September 9th, 2016
Dear Song Leaders,
Here is a beautiful and haunting gathering hymn from our own, crazy-talented Angela Morris.
The words are adopted from Psalm 72:6-7
Roll down like rain,
water the earth.
Shower the world
with justice and peace
from now till the moon is no more.
The song is performed with the shruti box in C (the silver setting). Here is a demo recording. Till the Moon is No More
Part of what makes it so deliciously haunting are the unexpected notes at the end of the first phrase (the first “till the moon is no more”). Make sure to practice these.
Here is the sheet music. Till the Moon is No More – Morris
Enjoy!
September 9th, 2016
Hey Song Leaders!
Here’s a beautiful lamp lighting song from our own, amazing Angela Morris.
The text is from Isaiah 42:16
The words are:
You turn the mountains to plains;
You turn the darkness to light.
This path I do not know,
But God, I know you are my guide.
You can here Angela’s demo of the song, along with teaching instructions here. This Path I Do Not Know
The sheet music is here This Path I Do Not Know – Morris.
Enjoy!
September 9th, 2016
Hello Song Leaders!
Here is a chant from the Taizé Community, a monastic order in Burgundy, France. We’ll use it as a lamp-lighting hymn, though there may be other uses for it too.
Here’s a YouTube recording of it. (We’ve reworked the words slightly to remove the male pronouns.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r64gcGMNhDE
You’ll notice . . . .
1) It has two parts, high and low. Try teaching the lower part first and then adding the higher part.
2) It sounds lovely in a round. After teaching the harmonies, you can break people up into groups for purposes of singing the round. You’ll want to study the entrance parts so you can cue folks at the right points.
3) Will perform it in C minor, one step lower than written so that the shruti can accompany (on the silver setting).
It may help you to look at the sheet music, which is linked here (with the tweaked lyrics we’ll be using). The Lord is My Light, Taize
Enjoy!
September 9th, 2016
“Come, Come Ye Saints” is a classic Mormon hymn.
The sheet music is here: Come, Come Ye Saints
And here’s a link to a piano version that illustrates the harmonies: https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/come-come-ye-saints?lang=eng
September 9th, 2016
This beautiful hymn was written by Thew Elliott with the struggles of LGBTQ people in mind. Of his work in the church, Thew has declared his intention “to free G-d from the traditional binds and symbols of hetero-patriarchy, and call the community into increasingly creative and responsible relationship with their Creator . . . Hymns are a place where our communal experience is simultaneously expressed and formed. As gathering communities work to create a more explicit welcome for those who have been disenfranchised, we need new words, new tunes. This need goads and inspires me.”
The sheet music is here: Spirit I Have Heard You Calling — Sheet Music
And here’s a demo on piano, in case you want to practice singing along.Spirit I Have Heard You Calling demo for singers
July 30th, 2016
Hi Song Leaders!
Here is a beautiful prayer song by Debbie Holloway. (Some of you have heard it.) It can be accompanied by the shruti box on the blue setting, and as you can hear on the recording, this lovely melody provides abundant opportunity for harmonies.
You can hear a recording of it here: My-Soul-Waits
Sheet music, if you’d like it, is here: My Soul Waits
Thank you, Debbie, for this beautiful addition to our repertoire!
July 12th, 2016
Hello Song Leaders!
Below you will find all the songs we’ll be singing from July 17-September 5, as we explore the foundations of St. Lydia’s theological identity throughout the summer!
Gathering Song
“Sing God’s Praises Glory Hallelu”
or
“Jesus We Are Gathered”
or
“Come, All You People”
Candle Lighting Song
“Come Light of Lights”
or
“Christ is Our Guiding Light,” Eric Law
Table Acclamation
“Summer Table Acclamation”
Prayer Song
Click here to choose a Prayer Song
Offering Song
“Caribbean Hallelujah”
Closing Hymn
O Praise to Thee My God This Night
or
Day Is Done
April 8th, 2016
Hello Song Leaders!
Below you will find all the songs we’ll be singing for our celebration of Pentecost (May 15 and 16) and several weeks following!
Gathering Song
“Come, Holy Spirit”
Candle Lighting Song
“Evening Lamps Are Lit”
Table Acclamation
“Summer Table Acclamation”
Prayer Song
Click here to choose a Prayer Song
Offering Song
“Know That God is Good,” sheet music
Closing Hymn
Come Down O Love Divine
March 31st, 2016
Squeezebox is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
Song Leaders and singers, here’s the place to find and practice ALL the music we’ll be singing during the season of Easter in 2016! Bookmark this page so that you can check in often to listen to the pieces and practice.
Gathering Song: “Kiev Alleluia”
Candle Lighting Song: “The Lord is My Light,” Lillian Bouknight
Eucharistic Prayer Setting: “Festive Table Acclamation,” Paul Vasile
Prayer Song: Song Leader’s Choice. A selection of songs may be found here.
Gathering Song at the Offering: “Mxadana Alleluia”
Closing Hymn: “Now the Green Blade Rises,” French Carol (April 3-18) or “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (April 24-May 9)
March 17th, 2016
We’ll sing I Cry to You in Weakness, written by our own Jake Slichter, on Palm Sunday and Palm Monday at St. Lydia’s as a Psalm Refrain
The words are drawn from Psalm 69:
“I cry out in my weakness,
My eyes are dim with waiting for my God.”
Sheet music is here.
The shruti box should be set on silver: a C and G.
