For the background to this site, please see About.
For Today...
'Bread of the world, in mercy broken'
Bishop Heber's words make a beautiful communion hymn when paired with Lancelot Hankey's lyrical tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMiuUOjuNhQ - the only recording of it on Youtube, as far as I know.(22/10/2024)
Recent links
'Ascribe greatness'
An old song that everyone still remembers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcv2K8GcqoA - live recording which doesn't hold back - from a Dales Bible Week.(21/10/2024)
'Glorious things of Thee are spoken'
Words by JH Newton, tune by FJ Haydn... unless you're one of those people who like to try and set Abbot's Leigh to everything it will fit. There are various versions of the words, with different edits and adjustments for archaisms.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY93NvyqOm4 - a 4 verse version. I'd not heard v3 before.(20/10/2024)
'The King of Love my Shepherd is'
My preferred paraphrase of this Psalm. HW Baker gets it right were the KJV gets it wrong.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_C0NqAXasE - piano and solo voice. A recording that (unlike others I've found) doesn't suffer from the problem of being too slow.(19/10/2024)
'Here is bread, here is wine'
Lovely Communion song by Graham Kendrick. I avoid using the written introduction though, preferring to give the congregation a more obvious cue.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHxVHUO_PU - Graham Kendrick album recording, complete with obligatory modulation.(18/10/2024)
'Jesus Christ I think upon'
Top-drawer Matt Redman song, which we tend to use pre-Communion. Nice with picked guitar, and/or electric piano.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTB1DX5cK0 - tending towards the upbeat in terms of interpretation.(17/10/2024)
'Behold The Lamb / Communion Song'
A Townend/Getty song. Can be used with half before communion and half afterwards.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACHPwx7EGQA - album recording.(16/10/2024)
'As we bring our songs of love today (How Long?)'
Passionate song of commitment, witness, and longing for justice.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CwxN7EqWGA - Live recording by and from Graham Kendrick.(15/10/2024)
'We walk His way (Ewe Thina)'
Lively and fun: even with a small congregation, you can get them singing the lower parts and then sing the melody over them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LHCN6-UrL4 - the album recording.(14/10/2024)
'Will You Come And Follow Me'
Deservedly well-known hymn from Bell and Maule, sung to Kelvingrove in compound time (though whenever I've heard it in Scotland, it's been played in simple time, as with the folk song).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o469PRLdbHU - album recording, nicely done, with a bit of a musical twist.(13/10/2024)
'Sing And shout for joy, Alleluia'
Simple but well-written all-age song of praise from Bernadette Farrell.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdvoZZHTRM - album recording.(12/10/2024)
'Give thanks to the Lord our God and King'
Well known Chris Tomlin song, with a good driving rhythm, and a "Sing Praise" bridge that never fails to catch out at least one in the congregation.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BSjxpiD2DU - Robin Mark's version of it, recorded live.(11/10/2024)
'He is exalted'
There's a tricky rhythm for the congregation to deal with at one point, but it's worth keeping in repertoire.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCAL9sULAEA - nice arrangement.(10/10/2024)
'Inspired by love and anger'
Refreshing but challenging words, and a good use for the tune 'Salley Gardens'. A good song, best used sparingly. And that last verse...
Amused in someone's kitchen, asleep in someone's boat,
attuned to what the ancients exposed, proclaimed and wrote,
a saviour without safety, a tradesman without tools
has come to tip the balance with fishermen and fools.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zijXIgMEg7c - solo male voice - and also missing the last verse.
(09/10/2024)
'Come let us Worship Jesus'
Plenty to do on keyboards in this one. I tend to start with piano sound and finish with the kitchen sink, stately on the organ. For a additional synth line in a big enough band, it's brilliant with the Charang.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mGR7QNm0Go - album recording (of live rendering).(08/10/2024)
'Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives'
I started playing this after hearing it once in the late 1970s, and I seem to have developed a slightly different harmonisation to everyone else! I prefer mine, naturally...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWt5z4G7F1A - an extended version(07/10/2024)
'Jesus is Lord! Creation's voice proclaims it'
A golden oldie that still comes up occasionally, either at funerals or in Sunday services.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=prEq8NOx3vs - multi-track recording: Gareth Moore sings and accompanies himself on the piano.(06/10/2024)
'All People that on Earth do Dwell'
Grand and stately Psalm 100, sung to 'Old Hundredth'.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=us2O62TTqYA - the Vaughan Williams arrangement, with its wonderful harmonic twists. (I have my own organ last verse arrangement for this, harmonies less wonderful but more riotous.)(05/10/2024)
'Jesus calls us here to meet Him'
A gathering song from the Iona Community, set to an old Hebridean melody.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ModYoPReYYw - Songs of Praise - just 3 verses - omitting the "communion" verse.(04/10/2024)
'For the Joys and for the Sorrows'
Useful and well written song - the sure touch of Graham Kendrick.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYxSXHgMFmg - Mr Kendrick himself - a 2011 recording of this 1990s song.(03/10/2024)
'O Sing to the Lord, O Sing God a New Song'
A four-liner from Brazil, which we sing in English. Works well on guitar.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2kgCbhljOA - on piano and with a lot of extra verses.(02/10/2024)
There is an RSS feed for today's song
