SongsforPraise.com

March 2, 2010      I have added Trumpet & French Horn to the Tube Bells, Timpani, & Pizzicat Strings of the Introit to "A Requiem.".

February 22, 2010    I have added Tube Bells to the Pia Jesu (Sweet Jesus) in "A Requiem.".
An important theological point is made here...That people seek or save our lives, but Jesus saves our souls...And yet I find myself praying for the health and well being of the people I love, as well as for their salvation.This is probably version 15 of :Sweet Jesus Take my Hand."  (See the full version with Handbells on the Site Map.)

February 19, 2010   I have added Tube Bells to the Offertory in "A Requiem.".

February 11, 2010    I have added orchestration to In Paradisum in "A Requiem.".

February 3, 2010     I am going through "A Requiem." with the intention of adding orchestration where I can. I changed the Offertory from a Bass chant to a choral (mostly) canon with Tube Bells.

January 14, 2010       I added the In Paradisum to "A Requiem." It's for A Cappella SATB. This would normally be the last song in a Requiem, but I am considering adding the Gloria Patri ending from "My Redeemer" in "Every Tribe & Tongue." Some think the Gloria Patri too joyous for a Requiem. I think we should feel whatever joy we can. In any case, it's easy to just leave it off if you wish. So far, all but the Introit are A Cappells. I am going to consider orchestration. I said at the start that this is a work in progress.
 
January 1, 2010         I added the Libera Me to "A Requiem." It is a chant / response for Bass solo & SATB. It's A Cappella, but I may add other instruments...perhaps an Organ.

December 22, 2009      I added a verse to the Pia Jesu.

November 26, 2009       I Added the Pia Jesu to "A Requiem." The words Pia Jesu can be translated to "Sweet Jesus," and that led me to use the chorale from my "Sweet Jesus Take my Hand" a modern Psalm © 1998. It is for A Cappella SATB, lowered a couple of tones, and slowed to Largo. I also revisedmuch of the counterpoit. Writing "Sweet Jesus..." is what started me into counterpoint.They are my words, and seem (to me) to fit as a Pia Jesu.

November 14, 2009        I Added the Sanctus to "A Requiem."  This Sanctus, © 2009, is dirived from "Holy, Holy, Holy" in my "A Mass For All Christians" © 1980 which evolved into "Every Tribe & Tongue" © 2003. It remains a cappella, but has a new arrangement, new counterpoint, is in Latin only, and is for a choir that can quietly sing in eight parts.

October 31, 2009         I added the Agnus Dei to "A Requiem." I should be working on the Sanctus to stay in order...but there it was in my head. It's my paraphrase.

October 28, 2009        I added the Offertory to "A Requiem." It is an a cappela Bass solo that I wish could be sung by Clarence Carlson, the great Bass soloist at Plymouth Church in the Seventies.   

October 7, 2009   Day after tomorrow I will turn 83, but who's counting. I continue writing  "A Requiem" and have completed the "Kyrie Eleison" for a cappella SATB in Greek, English, & Greek.

September 12, 2009   I just "graduated" from Hospice...Which means  means that I did notexpected. That puts me in a good position to begin writing a "A Requiem." So far, I have only the "Introit.". I intend to add each piece to this website as I complete it...Thus it is a wwork in progress.

March 25, 2009   After a ninty day dry spellm I have a new version of "Salvation is Created." for A Cappella SSAATTBB with a Bass solo. I added lyrics to Psaln 74 : 12 that make this a Christmas or Communion anthem.  I'm not Tschesnokoff, but this isn't bad.

November 7, 2008   I renamed "Lamb of God" to "The Lamb Cometh" because  it felt right.

October 25, 2008    I did a major revision to "Lamb og God"  That's what you do when you are tired of looking at the blank page. See January 8, 2008 below.

October 9, 2008 On mu 82nd birthday I added "Doxology in C" and refered visitors to six other Lesser Doxologies on this site that cap off and put a Christian stamp on anthems. This started as "Doxology in Am," but morped into "Doxology in C."

October 7, 2008 "O Come Let us Sing Unto The Lord" (Psalm 95), continues my journey through the Psalms. It is an anthem for A Cappella SATB. (I couldm't resist 3 chords in SSAATTBB.) I also have a version with Handberlls & Contrabass, and one with Organ. This is my first try at writing Organ music so I would welcome comments. This Psalm is followed with "Doxology in C" which is similar to, and has the same words as my "Doxology in Am" and may be sung seperatly..

080808 Can it be August 8, 2008?    "A Prelude to Prayer" adds a solom feeling to prayer. It is very short at 51 seconds, but is serious music for A Cappella SSAATTBB.

July 3, 2008      "Churches Along The Way" Back in 1980, I  thought about a recent trip to Niagara Falls and the image of the tourists in their yellow rain suits moving around the base of the falls. I was struck with the similarity between them and the people from the storefront churches picking through the wreckage of life to see who they could save. Twenty-eight years later, I am putting this in writing.

June 28, 2008   I finished "Bless The Lord, O My Soul" Psalm 103 using some of the lessons I learned from Michael Glasgow while writing the "Te Deum." I wrote it first for a cappella SATB, but added a Harp or Guitar part because it is a Psalm. I also tried a new (for me) way to use the MIDI Pan Control. The SA are at left. The TB are at right, The Harp is centered...exvept in measures 52-56 where it slowly moves from left to right to simulate the wind passing over. Listen with headphones.

May 30, 2008   I also took another look at the "Te Deum Laudamus," smoothed out some bumps in the counterpoint,  and looked at "Text Color" on keywords. I even threw in a ninth chord! I also removed the SATB - Organ version. This should really be sung A Cappella so the words can be understood.

May 27, 2008    I took another look at "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" and changed it from 4/4 to 3/4 time which puts the beat in the first note of the measure amd makes it easier to sing. I also looked at the way disonant chords add "color" to the text. (Even though couunterpoint takes pecedence over polyphony.)   

April 11, 2008    I finish an actual "Te Deum Laudamus." with lyrics from the fourth century furnished by Fr. John Matusiak, OCA. It's one of the most beautiful prayers, but long at 5 Min : 21 Sec, it gets some variaty by setting it in counterpoint with the Cantus Firmus shifting between the S, A, T, & B for each verse.

March 16, 2008    I expanded my "Prayer For Peace" bt asking for protection for the people that helped us in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that we elect leaders that will help us become a better prople and lead us in the path of peace.  

March 4, 2008      I admit that when I started writing music for "Holy God We Praise Thy Name," I thought it was the "Te Deum Laudamus."  It turned out to be a paraphrase of it...Written in German in 1774 by Fr. Ig­naz Franz, and translated into English by Fr. Clarence Alphonse Walworth. (1820-1900)  Though not literal, it preserves much of the spirit and force of the original...and it really lends itself to music. It's done here n counterpoint with the Cantus Firmus shifting between the S, A, T, & B.

Februrary 19, 2008    "Only Begotten Soa," also known as "Only Begotten Son and Word of God," was suggested by Father John Matusiak, OCA who sent me the lyrics by Emperor Justinian I, It is my first real try at writing in eight-part choral harmony. (Except for the last verse of "Recieve The Body of Christ," the Communion Offertory of "Every Tribe & Tongud." While looking at that, I changed to String Ensemble 2 and added MIDI Pan...Same notes but better sound.) I'd love to hear either sung by a choir that has the horsepower. If you do it, please send me a recording to use oon this site.

January 25, 2008      "The Cherubic Hymn" is another in my series of ancient hymns and texts set to modern music which may be more accessable to modern choirs.

January 8, 2008    "Lamb of God"    I had intended to write a song of praise to Almighty God, but found myself led into "The Agnus Dei," so I used what I had written as an introduction to the "Lamb of God" from "Every Tribe & Tongue, a Cantata on Communion" © 1980 & 2007. I stuck with the melody but revised it using triplets as in my introduction. I revised it again October 25, 2008. See "Every Tribe & Tongues" for "Lamb of God" for original with Harp or Guitar accompaniment.

November 9, 2007   Looking at "O Gladsome Light" has caused me to, once again, revise the opening.

October 31, 2007   "Hymn to The Holy Trinity." is thought to be the oldest written Christian Hymn. Thanks to Google, I now believe it to be from the Oxyrhynchus Papyri found in Egypt. I have written new music and freely adapted the lyrics from the M.L.West translation in "Ancient Greek Music."

October 9. 2007     On my 81st birthday I am adding “Agios O Theos.” (O Holy God) I am drawn  to the ancient hymns and texts, and enjoy setting them to new music. I have also added pages, pictures, and some updates. It's unseen, but I have also worked on Keywords and validating the html source code. Notice the "W3c Validated" tag at the bottom of each page.

Help me make this a better site by using some of my music in your church, and sending me recordings I can use here.

September 6, 2007   I am just finishing a change in “The Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23) which is number 7 in “Every Tribe & Tongue, a Communion Cantata.”

When I wrote it as part of “A Mass For All Christians” © 1980, I used the words from the “Grail Psalter” with the permission of G.I.A. Publications, Inc who managed the Copyright for The Ladies of The Grail, England. The Grail Psalms are written to the same rhythm as the original Hebrew, so they are easy to sing because the Psalms were written to be sung.

When I wanted to put this on my web site, G.I.A. was helpful, but unable to give permission. So, I looked into a number of other versions of Psalm 23 without finding one that fit my music. The RSV came the closest and has generous permission policies. http://www.ncccusa.org/newbtu/permiss.html I freely adapted it to fit the rhythms I wanted to use. I still had to write new music for all but the first line. I also revised the antiphon scheme between Leader and SATB. (All:) Now I have included on my site a brand new “The Lord is my Shepherd.” I think “The Grail Psalter” still has the best words, but C’est la vie. You can see my score and hear it as MP3 at Every Tribe & Tongue.   Here are my lyrics:

Leader:
    All:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
    He makes me lie in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters;
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness,
    for His name’s sake.
Though I may walk in the valley of darkness,  
    I fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your mighty rod, and Your staff,
    they comfort me.
You have prepared here a table before me,
    in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil,
    my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,
    all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD,
    for ever and ever.

………The Gloria Patri.………

Glory be unto Thee Father,
and to Thy Son and to Thy Holy Spirit.
    It was, it is, and ever shall be,
    world without end, Amen!