A simple psalm refrain this week, one drawn from a number of psalms, including the opening of Psalm 104, the lectionary psalm for October 21:
- “Praise God, O My Soul” (pdf and bulletin graphic)
Enjoy! ⇒ Continue reading
Songs for October 14
October 14 has a mixture of texts, including the continuation of the story of Job, and another text in the “last shall be first” series of gospel readings. We’ll stick with the psalms this week! Here are a couple of refrains to share with your community, depending on whether you use the main psalm or the alternate:
- Psalm 22:1-15 – “Why, my God?” (pdf and bulletin graphic)
- Psalm 90 – “From age to age” (pdf, bulletin graphic and midi)
Intercultural Jugalbandi! – October 28 and 30
Neeraj Prem, a sitar maestro and our good friend from Hamilton, Ontario, is coming to the West Coast for a couple of joint concerts with me on the North Indian bansuri and western flutes, and with the incomparable Amarjeet Singh on tabla. We’ll be sharing the ancient tradition of jugalbandi, which literally means “entwined twins,” a duet between two solo instruments.
Our concerts are at Crossroads United Church in Delta, BC, Sunday, October 28, at 6:30pm, sponsored by the Naad Foundation, and at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC, Tuesday, October 30, at 7pm.
Neeraj and I have toured together before, and a couple of years ago we recorded a fabulous Christmas album, A Black and White Christmas, which you can download and purchase just about anywhere on the internet, or directly from us at www.melodicarts.com. Christmas is coming again, so consider giving some wonderful intercultural Christmas music as a gift this year 🙂
We’re really looking forward to making music together again, and to sharing it with all who can join us. We hope to see you at one of our concerts, and please help us spread the word!
Canadian Thanksgiving and Worldwide Communion
October 7 is an unusual Sunday for those of us working in many Canadian churches, since this year both Thanksgiving Sunday and Worldwide Communion fall on the same day. Here are a few songs to share with your community, depending on which lectionary readings you are following, Proper 22 or the Thanksgiving readings:
- Psalm 26: “In the Great Congregation” (pdf and bulletin graphic) – you can sing this new psalm refrain as a round, or as an SATB choral arrangement, or both at once!
- Psalm 126: “Truly God Has Done Great Things for Us” (pdf, bulletin graphic and midi) – a joyful refrain for Thanksgiving Sunday
- Matthew 6:33: “Seek First” (pdf) – our expansion of a well-known scripture verse
Sing and enjoy! ⇒ Continue reading
The Earth and All That is in It (July 15)
Here are three simple four-part rounds based on Psalm 24:1 which can be sung in many ways, one voice on each round for three parts total, all the way up to 12 parts if you dare! A round reminding us of who and whose we are:
- The Earth and All That is in It (pdf)
Try teaching these rounds by ear to make it simpler for everyone. Enjoy!⇒ Continue reading