Music settings for liturgies

These settings, freely available, are intended for congregational use (subject to liturgical context) and to be accessible to the "small church".

Most are written to Church of England (Anglican) Common Worship texts but will also suit many other churches and denominations. You are invited to explore and adopt them. 

All the texts have their own various copyrights; these must be respected. My music copyright is detailed separately.


SJNX Service

Singing: Mostly unison, and ideally suited to congregational use, with a singing president.

Accompaniment: Organ. Can be executed on manuals only, but pedal facility is helpful. The level of difficulty is about that of a typical hymn, although a small section of the Gloria finds itself in G♯ minor.

Harmonic style: Its harmonic language is somewhat un-hymn-like, though not too avant garde (which is anyway rather passe these days). It is based around a rising open fifth, chromatically descending bass, and hints of "blues" harmony. These are all prepared in the opening Kyrie.

Internet download: The setting is freely available, subject to your acceptance of its copyright, in Acrobat PDF format (12 pages).


Crossgate Service

Singing: For congregational use, and optional choir.

Accompaniment: Organ (can be executed on manuals only) or piano. The level of difficulty is about that of a typical hymn.

Internet download: The setting is freely available, subject to your acceptance of its copyright, in Acrobat PDF format (8 pages).


Mountjoy Eucharist

Singing: A congregational setting with some optional choral harmony, and an optional descant in the Benedictus.

Accompaniment: Organ (pedals optional) or piano. About the same standard as typical hymns. The Gloria exists in two variants, a simple one in G throughout and the preferred one which modulates to G♭ for its central section.

Possibilities: Several churches mix and match parts of various settings as is locally appropriate. This setting is known to be in successful mixed use as:

Internet download: The setting is freely available, subject to your acceptance of its copyright, in Acrobat PDF format (12 pages).


WYSIWYG communion setting

Features: unaccompanied, fully congregational, unison.

Small churches: often wish to use a musical Eucharist setting but have no regular organist or pianist. You may feel you lack the confidence or skills for harmony singing. This setting is specifically intended for unaccompanied use by a small congregation singing unison.

Larger churches: normally have the resources of choir and accompanists. You might consider this setting as a contrast, such as during the reflective seasons of Advent and Lent.

Internet download: The score is freely available, subject to your acceptance of its copyright, in Acrobat PDF format (8 pages).

For the curious: the acronym "WYSIWYG" derives from computer geek-speak: "What You See [Sing] Is What You Get". See it and sing it.


Additional eucharistic material

  Score Audio Comments Commissions, publications, etc.
Collect for Purity (Common Worship) PDF MP3 Choral setting.  
Eucharistic Prayer D (Common Worship) PDF Score
PDF/A5 People
MP3 The text is congregational dialogue: "This is our song". This setting is in regular time signature and suitable for music group or organ.  
Eucharistic Prayer H (Common Worship) PDF Score
PDF/A5 People
MP3 Prayer H, unusually, has much congregational input. This setting is in regular time signature and accessible to music groups. Written during the preparation of Common Worship at the request of Bishop David Stancliffe, chair of the Liturgical Commission.
Accept through him PDF MP3 From Eucharistic Prayer A. Compatible with Mountjoy Eucharist above. For Revd. Stephanie Watson.
Agnus Dei, "Bread is broken" lyrics
PDF
  Tune: Summertime (Gershwin): solo, unaccompanied. Invitation to communion.  
Kyrie eleison     Tune: Yesterday (Lennon and McCartney).  

Miscellaneous liturgical material

  Score Audio Comments Awards, publications, etc.
God in Christ has revealed his glory PDF MP3

Video[1]
Flexible style (organ to music-group); leader plus two responsive parts.  
Gospel acclamations (Praise to you, O Christ) PDF   For the Lent season, including the Annunciation and Maundy Thursday. The congregational response remains constant but the acclamations employ stylistic variety. In top 5 of RSCM Harold Smart composition competition, 2000, for Common Worship resources.
Into your hands (Compline Prayer) PDF MP3 Uses the pentatonic Korean tune Arirang  
May God, of hope the wellspring (Der Gott aber der hoffnung) PDF MP3 Blessing. SATB unaccompanied (difficult!) or accompanied solo. Commissioned for wedding.
O Father God and Sovereign Lord of all PDF MP3 From Common Worship post-communion prayer "Father of all, we give you thanks and praise". This metrical paraphrasing also enables use beyond eucharistic contexts.  
The peace of God PDF MP3 Blessing. A gentle jazz lilt.  
We believe in God the Father (based on the Apostles' Creed) PDF MP3

Video[1]
Common Worship metrical (8 7 8 7 D) version of the Apostles' Creed (text by Timothy Dudley-Smith). This setting, with optional descant, has a music-group bias. Was scheduled for publication in Music for Common Worship, RSCM, Autumn 2000.
We believe in God the Father (based on the Apostles' Creed) PDF MP3 See comments above. A hymn-like setting, with optional descant. Tune in top 16 of St. Paul's Cathedral Millennium Hymn Competition, 1999.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty (Nicene Creed) PDF MP3 A hymn-like setting of the exact text of the Nicene Creed, which allows for local variation such as the Filioque clause, "seen and unseen" vs. "visible and invisible", etc. Also useable with Nicene texts in other west European languages.  
What shall I render to the Lord? PDF MP3 A text used at the offering by some Lutheran churches which other churches could consider.  
Yet my soul drew back Response   Non-musical. A liturgical acknowledgement of doubt.  

[1] Recording courtesy of Sam and Paula Denyer, St. Cuthbert's, Wells, Somerset