Let's Begin

1st Verse:
I try not to judge
But still cry when I love...
Even when it hurts I know GOD cares
For better or worse I try and give you my soul laid bare...
In these words and rhymes
In order for us to change the world it's gotta take time...
Because we are men and women only
I try and use my pen to love and defend not so lonely...
When GOD is with us
Tears become less than dust
With fears we can adjust...
  

Queen of Heaven, Rejoice - Regina Coeli (Moran)

A new collaboration of Anthony Moran and Richard Schletty. Tony's daughter, Tara Moran (a Broadway stage singer), will sing the song soon, replacing my voice in this demo. Please listen to more "Songs of Faith for Liturgies and Devotions" sung by Tara. Please visit www.catholicliturgyinsong.org – or use the insong.org shortcut.

Which arrangement do you like – v5, v6 or v7? Please comment below.

We will be adding a chorus of voices singing the Alleluias.

"Queen of Heaven, Rejoice - Regina Coeli" is recited during the Easter season instead of the "Angelus."

Queen of Heaven, Rejoice - Regina Coeli

 

Key of E [capo 2]

D/A      D/F#      G          G/C A

Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia!

    D                      G   A

The Lord is risen today. Alleluia!

       D/A   D/F#     G         G/C A                      

He has risen from the dead. Alleluia!

       D                 G D A D

He has risen as He said... 

 

 

Hopeful

1st Verse:
The life I chose didn't start well
Like a dying rose I was dark but then the hell...
In my life was too much to handle
In such a way I had to dismantle...
Then pick up the pieces
The whole time I got a lift up from Jesus
The ultimate gift that was given for a reason...
A second chance
We are all blessed in advance... 

Stronger Together (new track 2018)

1st Verse:
The older I get
The less shoulders get wet...
Because I've cried a lifetime
I used to hide at night time...
Until I found GOD and I tried harder
I reach for the sky but I don't want to die a Martyr...
I just want to share some words
I just want to care in this world...
My heart spills through my pen
So this art won't kill what's in my head...
I have had demons in the past and they still linger 
Trying to open my scars but these fingers...
Make the sign of the cross
Take some wine cos I'm not lost...  

My Lyric Ebook - Free Download.

I am working on a Catholic album but have 10 tracks I wanted to release in an ebook form because I thought they read like hip hop poetry rather than alternativly be released as songs. I have provided the link here for you to download for free from amazon.com. God Bless. Alex.

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Warrior-Alexander-John-ebook/dp/B07B7M8GNH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=15209...

Happy New Year

Just wanted to say Happy New Year's and that I am looking forward to hearing members new music in 2018. God Bless.

Totus Tuus––Women's A Capella Vocal Ensemble

MP3 Music Playlist: 

Find a music video of Totus Tuus at www.lumenhilare.com

The title is a Latin phrase meaning "totally thine" from the Marian consecrating prayer found in the book True Devotion to Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort. This song sets the entire prayer with the addition of Ad Jesum per Mariam.  Totus Tuus was St. John Paul II's apostolic motto. He once recalled how as a young seminarian he "read and reread many times and with great spiritual profit" some writings of Saint Louis de Montfort and that: "Then I understood that I could not exclude the Lord's Mother from my life without neglecting the will of God-Trinity".​

In 1987, Henryk Górecki composed a choral piece (Totus Tuus Op. 60) to celebrate the Pope's third pilgrimage to his native Poland that summer. While the motet opens with the same words as the apostolic motto, the piece actually uses a poem by Maria Boguslawska for its text.

Totus tuus ego sum
et omnia mea tua sunt.
Accipio te in mea omnia!
Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria.
Ad Jesum per Mariam.

I am entirely yours,
and all that I have is yours.
Be my guide in all things
O Mary, give me your heart.
To Jesus through Mary.

Artist: Lumen Hilare
Title: Totus Tuus
Genre: Gospel & Religious
Composer: Henryk Górecki

Psalm 89: For Ever I Will Sing (Haugen) - keys of F and D

MP3 Music Playlist: 

Refrain: For Ever I Will Sing the Goodness of the Lord, The Goodness of
the Lord.

1. “With my chosen one I have made a covenant; I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.”

2. Happy the people who acclaim such a God, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy ev'ry day in your name, who make your justice the source of their bliss.

3. He will say to me: "You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me!"
I will keep my love for him always; with him my covenant shall last.

Text: Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27-29; © 1963, The Grail, GIA Publications, Inc, agent. Refrain translation © 1969, ICEL. Music: Marty Haugen, © 1988, 1994, GIA Publications, Inc.

Love Is Patient (Lyrics From Corinthians 13) Composed By: Margaret Hoar

MP3 Music Playlist: 

Love is Patient Composed By: Margaret Hoar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMuC7nb_c9A


 

City of God (Dan Schutte)

MP3 Music Playlist: 
SSung at the Church of St. Matthew on 12-2-2017.
Vocals: Richard Schletty and Jack Heitzinger.
Pianist: Jill Kilzer. 

City of God
by Dan Schutte

1. Awake from your slumber! Arise from your sleep!
A new day is dawning for all those who weep.
The people in darkness have seen a great light.
The Lord of our longing has conquered the night.

Refrain
Let us build the city of God.
May our tears be turned into dancing!
For the Lord, our light and our love,
has turned the night into... 

Hi Richard

Hi Richard,
                   I hope you have been well along with everyone else contributing to this site. I'm just wondering how you feel about our collaborations and what we should do with what we have done and where to share them? It's good to see so people contributing here. All the best. Alex.

Ave Maria (Schubert)

Look Up

MP3 Music Playlist: 
1st Verse:
I was an unhappy soul in the past
And dug myself into a deep hole fast...
That would take faith in something I didn't know-about
The grace was coming when I was down-and-out...
A presence could be felt and it couldn't be ignored
My negative life sentence was about to be cut-short
Because I saw the evil and pulled the cord to get some real life-support...
Jesus came to me and I somehow knew he was always watching
I was pleased and dark hallways were no longer an option... 

Learning Light

1st Verse:
I've cried so many tears that the river is full
But got back up and tried then got a shiver from the school...
Of the spiritual aspect
I have fruits to give in a lyrical basket...
But I'm just speaking from the heart
And never meaning to take the listener to the dark...
Because we have enough of that in life
But there is one more sort of being tough - the one without a knife...
Or fists
I saw myself in the mist... 

Stop The Hate

MP3 Music Playlist: 
1st Verse:
The light can still shine on the darkest of days
At night there may still be crimes but we continue to pray...
The love Jesus has for us
Is so open yet at times mysterious...
The hope continues
From writing this note with open windows
My coat is always yours and I'm sure it will fit-you...
Brothers and sisters
Cousins and teachers...
We all deserve love and... 

Happiness Can Be Found

MP3 Music Playlist: 
Richard has done a rough exploration of singing with guitar. See audio file below. It's not Hip Hop. It's just freeform singing and playing.

1st Verse:
GOD - I see you through the light from my soul
And I know I don't need to fight to know
Because even though life might be cold...
At times
I can do things like make rhymes
And put the breaks on the hate and accelerate the divine
I'm just trying to demonstrate what isn't mine...
I feel presents in his presence
Kneel before him and get a message not a sentence...
 

Pieces of Peace

MP3 Music Playlist: 

10-4-2017: Richard added a reading of Alex's poem.

1st Verse:

I've seen good and bad

Now I question myself should I be mad?...

At a world where light wants to shine in our lives

No more fights this time I want to embrace what is right...

Even though pain cannot be avoided

I want to see the same light everywhere which I see in the lord-and...

I don't know why we fear death... 

Enchristment by Nguyen-Schletty

Please see this blog article to see how this collaboration with Asiansa09 evolved: topcatholicsongs.com/enchristment

Initially, I had imagined this song would be slow and meditative. But the Spirit made me go uptempo! Tell me what you think. Record the song and send it to me! A lead sheet with guitar chords is attached to the end of this story. Thanks, Dan (Asiansa09), for the inspiration.

5/12/17: I uploaded a revised audio demo in which I did voice pitch correction and also corrected mistakes I had made in singing the melody in verses 2 and 3.

7/20/2017: I uploaded a piano + voice score (notated sheet music) which can be downloaded free as a PDF file. See download links at end of story. Huge thanks to my music colleague André van Haren for preparing this arrangement!

9/28/2017: See the Sibelius score player below. A brand new feature of Sibelius 8.7. Thanks to André van Haren for sending me the embed code for his Sibelius engraving. Please comment below if you have questions about Sibelius or scoring/engraving in general. This song has been submitted to OCP Music for consideration. 

Enchristment

CHORUS
On my knees, I humbly pray.
I love to feel your radiance.
My heart is one with you, O Lord,
in this moment of Enchristment.

VERSE 1
My God, my Christ, you are in my heart.
I praise you, I worship you.
Your presence in this holy place
makes me want to be with you
forevermore.

VERSE 2
My God, my Christ, you are in my mind.
I pray, with Mary, for chastity.
I pray for us to receive your grace
as we place our trust in you
forevermore.

VERSE 3
My God, my Christ, you are in the Church.
Help all parents live a faithful life.
Help us love each other
as we love ourselves.
forevermore.

Lyrics: Dan vi Nguyen and Richard Schletty 
Music, guitar, vocals, mixing: Richard Schletty

 

The Hardest Song of Songs

MP3 Music Playlist: 
This track deals with the current state of the world through the mind of a Catholic. Everyday issues are presented and evaluated. This song was composed by my friend and I. I am on vocals while he is on guitar.

Artist: God's Messengers
Title: The Hardest Song of Songs
Genre: Religious
Year: 2016
Composer: God's Messengers

Do What He Tells You to Do

MP3 Music Playlist: 
It's the Second Luminous Mystery. It's Our Lord's first miracle. AND it has everything to do with YOU, right now....
Customize This