.<br />Heav'n and earth are joined as one<br />In the wedding of God's Son. <em>(Chorus)</em><br /><br />3. Come, repentant sinners,<br />Come, all faithful Christians<br />Take the body of the Lord.<br />All who thirst for justice,<br />All who hope for heaven,<br />Drink the chalice of his blood.<br />Come, O Lord, our faith renew.<br />Come and make us one in you. <em>(Chorus)</em>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-34632643674304722262008-05-14T16:40:00.001+10:002008-05-14T16:41:50.748+10:00Archbishop Coleridge on Church MusicHT to <a href="http://cumgranosalis70.blogspot.com/2008/05/archbishop-coleridge-on-liturgy.html">Peter</a>and to <a href="http://regensburgconspiracy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Athanasius </a>for putting me onto <a href="http://www.cg.catholic.org.au/_uploads/rsfil/00724.pdf" target="_blank">this statement by Archbishop Coleridge (late of Melbourne) to his flock in Canberra-Goulburn</a>.<br /><br />His comments on language are spot on (as one would expect from someone working directly on the new translations for the English missal):<blockquote>When the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council approved the use of the vernacular languages in the liturgy, they had no idea of what was on the way. They imagined that some parts of the liturgy would move into English (in our case), but that Latin would remain in general the language of worship. ...[I]t seemed that the Church went from Latin to English overnight. Some in the Church have continued to worship in Latin – as is their right – but most are happy to have moved into English. At the same time, it does not have to be a stark choice of one or the other. In the Cathedral [in Canberra] at least...the Kyrie is sung at times in Greek, and the Common of the Mass, the Gloria and the Creed are sung at times in Latin. Similarly some of the great hymns of the Gregorian repertoire – especially the Marian anthems – are sung at times. It would be a pity if such a heritage were wholly lost to us.</blockquote>To be sure!<br /><br />His comments on music generally are certainly noteworthy:<blockquote>Some of the texts used are also decidedly feeble and even at times questionable theologically. <em><strong>[He can say that again!]</strong></em> Historically, the Roman Rite used only the Psalms in the Eucharistic liturgy: hence the Entrance and Communion Antiphons which were sung with the Psalms and accompanied the Entrance and Communion Processions. <strong><em>[And it is a great pity that we do not today have a way of singing these properly.]</em></strong> ...I might add that the Holy See has asked Bishops’ Conferences around the world to draw up a list of music approved for use in worship. This is part of a pruning process of the repertoire that has built up over the last forty years, and it is already taking place in Australia.</blockquote>Yes, I know that this process is continuing, in fact, I have often dropped in on the meetings of the Australian committee to whom this work has been charged. This little group of three meets here in the same building in which I work, and believe me, they have their work cut out for them. They are attempting to do two tasks: First, to draw up a draft list of song for the Bishops according to the Holy See's request; and Second, to come up with a new hymnody resource for the Australian Churches. One of the members told me especially of the frustration of there being so few really decent hymns and songs for the Entrance and Communion. We will all experience this dearth in the next few weeks at the Feast of Corpus Christi (I am on music for that day in my parish, and believe me the choice is not good...)<br /><br />But I do wonder about this comment from the good bishop:<blockquote>It is worth recalling too that singing or music should not be prolonged unnecessarily. In the Roman Rite, singing or music tends to accompany action rather than stand in its own right. Therefore, the music or singing should stop once the action is complete.</blockquote>Well, maybe. Depends on the hymn. Some hymns don't make sense if you stop it after verse two, when all verses are integral to the sense of the whole. On the other hand, I did have this experience at mass yesterday when we were singing Farrell's "Praise to you, O Christ our Saviour" for the Entrance--it did go on too long and could have been cut down. <br /><br />I might pick up a couple of Archbishop Mark's other points later in the day, but for the moment, here is a question Athanasius suggested I pose for you all. If you were making a list of hymns to be sent to the Holy See, which would you insist were put in and which would you insist were left off (ie. FORBIDDEN!). That's a big question, so limit yourselves a bit, eh?Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963254106499324743.post-82945233222703222872008-05-05T11:07:00.009+10:002008-05-05T12:02:06.246+10:00Too much new music for World Youth Day?I am slowly catching up with the news about various musical bits and pieces that are being prepared for World Youth Day. You have read my opinion of the <a href="http://singlustily.blogspot.com/2007/07/world-youth-day-song-receive-power.html" target="_blank">World Youth Day theme song</a>. I had a little foretaste of the feast divine in this regard at the handover ceremony for the Cross and Icon in St Patrick's Cathedral here in Melbourne, when Guy Sebastian himself sang it. I think the "Alleluia" bit will go down real well, but the rest of it? I am still doubtful...<br /><br />I am a little more enthusiastic however over the Mass setting <a href="http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/parishes_schools/wyd08_mass_setting" target="_blank">Missa Benedictus Qui Venit</a> (a clever title!). It uses the new English translations of the liturgy intersperced with Latin. It's quite singable and musically pleasing. My only real beef is that no-one seems to be using it around the traps beforehand (not even for official pre-WYD events) so that when we all turn up on the day we can all join in rather than just listen to the choir sing it.<br /><br />But today I really must say that I groaned when confronted with the song which will be used for the Entrance Procession at the WYD Papal mass. Composed by Chris Willcock SJ for a text by Andrew Hamilton SJ (both local Melbournians), it is a bit sad.<br /><br />Now Chris is an excellent musician, and a great composer. I use a lot of his music myself, and know that it is used extensively in many non-Catholic churches too. The music for this piece is, well, let's just say "so-so", but the real worry are the words, which I will get to in a moment.<br /><br />First, I have just mentioned the problem of unfamiliarity with the Mass Setting. AND TAKE NOTE: the Mass setting is provided FREE for download from the WYD website (see link above). BUT the Willcock/Hamilton song <a href="http://www.ocp.org/songs/78440" target="_blank">can only be obtained from OCP </a>(Willcock's publisher) AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! Now, I know workers are worth their pay, but really, couldn't the WYD office have made some sort of arrangment here?<br /><br />So, to the words. I haven't bothered to buy a copy of the music (I am a skin-flint) but here is a transcript of the snippet that was on the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/stories/2008/2206009.htm" target="_blank">Religion Report on 2nd April 2008</a> (Podcast no longer available). chorus is simply one fairly meaningless phrase repeated over and over again:<br /><blockquote><em>Chorus</em><br />Spirit whisper, Spirit shout!<br />Spirit whisper, Spirit shout!<br />Spirit whisper, Spirit shout!</blockquote><div align="left">Whatever else might be said about this chorus, it is poetically and imaginatively <em>lazy</em>. "Spirit whisper, Spirit shout" is a catchy phrase, but fairly devoid of content. It wants more said. Whisper/Shout what? Whisper/Shout to whom? After singing it three times, and then as a chorus over and over again, it just becomes boring. There is nothing here for the mind, and thus the heart, to latch on to.<br /><br />The Chorus is followed by a fairly unimaginative text based on John 14: </div><blockquote><em>Verse:</em><br />Christ our Way, Christ our Truth, Christ our Life.<br />Come in power to guide our way.<br />Come in power to teach the truth.<br />Come in power to shape our lives.</blockquote><div align="left">It's not that there's anything wrong with this doctrinally, of course, as it is simply regurgitation of a scripture passage that has been "lightly chewed". But once again, not even at the level of a Year 9 secondary school student's poetry. Surely a Jesuit is capable of a little more "imaginative meditation" than this?<br /><br />I think we need to ask ourselves what has happened in the church when the level of hymn writing has sunk so low. I have my own theory on this. As I have suggested above, I believe that we have such poor content in our hymns because we have such poor reflection upon the content of our faith. Scripture is used ad nauseum in our modern hymns--but rarely is there any sign that the hymnist has reflected deeply upon that scripture--"chewed the cud" so to speak--before handing it back to us in the form of a song.<br /><br />Hymnody should be more than throwing notes at passages ripped (plagiarised?) from Scripture.<br /><br />Well, I reckon, anyway. </div>Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.com5