Psalm - Fill Us With Your Love

The Responsorial Psalm this past Sunday was "Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy."  We sang a setting I had written a few years ago. It's ok. Not great, but nice enough, I think.  This week I thought I would share with you a typical way we arrange a Psalm for any Mass.

While I've tried many times to explain this in words, I thought I'd try something different this time. I've linked to a video of our 6:00 pm mass last Sunday night at Saint Ann's. As you watch the video (taken from a camera mounted under the balcony) a few of my comments will appear (text) describing what we are doing musically. Read the comments, but, more importantly...listen.  Listen to how the band waits to come in until the first verse. Listen to how the drums change feel from the verse to the Refrain. Listen how the vocals save the harmonies for the later refrains. And listen to how you can still hear the assembly singing over the band. You HAVE to be able to hear that.  If you don't, you're too loud. The assembly's voice is part of the band, choir, ensemble...CHURCH.

 

While I would have loved to have a flute or violin or trumpet that night, we didn't. It was a basic ensemble: drums, bass, guitar, piano, and 3 vocals. The key is that everyone played their instrument so that it complemented the others.  Little things can make a big difference. When you have a contemporary ensemble playing with you, it's so tempting to always start a song with everyone at once. However, as I've said before, it's much more effective to arrange creatively, sparingly...saving the full potential of the ensemble for the 'fuller' sections of the song.

So here is a simple, straightforward approach to presenting a simple song as the Responsorial Psalm.

Take note of the moment this occurs in liturgy: right after the first reading. There is…silence. Remember, you will introduce sound to this silence. Don’t jolt everyone out of their seats and scare them with a loud chord or drum fill!

 

I’ve also attached a portion of the music if you wish to follow along. (Feel free to use it as well. J)

DECEMBER 2, 2012 – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)

(These songs are off of my planning notes for this particular Sunday, which means I am strongly considering using them on these days. After each title I’ve added some thoughts to consider.)

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

Awake, O Sleeper by Ike Ndolo (spiritandsong) – this song starts simply, building from the beginning. "In the darkest times of life when our lights refuse to shine you are there."  A good medium-tempo song that works great at entrance, offertory, or closing. (From the CD We are the Beggars.)

Suggested use: Entrance/Gathering, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Dismissal

Awake to the Day by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – as it says in Luke's gospel this Sunday, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars."  The opening haunting piano figure sets a tone that draws the listener in. An assembly part in the verse helps make this a 'quick learn.' Be careful not to play the 6/8 time signature like a waltz! Listen to the recording. This song can be used throughout Advent. (From the CD Awake to the Day.)

Suggested use: Entrance/Gathering, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Dismissal

Come, Emmanuel by Deanna Light and Paul Tate (WLP) – This song has a recurring melody that ties the verses in with the refrain. Your assembly will love this piece and sing it! There are four verses for the various weeks in Advent. (From the CD Hope in the Lord.)

Suggested use: Song of Gathering/Entrance, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

Emmanuel, Come to Set Us Free by Jolanda Robertson (WLP) – a nice gospel-style advent song. The refrain can easily be sung by the assembly, while the verses offer the opportunity for some solo interpretations. The repetitive "Watching and waiting for you, O Lord," is a powerful build up to the last Refrain. This piece can be found in the new More Voices As One vol. 1. published by WLP.

Suggested use: Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

 

Find Us Ready by Tom Booth (OCP) – Verse one of this song states, "We must wait for the Lord for we know not the time." This assembly-friendly melody is set in a nice, steady gospel feel. As always with gospel style music, tempo is so important. Not too fast or too slow. Listen to Tom's recording. Start simply, building as you go. A single guitar or keyboard is all that is needed to draw people into singing. (From the CD Find Us Ready)

Suggested use: Entrance/Gathering, Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Traditional) – We only get to sing this song four Sundays out of the year! Your assembly will know it and they will treasure singing it. Consider D minor as an alternative to the typical E minor. Also, be careful not to get too creative with this one, particulary with the melody and the rhythms of the melody. The band can do some interesting things around it, but keep it pretty traditional.

 

Suggested use: Song of Gathering/Entrance, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

 

Ready the Way by Curtis Stephan (spiritandsong) – Beautiful assembly-friendly song that works well in almost every part of the mass. Strip it down to just piano or guitar, or play with a full band...it works great! (From the CD Amid Passing Things)

 

Suggested use: Song of Gathering/Entrance, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

 

We Await You, O Lord by John Angotti (WLP) – Check out this song by John Angotti, written to be performed with a band or choir...or both. "We await you, O Lord. We keep watching the darkness. You have promised the dawn." Again, the choir or soloists can lead the verses while the assembly comes in strong on the refrain. (From the CD Welcome Home for Christmas)

 

Suggested use: Song of Gathering/Entrance, Song of Preparation/Offertory, Second Communion

Please share your song ideas with me and I will post as many as I can so we can all share our knowledge of resources. Remember, what works for one parish might not work for another. We should be open-minded to all styles and preferences of music. As long as the music serves the liturgy, it may be listed here.