I found this helpful summary of music planning guides at the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. I updated some outdated links. Also see our TCS resources page here: topcatholicsongs.com/Resources

Music planning links by publisher

Publisher	Link	Fee
Liturgical Press	Free Downloadable Music Planner – updated quarterly Liturgical Psalter Index by Psalm Number	free
GIA	GIAplanner.net - weekly suggestions Note 3 options at right	$129/yr $39/yr free
	Quarterly Planning Pages	free
	Choral music weekly suggestions	free
	GIA Quarterly - planning magazine	see site for details
Liturgy Help	Liturgyhelp.com - comprehensive liturgical planning site – Available in Australia. No longer available in the United States through GIA.	see site for details
OCP	Support materials for your missal program Accompaniment books, resources for music and prayer, quarterly planning tools and more	see site for details
	Today's Liturgy - planning magazine (paper and electronic)	see site for details
	Liturgy.com - comprehensive liturgical planning site Free online planning guide: Liturgy.com Planner	$129/year free
WLP	AIM - planning magazine (paper or electronic)	see site for details

1st Verse:
Before I felt anywhere near being a good man.
I was in an inner hell filled with fear, and like I couldn't
do anything positive,
thinking it's ok to be sinning as long as my wallet's thick...
But truth is, to be winning, it's more like give to the poor and sick.
I heard the call and I was quick
to embrace the Lord. But to adjust from my past
took time, but with grace I started discuss what is ours...
And that's the love of Jesus Christ
Who's above and gives us the light...
 

A new track from Alexander John (lyrics) and Richard Schletty (performer). Hip Hop Remix is also included in post. Please take a few minutes to listen and comment.

What's Left Is Beauty 

1st Verse:
So we go on in this quest for answers
And hopefully do what's best by removing our spiritual cancer...
I don't know how love can't be the way
As I flow I hope you get to know me as I pray...
GOD's perfect design
Was worth the wait and time...
To be one of his children is more than one can ask for
As we build buildings and have fun that's doing a task and being more...
The way to the light may take time and patience 
And we may be in for a fight against the night but it all makes-sense...
These words touch the paper with heart
But the saviour is the real creator of the true art...
The freedom to be who we want to be
From preaching to teaching to basking in his glory
May seem like a task if you don't know the story
But when I asked him about the light I realised darkness was boring

Hook:
GOD knows us better than anyone else
This track is more like a letter and I'm using my heart felt 

2nd Verse:
As the road gets more and more of a bumpy-ride
I know the core of it all is nothing-but-nice
So as I must-sing on this mic
It's like I'm hustling for the light...
But truth is I'm aware and I bet you are too
If you feel blue just stare at the world and you may see something new...
I only want to be
What GOD intended from me
I'm not pretending when I say all I want to see is peace...
So as I put the mic down after a track 
I look around for a good bite in town, praise GOD, he's got our backs...
The best thing about love is it's free
To rest and know a King is looking over us when we might see a dove it was all meant to be...
So paradise isn't too far away
Beyond the cameras-and-mics is where I wanna lay
And everyday until that day I will continue to pray

The Everlasting

God is shrouded in history, in mystery.
Prior knowledge infuses me, confuses me.

[refrain]
The Everlasting ever casting
mystic shapes on humanscapes.
Love poured down on every frown.
Take me to a place of wonder,
free of all disgrace and blunder,
where the truth is in the here and now.

Sundogs dancing, blinding youth, refracting truth.
Search for pathways to heaven's door, to evermore... 
  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jGND4EUJPU

Hail Holy Mary

You gave us Jesus, who lives with us today

Spotlight on Scott Aitken (from Scott's profile posted here at Top Catholic Songs).

Scott Aitken: Producer / SingerSongwriter / Engineer / Former Frontman for Leap of Faith, Sacred Heart Production Studios.

From a 3.9 GPA at Full Sail University to a Full-fledged audio recording and production studio, Scott Aitken has run the gamut of the music industry. Whether running the sound board for Rock and Roll Hall of fame legend Dion or making on-stage appearances with world-famous Tony Melendez, Scott’s fluidity in audio-tronics has placed him at the cutting edge of sound engineering and composition. At the age of twelve, Scott’s Brother brought him a guitar, and with just a few strums on the battered instrument, Scott was hooked. At age 16 Scott had landed a recording contract, but at the age of 18 he decided his musical career would be better off in his own hands, due to the limitations of musical creativity that go along with being on a record label.

Scott then devoted himself to mastering his craft of both music and engineering. He formed the group Leap of Faith and his song...

I wish you are mine forever 
In my heart you are the only one
Look up to the cross when I feel lonely
You choose me from the moment I conceive 
Teach me the lesson of obedience
To the 10 laws of commandments 
Take me from places of poverty 
Raise me up in the house of the Father
Give me the treasure of chastity
To love brothers and sisters as ourselves.
 

CHORUS
Finding my tone, finding my voices
In the chaos world
Isolate all the noise around me
To listen to your words speak from heaven.

VERSE
From mother wombs I heard the voices
Echo in the water and blood of her womb
So gentle and care of mother nature world
For a child about to enter the world.

VERSE
Fear not my child, you being protected
From the moment you conceive in me
You are made by my blood and water from me
And your bone is from the man at heart.

VERSE
The moment you enter this world
The Father in heaven knows your name
Knows your voices for the world
Father knows even a hair on your head.

BRIDGE
Father knows his child conceive for the world.

A shorter version of our dedication to Mother Mary, which we most often sing as a recessional hymn

CHORUS
Finding my ground with you, my Lord.
When my heart is heavy in life
Carry my cross with you, Christ
Light up my life with burden of the world.

VERSE
Through suffering with you on the cross
You help me to carry my own cross
In my life so much trouble sins
Forgive me, my own sin upon the cross.

VERSE
I am too fall on my knees
Just as you, Christ, felt on your knees
On the way you carried the cross to Calvary
On my way of my life on earth.

VERSE
Rise me up upon the cross
As you are being rise on the cross
Forgive my sins as I am forgiving others
Together we seek for the cross.

I am trying to encourage participation by members of this site. Perhaps some significant structural changes are needed in the way posts and comments areas are presented. Perhaps it needs to be more like a Facebook interface. Not sure. I know that people experience Internet overload and "fatigue." My hope is that members here would make collaboration a priority. Maybe a live chat feed would engage people. 

Here is an example of songwriting collaboration: I helped Asiansa09 with his English translation of a prayer he learned as a child.

I like to post photos and 1-minute videos at Instagram. Instagram is a nice model of social networking. 

However, here at TCS, we need to dig deep into Catholic music making and spend some time reflecting, sharing and helping each other. We have a Forum area being neglected. 

Your suggestions for enlivening this site are most welcome!

In Christ,
Richard

See finished song here:
topcatholicsongs.com/enchristment-nguyen-schletty

CHORUS
I am on my knees
My eyes focus on you in your tabonacle
My heart close to you my Lord, Jesus Christ
In the moment of encharistment.

VERSE
My God, my Christ, whom present in my heart
I praise you, oh Lord, I worship you
In your present at the tabonacle
For me to be with you forever more.

VERSE
My God, my Christ, whom present in my mind
I pray with Mother Mary for virginity
And for others to receive your graces
For me to have faith in you throughout my life.

VERSE
My God, my Christ, whom present in the church
I pray for mom and dad to live a faithful life
Upon the Lord, Jesus Christ, in heaven with the Father
And loves brothers and sisters as self.

Details here: St. James Music Press $10 Anthem Program

May 10, 2017  - Our $10 Anthem Program 

Here are this week's $10 anthems. Another "summer choir" hit, and an SAB anthem that is just lovely!

Don't forget, if you have a summer choir, we have a whole collection of one-rehearsal anthems. (Look under "Collections.")

You may download these two without becoming a subscriber. If you choose to use one or both, the cost is just $10 (per-anthem please...) You can send us a check. Then make whatever copies you need and put it in your library.

Yes, it's the honor system. We trust you. Ten bucks.

Here are this week's offerings.

Remember - you'll have to log-in to view, listen and download these.

Sing a New Song - Michael Praetorius, arr.
Three-part canon with keyboard accompaniment. Easy, one rehearsal anthem that sounds great. A joyful arrangement of the famous Praetorius canon. Perfect for summer singing! Text based on Psalm 96.

Beautiful Savior - Robert Lee
SAB and piano or organ. A lovely, new setting of the hymn text "Fairest Lord Jesus." Tender and contemporary and one of our all-time favorites.

As a subscriber to SJMP, of course you can... 

CHORUS
I have seen water and blood flow from Christ's heart
The light radiate from the heart of our savior
To our brothers and sisters for generations.

VERSE
Messages from Christ to sister Faustina
For the love of humanity
Christ wants to illuminate his love for all
To draw every heart of mankind to himself
That he will show his mercy for every soul
Wherever Christ pictures displace.

VERSE
Message from Christ to sister Faustina
For the love of humanity
Christ shows himself to every soul
To whom sees the picture of Christ
Radian with his heart of light red and white
Represent blood and water flows from his heart.

VERSE
Message from Christ to sister Faustina
For the love of humanity
Christ will save souls who comes for his mercy
He shows souls who is sinful will see the lights of salvation
Upon his heart he shows his mercy for humanity
The flows of water and blood from Christ.

Details here: St. James Music Press $10 Anthem Program

April 19, 2017  - Our $10 Anthem Program 

Happy Easter! Now that the intensity of Holy Week has passed, we hope that you'll give our $10 anthem program a look!

We're still featuring two pieces each week that you may download without becoming a subscriber. If you choose to use one or both, the cost is just $10 (per-anthem please...) You can send us a check. Then make whatever copies you need and put it in your library.

THIS WEEK - we've added a handbell piece!

Yes, it's the honor system. We trust you. Ten bucks.

Here are this week's offerings.

Remember - you'll have to log-in to view, listen, and download these.

Come Down, O Love Divine - Roland Martin
This is the Pentecost anthem you've been waiting for! Fire in the organ part and a singable, easy choral setting incorporating Veni Creator Spiritus. SATB and organ. Now OPTIONAL brass and timpani parts, make this a stunning anthem for the Birthday of the Church! 

Wondrous Carillon - Mark Schweizer
For 3 octave handbells. Level 3. Includes the tunes Deo Gracias (O Wondrous Type, O Vision Fair) and What Wondrous Love Is This. Engaging effects including an optional C3 - Singing Bell note.

As a subscriber to SJMP, of course you can... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9dSOSh08Y4

Refrain:
On a cross You gave Your life
A ransom for my sin
A sacrifice amazing
New life for me to win
Jesus, let me comprehend
The gratitude I owe
For the great love You give me
And Graces galore

Sometimes I fail to listen
To Your voice in my heart
My selfish mind then reckons
And justifies my thoughts
Lord, I do regret my every sinful deed
Please, please forgive me
Humbly I plead

Refrain

Often I fail to spurn
the tempter’s call
Help me to see the burn
Of my nonsensical fall
Strengthen my resolve to live within Your love
Grant me Your blessings
From heaven above

Refrain

CCLI Australia Song No. 7024178

Here are two renditions of "Psalm 22: My God, My God," a responsorial psalm composed by Paul F. Page.

1) Psalm 22: My God, My God (Paul F. Page) – a richly layered demo by Paul with piano, woodwinds and two voices

2) Psalm 22: My God, My God (Paul F. Page) – a barebones demo by Richard Schletty with solo voice and arpeggiated guitar

Free sheet music and audio file links are below.

See numerous other free original liturgical music compositions by Paul F. Page – for  solo voice, chorus, piano and organ)

Published 3 April 2017 by Jeff Ostrowski at Corpus Christi Watershed:

This year's Symposium will be spectacular, and the response—from all over the world—has been overwhelming. The musical program, which is close to being finalized, almost seems a direct response to an article I wrote last January entitled True Vs. False Diversity. We have a bewildering variety of styles, and new works by famous composers will be revealed.

The Credo, arranged by Chaumonot, uses 14th-century polyphony by a Catholic priest named Guillaume de Machaut, who died in 1377AD:

    * *  PDF Download • CREDO based on Guillaume de Machaut

Fr. Machaut’s harmonies begin at the 0:28 marker:

TWO YOUNG LADIES IN HIGH SCHOOL, Sarah and Jacqueline, generously helped record the rehearsal videos for these 14th-century harmonies. Sing through each individual line (cf. #5984) because the power is revealed “horizontally.” We created the rehearsal videos to help choirmasters, who have such a difficult vocation! Just the other day, I was pondering how... 

Read full story at Corpus Christi Watershed