Monday, July 22, 2013

A couple of great songs...a couple of simple ideas

A subject that could always bear repeating, I think, has to do with ‘how we as liturgical musicians play songs at mass.’  One of our favorite communion songs at Saint Ann’s is Josh Blakesley’s “We Come to You.” (spiritandsong.com)  Great melody, great text, very ‘fresh’ sounding.  Here is an example of keeping it simple: piano and vocals for the first verse and refrain, with acoustic in the refrain as well.  Notice how you can really hear the assembly singing. Also, notice the long period of silence before the music started.  It really helps to set a prayerful tone.

The way we treated the music was not anything ‘new’ or earth-shattering, but it was sensitive to the moment.  Think about how you approach songs at liturgy.  Don’t just copy the recording of the songs you play. Those arrangements may not be appropriate or even realistic for the liturgical needs at the time.

Here’s another example of a very simple idea in another great song, “Everlasting God” by Brenton Brown and Ken Riley (Thankyou Music)  This very short excerpt simply shows how we dropped out everything but the drums in one section of the song.  Again, a simple thing to do, but it has an effect.  Anytime you can let the assembly hear themselves sing, it’s a good thing.’ 

Again, nothing ‘new’ or earth-shattering, but it was effective.  (and it sounds cool!)  Have fun arranging!






Song Ideas for Sunday, 8/4/2013


Here are some song possibilities and suggestions for 
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C


*Above All by Le Blanc/Baloche (Integrity) - (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

*All I Need by Brewster/Chambers/Houghton/Booth (Integrity) - (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

Breathe on Me, O Breath of God by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – (from the CD “Hymns”)

Enough by Tomlin/Giglio (worshiptogether.com)

For Your Glory by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) – (from the CD “Overflow”)

I Am the Way by Craig Colson (WLP) – (from the CD “I Am the Way”)

*If Today You Hear the Voice of God by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – (from the CD “The Face of God”)

Jesus, My Everything by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) – (from the CD “Welcome to Life”)

*More Love, More Power by Jude delHiero (Vineyard) - (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

My Reward by Paul Baloche (Integrity) – (from the CD "Offering")

*Nothing by Chris Rice (Word) - (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

Prosper the Works of Our Hands by Booth/Jansen/Tomaszek (spiritandsong.com) – (from the CD "Give God the Glory")

Take My Life by Tomlin/Giglio (worshiptogether.com)

*We Will Serve The Lord by Rory Cooney (OCP) – (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

*You are My All in All by Dennis Jernigan (Shepherd's Heart Music) - (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

We Come to You by Josh Blakesley (spiritandsong) – (from the CD "Waiting")


* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Some Simple Melodies...

I know I say this all the time...but I just love to hear the assembly sing.  A simple, moving song can really help draw people into singing wholeheartedly.  I thought I'd share two songs from this past week at my parish.  We sang them at all the masses, but these two clips are from the 6:00pm mass.

Lord, You Have the Words (Bolduc) - WLP 
This is probably the easiest refrain to sing that I have ever composed. Something about it, though, seems to really work. There are no harmonies on the refrain at all; it's all unison. The whole thing works well with a 'hushed' tone, until verse 3 where it can get pretty strong.

 
 
 
 
Every time we do this song...seriously...people come up and ask about it.  The verse melody is practically one note!  One note!  Yet, it's amazingly beautiful with the simple, yet colorful, chord changes underneath it all. The song really seems to build to perfectly from the Pre-Chorus ("You are worthy") right into the refrain.  Give this song a try...keep it simple...and I think your assembly will love it! I know it's available at CCLI.com, and the above link takes you to Paul's leadworship.com website.



Friday, July 12, 2013

Song Ideas for Sunday, 7/28/2013

Here are some song possibilities and suggestions for 
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

*Answer Me by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – (from the CD We Are Faithful)

As It Is in Heaven by Matt Maher (spiritandsong) – (from the CD Overflow)

Blessed are You, Lord by Jackie Francois (spiritandsong) – (from the CD Your Kingdom Is Glorious)

*Here I Am by Tom Booth (spiritandsong) – (from the CD The Best of Tom Booth)

Let Me See Your Face by Tom Booth (spiritandsong) – (from the CD Change Me)

Taste and See by Steve Angrisano (spiritandsong) – (from the CD Welcome Home)

The Beatitudes by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – (from the CD Word for Word, found in the collection More Voices As One vol. 1) – see this blog post about suggestions for performing this song.

We Come to You by Josh Blakesley (spiritandsong) – (from the CD "Waiting")

With the Lord by Michael Joncas (OCP)

You Answered Me by Matthew Baute (WLP) – (from the CD Hold Me, Lord, found in the collection More Voices As One vol. 1)

*You Answered Me by Aaron Thompson (WLP) – (from the collection Voices As One vol. 2, CD# 4 Forever Will I Sing)

* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts.

Monday, July 8, 2013

To improvise or not...that is the question.

Last week I was singing Tom Booth’s “Be With Me, Lord” at a funeral Mass. I seldom look at the music anymore when I sing that song; I know it so well. This time, for whatever reason, I had the music open and decided to ‘read it’ while I played and sang it. I sang it exactly as it was written, for a change! I had one of those moments like, “Oh yeah! Now I know why I first fell in love with this melody. It’s great!” Over time I have (apparently) improvised a lot while singing it, changing a note or two here and there, but this time I sang it the way I first heard it. It was sort of like pushing ‘reset’ on a song. It was pretty cool.

It really got me thinking…do I improvise too much on a melody, simply because I’ve sung it so many times and get bored with singing it the same way over and over? I wonder what the assembly thinks when they hear me do that?  

I mean, we are first attracted to songs because of the melody, right? When we hear one of our favorite songs on the radio, we are listening for those familiar notes and words. Isn’t that what makes you want to hear it over and over again? We don’t get bored with listening to our favorite tunes on CD’s or iTunes simply because the music never changes. In fact, we look forward to hearing it the same way. (I remember a comedian talking about hearing bands in concert and wanting to hear the songs 'just like the record.')

Everyone has heard the Star Spangled Banner sung at sporting events. For some reason, most people feel like they have to ‘dress it up’ to impress or make it better. The reality is (I think) that when people hear it sung really well…normally…they tend to clap and cheer louder because “that’s how it goes.”

‘Happy Birthday’ is ‘Happy Birthday’ because it’s, well…’Happy Birthday.’ You don’t change that song! (Okay, maybe not the best example, but you get what I’m saying. :-) )

I am NOT saying that we shouldn’t improvise…of course we should. That’s part of what makes musicians different from one another…the way we, as individual artists, sing and perform music. Maybe, though, we should save it for later in the song…after we’ve presented the ‘actual’ melody a few times. That’s sort of what we do on recordings. We sing it ‘as written’ for the first couple of verses and choruses, then ‘let it rip’ at the end.

It’s something to think about, at least. When people see ‘Be Not Afraid’ on the song list, they’re expecting to hear a certain melody (or ‘Amazing Grace,’ or ‘Ave Maria,’ etc.).

I don’t know. Thoughts? :-)

Friday, July 5, 2013

Song Ideas for Sunday, 7/21/13

Here are some song possibilities and suggestions for 
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

*Be Still for the Presence of the Lord by David Evans – (found in Voices As One vol. 1)

*Come, Now Is the Time to Worship by Brian Doerkson (Vineyard/CCLI) – (found in the collection “Voices As One vol. 2”)

Have No Anxiety by Ed Bolduc - (from Word for Word)
 
Hungry by Kathryn Scott (Vineyard/CCLI) 

I Am the Way by Craig Colson (WLP) – (from the CD “I Am the Way”)

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – (from the CD “Hymns”)

I Thirst by Danielle Rose (WLP) – (from the CD “I Thirst”)

I Will Choose Christ by Tom Booth (spiritandsong) – (from the CD “The Best of Tom Booth”)

In the Arms of Jesus by Angotti/Hommerding (WLP) – (from the CD “Extraordinary Love”) (also found in More Voices as One vol. 1)

*In You, O Lord by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – (from the CD “The Face of God”)

Sacred Silence by Booth/Pixler (spiritandsong) – (from the CD “Unravel”)

Soul of Christ by Lorraine Hess (WLP) - (from More Voices as One vol. 1)
 
We Come to You by Josh Blakesley (spiritandsong) – (from the CD "Waiting")

*We Will Serve the Lord by Rory Cooney (OCP) – (found in the collection Voices As One vol. 2)

Word of God, Speak by Millard/Kipley (Word/CCLI) – (as recorded by Mercy Me)
 
* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts.