Recent additions and changes

(Note: the re-translation of Lamentations, started in 2020, is an ongoing iterative project. Individual updates are not given here.)

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July 2025

• Revised psalm paraphrase (29): Acclaim the Lord, you heavenly powers.

June 2025

• New descant: Come down, O Love divine (Down Ampney).
• New descant: O thou who camest from above (Hereford).

April 2025

• Hymn tune index: major expansion to become a complete index.
• Revised hymn tune Cenaculum (7.6 7.6 D), e.g. "The Church's one foundation".
• New hymn setting: When I am in the dark (Emmaus): words by Kate Bluett.

March 2025

• New hymn setting: O Jesus, you have called us, words by Kate Bluett.

December 2024

• New song-like hymn setting: Though no one can say when it's coming, words by Kate Bluett.

October 2024

• New hymn/song: Contented are those, based closely on the Beatitudes.
• Nicene Creed: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty; a hymn-like setting of the text.

July 2024

• Psalm setting (29): Acclaim the Lord, you heavenly powers.
• Hymn setting: Be with me through this day, words by Timothy Dudley-Smith.
• Hymn setting: Be with us, Lord, who seek your aid, words by Timothy Dudley-Smith. Two-part canon/round.

June 2024

• Hymn edit: Hebrews 1 paraphrase now called Your throne, O Lord.

May 2024

• New recording: Great and wonderful (Revelation 15).
• Minor text update: Psalm 72.
• Psalm setting (32): Happy the one whose transgression is forgiven, in Anglican chant style.
• Psalm setting (33): Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, in Anglican chant style.
• Psalm setting (54): Save me, O God, in Anglican chant style.
• Psalm setting (60): O God, you have cast us off and broken us, in Anglican chant style.
• Psalm setting (61): Hear my crying, O God, in Anglican chant style.
• Psalm setting (108): My heart is ready, O God, in Anglican chant style.
• Psalm setting (119:1-8): Blessed are those who way is pure, in Anglican chant style. This uses the chant previously written for a now-withdrawn Eucharistic Prayer.
• Psalm setting (142): I cry aloud to the Lord, in Anglican chant style.

February 2024

• New song-like hymn for the Ascension: Say when will you restore us, Lord? A highly unusual, yet profoundly biblical, engagement with the Ascension, placing us alongside the disciples.

January 2024

• New song-like hymn: Called by you. Gathering song, freshly translated from the seventeenth century German Lutheran hymn "Liebster Jesu" and with a new tune.
• Psalm setting (53): O that your salvation and rescue, based on Advent plainchant Rorate Caeli and in 5/8 time.
• New audio file: You spoke your word (Londonderry Air).

October 2023

• Lamentations: various translational improvements, and thoughts on staging
• Minor revisions to harmony: O radiant light (Phos hilaron)

August 2023

• New song: O Father God and Sovereign Lord of all, based on Common Worship post-communion prayer "Father of all".
• New song-like hymn: Hosanna!, words by Kate Bluett. Ideal for Palm Sunday.

June 2023

• New psalm setting (148): Alleluia! Praise the Lord O you heavens and skies
• New canticle (Benedicite): Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord
• New recording: Be present, Spirit of the Lord (jazz-style Pentecost song)
• Add Psalm index for Revised Common Lectionary (RCL)

May 2023

• New hymn (song, canticle): O radiant light (Phos hilaron)

April 2023

• New song-like hymn setting: We work the soil, words by Kate Bluett.

March 2023

• New psalm setting (66:8–20): Rejoice in God, you peoples (Thaxted)

February 2023

• New psalm setting (131): Adonai, my heart is not exalted
• Revised psalm accompaniments: 18

January 2023

• New song/hymn: Climate is breaking (Bunessan) lamenting our role in climate change, and based closely on the song Morning has broken. Ideal for school assemblies.
• Many MP3s added, particularly for psalm and liturgical settings, replacing older MIDI files.
• Eucharistic Prayers D and H: Provide congregational parts as A5 bulletin/sheet. Reformat accompaniment into house-style.
• Eucharistic Prayer A: Withdrawn. Its Preface is congregationally unsatisfactory.
• Revised descant: He who would valiant be (Monks Gate).

December 2022

• Compline Prayer: Into your hands using pentatonic Korean tune Arirang
• Provide bulletin inserts for most responsorial psalm settings (converted from ancient OHP files)

November 2022

• New hymn setting: Author of life divine (Charles Wesley text).
• Revised descant: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol).
• New descant: Come, thou long-expected Jesus (Cross of Jesus).
• Revised descant: Crown him with many crowns (Diademata).
• New descant: May the mind of Christ my Saviour (St Leonard's).
• Revised descant: Praise to the holiest in the height (Gerontius).
• Revised descant: We hail thy presence glorious (Offertorium).

October 2022

• New hymn: You spoke your word (Londonderry Air).

September 2022

• New song-like hymn setting: Beneath the surface there's a seed (The ages-endless love of God), words by Kate Bluett.

August 2022

• New psalm settings: 111 and 112: Alleluia, alleluia. Both these psalms are Hebrew acrostic, and these settings preserve that feature in full A–Z form.
• Psalm setting (121) Unto the hills: accompaniment revision; choral suggestion.

July 2022

• New article: Michal and David: domestic abuse?

April 2022

• New recording: My soul waits for God in the silence (Ps.62)
• New recording: Out of the depths (Ps.130, Gresford)

March 2022

• New recording: God is my light (Ps.27)

February 2022

• Revised psalm setting (96): Sing unto the Lord a fresh, new song (Elgar 1). Re-cast into harmony (theme from Elgar's First Symphony).

January 2022

• Revised psalm setting (29): Ascribe to the Lord, O high hosts of heaven.

October 2021

• New psalm setting (96): Sing unto the Lord a fresh, new song (Elgar 1). The tune is the stirring theme from Elgar's First Symphony.
• New hymn translation: Norwegian translation of God eternal, timeless moment; thanks to Dag Kaspersen.
• New song-like hymn setting: You, who walked the city streets and highways, words by Kate Bluett.

September 2021

• New psalm setting (16): Guard me, Lord, for in you I take shelter
• New recording: Who may live, O Lord, in your dwelling place? (Ps.15)

July 2021

• New psalm setting (99): Sovereign Lord, let nations tremble (Regent Square)
• Psalm 42 revision: As the deer longs for the water brooks: completion to full psalm; plainsong derivation made clearer; supporting chords
• New recording: Answer me, hear my plea (Ps.4)

June 2021

• "Rorate Caeli" setting: Let justice pour down from the ancient Advent hymn
• New recording: May my cry come before you, O Lord (Ps.119:169–176)

May 2021

• New song-like hymn setting: O Father, grower of the vine words by Kate Bluett and based on John 15:1–8 ("I am the true vine...")

April 2021

• New psalm setting (98): Sing alleluias to the Lord (Lasst Uns Erfreuen)
• New recording: Mourning into dancing (Ps.30)
• New hymn recording: From the night of ages waking
• New hymn recording: To Christ our King

March 2021

• Demonstration recordings of some psalm settings: 14, 19, 36, 47
• New psalm setting (29): Ascribe to the Lord, O high hosts of heaven. Suitable for Baptism of Christ, and for Trinity (Lectionary Year B).

February 2021

• New recording: Throughout the universe we see (Ps.19:1–6)
• New recording: All of our days we exalt you, Lord (Ps.145)
• Lamentations: recitation hint

January 2021

• New recording: We believe in God the Father
• New recording: God in Christ has revealed his glory

December 2020

• New song-like hymn setting: Behold! The night is dark (Advent Journey): words by Kate Bluett
• New (old!) psalm setting (67): Let the peoples praise you, O Lord our God. This setting as a worship song dates back to 1984.

November 2020

• New setting: Come, worship God most high (based on the Te Deum); words by Timothy Dudley-Smith

October 2020

• Collect for Purity in a choral setting: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open.

September 2020

• New song-like hymn: Over the darkness (God of creation).
• New psalm setting (85): You once favoured, Lord, your people. Suggested tune: Mannheim. Suitable for Advent 2.
• New psalm setting (145): All of our days we exalt you, Lord. The Hebrew text is acrostic, and this version specifically retains that characteristic.

August 2020

• Descant: Blaenwern made available. The tune been out of UK copyright for several years.
• Descant: Woodlands made available. The tune is now out of UK copyright as its composer, Walter Greatorex (1877-1949), died over 70 years ago.
• New psalm setting (59): I will sing of your strength
• New psalm setting (73): Whom have I but you in the heavens?
• New psalm setting (82): Arise, O God, and judge the earth

June 2020

• Macavity among the Triune-fails: The Trinity, not quite from Old Possum's Book of Practical Theology.

April 2020

• Scripture rendering/translation: Lamentations.
• Hymn tune revision: Come now with awe: add descant and minor harmonisation adjustments.

June 2019

• Hymn setting: Holy, holy, holy: a new tune, for music-group/band churches who prefer "re-tuned" hymns.

December 2018

• Website completely redesigned.
• New article: Creation ordering on how modern science positively interacts with Genesis 1–11.

November 2018

• Descants: update Merton and Angel Voices
• Updated accompaniment: In chaos and nothingness.

May 2016

• Poem (limerick): Young-Earth Creationism's "peer-review" fraudulence

Apr 2016

• Article: Guidelines for a church music-leading team
• Hymn: God eternal, timeless moment: minor revision.

Jan 2016

• Hymn/song text: Your throne, O Lord (Finlandia)

Nov 2015

• Descant: We have a gospel to proclaim (Fulda)

Oct 2015

• Final verse reharmonisation: All creatures of our God and King (Lasst Uns Erfreuen)

March 2015

• Article: Creationism and bar-room lust: Debunking quack-science creationism from a literary (rather than literal) perspective.

September 2013

• Song/hymn tune: Coniscliffe (LM): substantial revision of the accompaniment.

June 2013

• Song: Bread is broken: revision of Summertime setting of communion text.

May 2013

• Glossary: The Church: just simple nuclear physics: a spoof.

November 2012

• New descant: It came upon the midnight clear.

October 2012

• New hymn: God eternal, timeless moment.

June 2012

• New section on poems.
• New psalm: O Lord, you have searched me out, based on the "Prélude Modal" of Jean Langlais.

May 2012

• New hymn: In chaos and nothingness, to celebrate the integrity of science and an omniscient God.

January 2012

• Spoof hymn: Let all mortal flesh be dumbstruck, for the dedication and blessing of a vuvuzela stop on a church organ.

October 2011

• Christmas carol: Carol for the world ("The northern world grows dark and cold") by Sue Gilmurray
• Hymn/psalm: Out of the depths, set specifically to the tune Gresford (a.k.a. "The Miners' Hymn")

August 2011

• Recording: Hear, Lord, my cry for justice, with grateful thanks to Church of the Servant, Michigan

July 2011

• Satire: Away with the fairies, based on Away in a manger

November 2010

• Psalm setting (14): O that your salvation and rescue, based on Advent plainchant Rorate Caeli and in 5/8 time.
• Psalm setting as hymn/song (57): Be gracious to me, Lord, by Michael Perry (Jubilate Hymns)

January 2010

• Hymn text: Make straight the way, suitable for ordination, confirmation, mission. Also a full commentary and analysis of the hymn.
• Chorale prelude: Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness. Two arrangements: (a) organ (b) E♭ saxophone and piano.

May 2009

• Three arrangements of Bach organ music (BWV 553, 555, 653) for string quartet.

January 2008

• New spoof: I love the hymns..., which is probably meaningless if you're not into poetic technique.

July 2007

• New hymn: Great Lord and God, we greet this day, ideal for weddings.

June 2007

• New hymn: As we meet in your presence, ideal for re-dedication and mission.

March 2007

• New instrumental descant: As water to the thirsty, text by Timothy Dudley-Smith.
• Newly available hymn: O God of feast and festival now downloadable by kind permission of author Rosalind Brown.
• Various Charles Wesley settings added for this year, the 300th anniversary of his birth.

December 2006

• Earth was waiting, spent and restless. An unusually dark, and therefore valuable, hymn text for Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas.

November 2006

• Amazing Grace set to House of the Rising Sun for three-part singing group.
• Mountjoy Eucharist setting assembled into a single publication.

August 2006

• New hymn setting: O God of feast and festival, text by Canon Rosalind Brown of Durham Cathedral.

May 2006

• New descant: Coe Fen (How shall I sing that majesty?)

March 2006

• New psalm setting (4): Answer me, hear my plea.
• New hymn (psalm) setting: Timothy Dudley-Smith's new text, based on Psalm 111: Rejoice in God, my heart.

February 2006

• All psalm settings and several other pieces tidied up (style, typography) and made consistent (text size, staff size, etc.).
• Psalm settings: various descants and arrangements added.

December 2005

• New hymn arrangement for choir: Come, thou Redeemer of the earth.
• New carol arrangement for music-group: God rest you merry, gentlemen.
• New hymn setting (Holy Spirit, Pentecost): So free, so bright, so beautiful and fair.

January 2005

• New song of lament: How are we to sing our songs to you?: This seems particularly poignant and appropriate following the Asian tsunami.

August 2004

• New psalm setting (137): By the turbid waters of Babylon.

June 2004

• New descant: Crown him with many crowns (Diademata).

April/May 2004

• New descant: Lord for the years.
• Revision: Eucharistic Prayer H: celebrant top notes lowered; accompaniment adjusted; guitar chords added.
• New: Crossgate Service: provide congregational handout.

February 2004

• New psalm setting (8): O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name.

January 2004

• New communion setting: Crossgate Service.

November 2003

• New song: God indeed is my deliverer (Isaiah 12).

September 2003

• New liturgical response text: Yet my soul drew back

August 2003

• New liturgical song: God in Christ has revealed his glory from Common Worship.

June 2003

• New descant: Broken for me.
• New descant: All my hope on God is founded (Michael).

May 2003

• Addition: Eucharistic Prayer A: Setting for congregation, president and keyboard.
• Addition: Eucharistic Prayer D: Setting for congregation, president and either music-group or organ.

January 2003

• Addition: Descant to Angel voices ever singing.
• WWW site migrated to new, special-purpose URL http://www.servicemusic.org.uk/
• Addition: Psalm 116:12–19. Ideal for Maundy Thursday.
• Revision: Psalms 32, 70, 121, 130: Add guitar chords.
• Revision: Psalm 121: Simplify accompaniment.
• Addition: Descant to The Church's one foundation (Aurelia).
• Addition: Reviews of these resources by other people

December 2002:

• New canticle: Blest are you.

November 2002:

• Addition: Biography.
• Revision: Psalm 15: Add descant; revise accompaniment.
• Addition: May my cry (Psalm 119): Add MIDI file.
• New psalm: Psalm 139:1–18: Anglican chant style.
• New song: You were in the form of God (Philippians 2)
• New song: Great and wonderful (Revelation 15)
• Revision: Eucharistic Prayer H: Provide congregational handout.
• Revision: Magnificat: Add descant; revise accompaniment.