Contents: As Morning Breaks; Be With Me, Lord; Canticle Of Zachary; How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place; I Have Loved You; Just Like A Deer; Like Burning Incense; The Lord Is Near; On Eagle?s Wings; Our Blessing Cup; Praise His Name; This Is The Day; To You, O Lord; A Voice Cries Out; With The Lord; You Are Our Living Bread.
Composers of some of the most beloved liturgical music ever written, the group—Dan Schutte, Tim Manion and Jesuit Fathers Roc O’Connor, John Foley and Bob Dufford—has come together to produce Morning Light, a reunion collection of hope-filled songs for Sunday liturgies, funerals, retreats, prayer services and other celebrations.
Featuring 12 newly written songs, three by each member of the group (except Manion), this collection proves they still have it. They still have that uncanny ability to set Scripture-based texts to beautiful, accessible, innovative melodies that fit and enhance the liturgy—and touch the hearts of today’s worshipers.
But this is no copy of their previous work. Reflecting 20 years of spiritual and musical growth, these new compositions have a depth, maturity and humility that modern assemblies will appreciate. Of course, the world around them has also changed. Concerned for the “dark clouds” and discouragement they see, the group determined to write music filled with “the hope we have been called to.”
Suitable for gathering, preparation of the gifts, Communion, sending forth and other parts of the liturgy, the songs cover a variety of themes, including trust in the Lord, discipleship, light, hope, love and praise. Highlights include “Gather the People,” by Dan Schutte. A spirited, syncopated entrance hymn, it builds slowly toward a grand, full-choir finale that can’t help but draw the entire assembly—“the greatest and the least”—into full participation. Featuring gentle violin and acoustic guitar parts and based on a text by St. Augustine, “O Beauty, Ever Ancient,” by Roc O’Connor, challenges us to find renewal and “new life” in God.
“Behind and Before Me,” by Bob Dufford, is an exquisite setting of Psalm 139. Spiced with well-balanced parts for guitar, flutes, strings and choir, it reassures us of God’s intimacy—and recalls our limited ability to grasp it. Opening with a lovely prelude for trumpets, “Teach Us to Pray,” by John Foley, invokes the Holy Spirit’s help in prayer and all we do. Inspired by Romans 8, this simple hymn is a timely reminder that “all things work for good.”
Recorded with an excellent choir and impressive keyboard, wind, percussion and string accompaniment, the CD makes for inspirational and prayerful listening, besides being an excellent rehearsal tool. The composers take turns on lead vocals. Though not contributing to the composing effort, Tim Manion lends his familiar voice and plays guitar on nearly every song.
Just as sunlight in the morning dispels the darkness of night, so Morning Light uplifts and encourages—through both text and melody—offering hope in a sometimes dark and troubled world. Infused with the genius, faith and maturity of these legendary composers, it’s destined to be yet another in their long line of classic and best-selling collections. OCP Publications 2006 Quantity
Click link above for list of all songs.
Contents: Are Not Our Hearts?; Celebrate God; Do You Really Love Me?; Giant Love Ball Song; God Is Our Father; Got To Get In Touch; Great Things Happen; Happy The Heart; Hi God!; His Banner Over Me Is Love; I Believe In The Sun; I Like God’s Love; Joy, Joy, Joy; Listen, Listen; Love That Is Kept Inside; Oh, How I Love Jesus; Only A Shadow; Peace Time; Reach Out; Rejoice In The Lord Always; Song Of Baptism; Thank You, Lord; The Joy Of The Lord; The Spirit Is A-Movin’; What Color Is God’s Skin?; What Makes Love Grow? Quantity
Begun more than 30 years ago, the popular Hi God series keeps getting better. The latest volume presents 17 energetic new songs for children and young people in grades 1-9.
More music for grades 6-9 than any previous Hi God volume Offering more music for grades 6-9 than any previous Hi God volume, the collection includes several songs for confirmation. Students in the upper grades will especially enjoy "Never Too Young," the title track from OCP's new middle school resource. This catchy, rock-style song affirms that no one is too young to serve and preach the Gospel.
Songs: A Holy Song of Joy All that God Wants You to Be Candles of Advent Children, Go Where I Send Thee Day by Day by Day Give Us this Day Our Daily Bread God's Great Circle God's Shining Stars Holy Table, Holy Bread Images of You, O God Let Us Go Rejoicing Lord, throughout These Holy Days Never Too Young Praise God, All You on Earth Stir into Flame the Gifts of God The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation (Psalm 27) This Bread, This Wine Quantity
Contents: All Shall Be Well; As A River Of Light; The Beautiful Mother; Come To The Water; The Cry Of The Poor; Earthen Vessels; For You Are My God; God Send Out Your Spirit; Halleluia, Bless The Lord; I Will Sing Of The Lord; Little Heart Of Ages; The Lord Is Come; May We Praise You; One Bread, One Body; Our God Has Done Great Things; Peace Prayer; Redeemer Lord; Who Has Known."
We cannot truly celebrate the mystery of Christ without also celebrating the mystery of the church, sent as sign and instrument of his risen presence to the world. This is the thread running through Bob’s new collection, Holy Is the Temple. It is intended both for regular Sunday liturgy and special occasions such as the dedication or anniversary of a church. In either context, this music invites the assembly to embrace anew its mission as the Body of Christ.
The 16 original songs in Holy Is the Temple reflect a diversity of styles, including hymnody, chant, contemporary and world music. Bob has written new settings for the Sprinkling Rite, Gloria, Alleluia, Lamb of God and several psalms. This inspired music can be used for gathering, preparation, communion and sending forth, as well as the specific components of the rite of dedication. Contents:
Song selected for papal Mass at World Youth Day 2008 The collection generated considerable buzz long before its release. In summer 2007 WYD organizers got wind of Christopher's new work. Eventually, they selected "Spirit-Power" to be the gathering song in one of the papal liturgies.
Songs: Who Did You See? Come and Heal Us En Todo Amar Friends in the Lord Gifts of the Spirit Lead Us Home, Lord O Veni, Sancte Spiritus Praise to Christ Spirit Power The Hope You Have in You The Way There Is Nothing Told Whence Comes This Fire? Quantity
Expressing a striking variety of styles, the 16 titles include ritual music, Gospel acclamations, responsorial psalm settings, strophic hymns, an ostinato refrain recalling the Taizé chants, a chant in an African style and a moving piece for Good Friday.
The St. Thomas More Group: Stephen Dean, Peter Jones, Peter McGrail, Anne Quigley, Bill Tamblyn and James Walsh -- includes many of England's leading liturgical composers. Produced by Andrew Wright, the recording features an enthusiastic performance by a choir of young singers from Cambridge. Contents:
Go Before Us features three songs with texts by Australian poet Shirley Erena Murray. Bernadette wrote "Christ Beside Us" for the bicentennial celebration of the Ursiline Sisters of Jesus. Like Share the Light, this new collection welcomes participation by the hearing impaired by providing sign-language instructions for three songs.
Bernadette dedicated the title song to Jackie Birch (1965-2002), a school teacher and close friend of Bernadette's who died unexpectedly. Appropriate for funerals and other occasions when we pray for God's comfort and healing, "Go Before Us" is a soothing, hopeful song asking Jesus to "show us the way to our one true home." Contents:
