Jeff Ostrowski at Corpus Christi Watershed has made available a PDF copy of “A Manual For Church Musicians” (1964) — 130 pages.

Jeff writes:

You know that we are always interested in trying to figure out how the Mass changed during the 1960s.

This book is important:

PDF Download • “A Manual For Church Musicians” (1964)

It is extremely well-produced, but I would suggest to you that the content is quite poor. But it's interesting from a historical point of view.

- Jeff Ostrowski

Nick Alexander posted this article on his blog today. He includes links to three very timely articles for my parish! We are in the throes of discussion of this very thing!  – Richard Schletty, TCS editor

Three Must-Read Articles About Praise And Worship Music

http://www.nickalexander.com/2015/06/02/ccm_pandw/

"There are three fascinating, contradictory articles about contemporary worship that I ran across this past week. What’s interesting about these articles is that they conflict and complement each other, in interesting ways. The authors of these articles have very different conclusions as to the state of Christian Music today, and the effectiveness of both..."

Go to Nick's blog to see his commentary on these three articles:

10 Traits of Top CCLI Songs
http://worshipfuel.com/10-traits-of-top-ccli-songs-3/

Why They Don’t Sing on Sunday Anymore
http://holysoup.com/2014/05/21/why-they-dont-sing-on-sunday-anymore/

Who Killed the Contemporary Christian Music Industry?
http://theweek.com/articles/555603/who-killed-contemporary-christian-music-industry

In a follow-up email directly to me, Nick wrote:

"You may be inspiring me to create my first ever online course.  How to wade through these waters.  How to do 'New Evangelization Worship.' "

Stay tuned! 

Please make comments below after you have read the three articles. Is your parish doing any Contemporary Catholic Worship and Praise music? Share your experiences, whether positive or negative. Are you thinking about introducing this genre of music?

Nick Alexander here...

The Feast of Corpus Christi is taking place this coming Sunday, a week after Trinity Sunday. Since I am very much devoted to the Eucharist, I thought it fitting to share my favorite songs that incorporate the imagery of Jesus being present in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul and divinity.

Special thanks go to John Michael Talbot, who graces this list, including a memorable duet with Michael Card. Also included: Critical Mass, whose "Body and Blood" is one of my favorites. As goes for Bob Rice, whose I Shall Be Healed should be learned by every liturgical musician. Catholic standouts include Paul Harrigan, Matt Maher, Lynn Geyer, Bryan Murdaugh, and Gretchen Harris. There's even some great songs from Third Day, Kutless, Janet Paschal, the City on a Hill gang, and the late, great Rich Mullins. 

Traditional hymns on the solemnity of Corpus Christi include At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing, Soul of My Savior and Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.

What are your favorite Corpus Christi/Body and Blood songs?

Edit by Richard Schletty:

These "Body of Christ" songs are not at iTunes but can be viewed at SoundCloud or CCLI Song Select:

One Love - Ed Becker
http://soundcloud.com/ed-becker-music-ministry/one-love

Abide in Me - Paul Hilts
http://us.songselect.com/songs/4196613/abide-in-me

Be Transformed - Greg Mailloux
http://us.songselect.com/songs/4078102/be-transformed

Everything is Ready - Greg Mailloux
http://us.songselect.com/songs/4472289/everything-is-ready

Come to the Banquet - Greg Mailloux
http://us.songselect.com/songs/4079046/come-to-the-banquet

Bread of Life - Christ Kids Worship
http://www.christmusickids.com/?section=music-32

Broken For Me - Colin & Janet Lunt
http://us.songselect.com/songs/39025/broken-for-me

Take Your Place At Table - Deby Dearman/Kirk Dearman/Nancy Gordon
http://us.songselect.com/songs/2489092/take-your-place-at-table

• Artist: Edewede O.
• Title: Kyrie Eleison
• Album: Forgiven
• Genre: Christian
• Year: 2015
• Composer: Edewede Oriwoh
• Copyright Info: 2015

Please, Mercy LORD and Grant Us Peace. Amen.

Agnus Dei
Artist: Edewede O.
Title: Agnus Dei
Album: Forgiven
Genre: Christian
Year: 2014
Composer: Edewede Oriwoh
Copyright Info: August 2014

'We Three Wise Men From The East', early (Christmas is about 6 months away :)).

• Artist: Edewede
• Title: We Three Wise Men From The East
• Genre: Christmas, Christian
• Year: 2014
• Composer: Edewede Oriwoh
• Notes: We Three Wise Men From The East

Kyrie Eleison!
 

• Artist: Wede O.
• Title: KYRIE ELEISON
• Genre: Gospel & Religious
• Year: 2015
• Composer: Wede O.

Kyrie Eleison. Please LORD.

• Artist: Wede O.
• Title: Kyrie II
• Genre: Gospel & Religious
• Year: 2015
• Composer: Wede O.
• Copyright Info: 2014
• Notes: LORD, HAVE MERCY

Halleluia!

• Artist: Wede O.
• Title: Halleluia (multiple)
• Genre: Gospel & Religious
• Year: 2015
• Composer: Wede O.
• Copyright Info: 2015

A Kyrie, for God, simple. An updated PDF has been attached.

To God, Glory; to man, none.

• Artist: Wede O.
• Title: Kyrie I
• Genre: Gospel & Religious
• Year: 2015
• Composer: Wede O.
• Copyright Info: Edewede Oriwoh 2015

I Love My Church, Have Faith And Believe That Jesus Is Lord.

I received this email blast today from GIA. GIA just released the Hymnals app for Android. The iPad app had been previously available. Not available for iPhone. The per-hymnal cost is much more for keyboard and guitar editions than for pew editions. You only get 3 songs free when you download the "free" app. Nice idea but can be quite expensive if your church works from 2 or more hymnals. The digital editions should be half the cost of the print editions, in my opinion. I am sad that GIA does not have RitualSong available –that is our primary hymnal at the Church of Saint Mary in Saint Paul, MN. – RS 

GIA's popular Hymnals app is now available on Android devices

Get it on Google Play    Available on the App Store (Apple iOS)

Hymnals is a remarkable app that brings all the elements of your favorite hymnal—and more—right to your Android device. The app is free—through it you can in–app purchase the hymnals you need.

Through the app, you have access to the best-selling Roman Catholic hymnals from GIA Publications, Inc.

– Gather Third Edition (Pew, Choir, Keyboard, Guitar, C Instrument, and B-flat Instrument)
– Worship Fourth Edition (Pew, Choir, Keyboard, Guitar, C Instrument, and B-flat Instrument)
– Gather Comprehensive Second Edition (Pew and Choir)
– Lead Me Guide Me (Pew and Keyboard)
– Oramos Cantando (Pew and Guitar)
– Guimont Lectionary Psalms

Also available is Faith Alive Christian Resources' - Psalms for All Seasons

Hymnals offers the complete contents of your hymnal in a compact, lightweight form–no more dragging around multiple hymnals and service binders! The app is perfect for... 

The Master Musician: A musical journey and parable depicting God as the Master Musician and we as his instruments. As God the Master Musician crafts us into fine musical instruments, we can "join in the symphony orchestra of the church and make a beautiful music bigger than any one musician for all the people of the world." This album includes 11 beautifully orchestrated and inspiring songs: The Master Musician, The Tree, The Craftsman, Classical Order, Impressions, Words and Music, One Note, The Symphony, The Conductor, The Blessed Musician and The Final Ascent.

The companion book, "The Master Musician", is now available in paperback from InterVersity Press.

PROJECT UPDATE: www.kickstarter.com/projects/635408298/george-lower-i-think-of-you-florida-folk-music-pro/posts/1205175

Good News....and MORE Good News!

Dear Backers,

We are moving forward! This album is going to be awesome!

Well, I don't really know exactly where to begin. It has been a bit of a whirlwind since my last update. I must confess that this journey has surprised me and challenged me in many ways. And I certainly was not expecting what I'm about to share with you.

Without going into a lot of details, my promotional efforts brought me to the attention of Nick Coetzee of Rain Music. Working with Nick, I now have the opportunity to take this album project to Watershed Recording Studio in Nashville, TN. I'll say it again because even I have a hard time believing it. I now have the opportunity to record this project in Nashville, TN! I certainly did not think two months ago that this... Read more here.

ORIGINAL POST:

George Lower is a core member of our Top Catholic Songs discussion group. He's a Catholic artist and an all-around great guy with lots of life stories he is telling in song. Help him out by pledging to his "I Think of You" Florida Folk Music Project... 

Our newest member, Maggie, wrote:

"I am a Organist at my Catholic Church, and I wish to be introduced to some new music. I would use it especially in the Youth Choir. Topcatholicsongs.com would help me to make both the choir and congregation more holy and involved in music."

Let's introduce Maggie to some new music! C'mon, everyone – let's get the chatter going here. Collaborate and contribute your talents! Raise your voices and sing alleluia!

I'll get the ball rolling for Maggie by suggesting that she take a look at the many organ/choral pieces written by Paul F. Page. Paul offers his sheet music free at his web site, www.paulpage.org, specifically here:   

Alicia Bruno joined TopCatholicSongs.com as a user and wrote this reason for joining:

"Looking to inspire future musicians to enjoy Catholic/Christian music and share it in the future at Mass. I am a Youth Minister at our Parish and we are having a tough time keeping youth active in our faith after they receive confirmation...besides, our church music needs a MAJOR update!!"

Let's all help each other with inspiration and ideas. Sign up and makes comments. Contribute your own stories. Share your original songs.

Please tell us what you think of this song in progress. It was written by Milton Delgado and Richard Schletty. An MP3 download link is at the bottom of the post. Thanks!

Just Suppose

Milton Delgado and Richard Schletty (c)2015

Intro: A Asus2  A Asus2

   A  Asus2      E  Eadd9  E

Suppose, just suppose

F#m                 D              A   E

that the winds were never again to blow

    F#m                D        A   E

And that there were no seeds to sow

         F#m        Asus4  A      

And we'd never see another spring

      F#m            Asus4  A      

And a robin could no longer sing.

   F#m  D     A  Asus2   A  Asus2

Suppose. Just suppose.

   A  Asus2      E  Eadd9  E

Suppose, just suppose

F#m              D               A   E

That the flowers could no longer bloom

    F#m                D        A   E

And that there were no stars or moon

F#m               Asus4    A      

Trees were rooted from the ground

F#m                   Asus4  A      

And the world stopped spinning around.

   F#m  D     A Asus2  A Asus2

Suppose. Just suppose.

[CHORUS]

   D                   E              A  

Suppose the oceans and rivers were to dry

        D              Fmaj7    Gmaj7  D

And the soaring eagles could no longer fly.

    Am7           Bm7      

The sun no longer sent its light

Am7               Bm7      

Galaxies vanished from the night.

           Am7             Em7       F#m7

Oh, that's not supposed to be how it goes!

B Bsus4 B     F# Fadd9# F#

Suppose, just suppose

G#m              E               B   F#

That we could no longer hope for peace

G#m              E        B   F#

That the rains decided to cease

     G#m          E        B      

Then suddenly ... love was lost

G#m             E          B      

Who'd remain to suffer the cost?

   G#m  E     G#m  E

Suppose. Just suppose.

     G#m  E        B  Bsus4  B

Just suppose. Just suppose.

• Artist: Milton Delgado, Richard Schletty
• Title: Just Suppose
• Album: Just Suppose
• Track: 1
• Genre: Vocal
• Year: 2015
• Composer: Milton Delgado, Richard Schletty