Song Suggestion: Blessed One

If you haven't discovered the song "Blessed One" by Aaron Thompson, yet, let me take this opportunity to introduce to you some of the reasons this has become my 'go-to' song for Marian feast days.  With this Sunday being Mother's Day, I thought it would be the perfect time.

It's a treasure to find a really good hymn-type song that holds its own in the contemporary style as it was originally written.  Some recent mentions on this blog have included "Be Still for the Presence of the Lord" (Evans), Christ in Me, Arise (Thomson), We Bring Our Gifts to Your Altar (Flynn) and a few others. Aaron Thompson's "Blessed One" fits beautifully as a simple hymn for a cantor and traditional choir, as well as a piece for contemporary band and 'worship team.'

To begin with, the text is original and beautiful. Reading through it, you can see how it is fitting for any Marian feast.

Blessed One
O bright Mother of mercy so pure and so brave,
We honor your virtue and dignity praise.
Every angel salutes you, the earth calls you blessed.
We look to you, Mother, for mercy and rest

Ave, ave, ave, ave, ave, ave, Blessed One!

God exalted you, daughter, and called you in time
To offer your womb To bring forth the divine.
You were willing to serve though you knew not a man.
You trusted in God and said “yes” to his plan.

Your consent to God’s Spirit was fruitful and free,
Accepting God’s Son in a great mystery.
For the Lord you remained ever-virgin in faith,
Delivered from doubt and assisted by grace.

Now we hail you, O daughter of mercy and light;
O pray we embrace peace and good, Love and right.
You are splendid, enthroned above moon, star, and earth.
O queen of the heavens, Your Son saved the world!
© 2005 Aaron Thompson. Published by World Library Publications.

LISTEN HERE

All four verses have exactly the same music, and, in fact, they are even stacked atop one another in the score- very much like a hymn. The melody is repetitious, but never seems to get 'old' or 'tiresome.'  (Even the refrain melody uses the same intervals.)

The refrain is simply beautiful. Aaron creatively uses the same melodic figure three times in a row, changing the chords beneath so it seems like you're not just repeating the same thing over and over. Still, at the same time, that's what makes it so incredibly easy to sing! Your assembly may have never heard this song before, but will be singing the refrain immediately.

Whenever I lead this song at a liturgy I always begin with a refrain first- just piano and voices...twice...then I go to the Introduction and play the song as written. It engages the assembly right away. They can then listen to Verse 1 (if they don't already know it) and join in on the Refrain directly following. Here is the 'map' I use:

Refrain (piano and vocals only...making the melody very easy to hear)
Refrain (adding harmonies and, perhaps, guitar)
Introduction (adding electric guitar, C or B-flat instrument, light cymbals)
Verse 1 (adding bass guitar, solo voice on melody)
Refrain (adding drums, vocal harmonies)
Verse 2 etc.

RESOURCES AND ARRANGEMENTS

This song is available as an octavo in print and digital format, in the Voices As One vol. 2 collection, and in the Love One Another wedding collection.

Instrumental parts are available in the following books:
Voices As One vol. 1 & 2 C Instrument Book
Voices As One vol. 1 & 2 B-flat Instrument Book
Love One Another C Instrument Book

A recording can be found on the following CDs:
10,000 Angels performed by Aaron Thompson
Surrender performed by Danielle Rose
Love One Another the Wedding Collection

May 26, 2013 – Most Holy Trinity

(Once again, I asked my fellow composers and friends to suggest some of their own songs they felt would work well for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.)

(Click on titles for links to their respective pages.)

Come, Holy Spirit by Tom Booth and Robert Fedducia (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Captured)

Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Second Communion)

Glory Be by Ed Bolduc (WLP) - (from the CD Word for Word)

Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Second Communion

God Is Love by Paul Melley (GIA) - (from the CD God Is Love)

Suggested use: Offertory, Dismissal

Holy, Holy by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) - (from the CD Every Day)

Suggested use: Offertory, Second Communion

Jesus Reigns by John Angotti (WLP) - (from the CD We Gather In Love)

Suggested use: Offertory, Dismissal

Let There be Light by Paul Melley (GIA) - (from the CD Humbled)

Suggested use: Entrance, Offering, Communion

Love Unfolding by Josh Blakesley (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Free)

Suggested use: Dismissal

Our God by Ed Bolduc (WLP) - (from the CD We are Faithful)

Suggested use: Entrance, Offertory, Second Communion

Prosper the Work of Our Hands by Tom Booth, ValLimar Jansen, and Tom Tomaszek (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Give God the Glory)

Suggested use: Offertory, Dismissal

Sacred Silence by Tom Booth (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Unravel)

Suggesgted use: Second Communion

Send Your Glory Down by Trevor Thomson and Tom Booth (spiritandsong) - (from the CD Christ in Me Arise)

Suggested use: Dismissal