Red Mountain Music along with a number of other fantastic musicians from the New York area released a collections of songs last year called simply “Songs for Lent.”  The texts were curated by Cardiphonia from the Sacred Harp as they entered into conversation with the traditional Stations of the Cross.  The music is still available on NoiseTrade.  We also encourage you to make a donation that will benefit Plywood People – a 501c3 organization helping address social needs

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For more information about New York Hymns

For more information about the Sacred Harp Hymnal

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<Listen and Download Album @ Noise Trade>

<PDF Book of Chords and Leadsheets>

<PDF of the Texts only>

<A reading of the scriptural ‘Stations of the Cross’ – PDF>

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First – Christ condemned to death
(music by Kanene and Jason Pipkin)

Remember, Lord, our mortal state;
How frail our lives! how short the date!
Where is the man that draws his breath,
Safe from disease, secure from death?

Lord, while we see whole nations die,
Our flesh and sense repine and cry;
Must death forever rage and reign?
Or hast Thou made mankind in vain?
-
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719
Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8)
—

Second Station – The cross is laid upon Jesus
(music by Brian T Murphy)

Broad is the road that leads to death
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrow path,
With here and there a traveler.

“Deny thyself, and take thy cross,”
Is the Redeemer’s great command;
Nature must count her gold but dross,
If she would gain this heav’nly land.

The fearful soul that tires and faints
And walks the ways of God no more,
Is but esteemed almost a saint,
And makes his own destruction sure.

Lord, let not all my hopes be vain,
Create my heart entirely new,
Which hypocrites could ne’er attain,
Which false apostates never knew.
-
Words: Isaac Watts, 1707
Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8)

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Third Station – Jesus falls
Vers #1 by Chris Miner -
Vers#2 by Clint Wells – mp3 ¦ chord chart

And am I born to die?
To lay this body down!
And must my trembling spirit fly
Into a world unknown?

A land of deepest shade,
Unpierced by human thought;
The dreary regions of the dead,
Where all things are forgot!

Soon as from earth I go,
What will become of me?
Eternal happiness or woe
Must then my portion be!

Waked by the trumpet sound,
I from my grave shall rise;
And see the Judge with glory crowned,
And see the flaming skies!
-
Words: Charles Wesley, 1763
Meter: Short Meter (6,6,8,6)
—

Fourth Station – Jesus meets his mother
Vers#1 by Bruce Benedict – Leadsheet
Vers#2 by Brian T Murphy -

I’m dying, Mother, dying now;
Please raise my aching head,
And fan my heated, burning brow,
Your boy will soon be dead.

Turn o’er my pillow once again,
And kiss my fevered cheek;
I’ll soon be freed from all the pain,
For now I am so weak.
-
Words: Anonymous
Meter: Common Meter Double (8,6,8,6,8,6,8,6)
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Fifth – Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross
(music by Karl Digerness)

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for ev’ryone,
And there’s a cross for me.
The consecrated cross I’ll bear
Till death shall set me free;
And then go home my crown to wear,
For there’s a crown for me.
-
Words: Thomas Shepherd, 1693
Meter: Common Meter (8,6,8,6)
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Sixth Station – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
(Music by Jason Pipkin)

Away, my unbelieving fear;
Fear shall in me no more have place;
My Savior doth not yet appear;
He hides the brightness of His face;

But shall I therefore let Him go,
And basely to the tempter yield?
No, in the strength of Jesus, no!
I never will give up my shield.
–
Words: Charles Wesley, 1742
Meter: Long Meter Double (8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8)
—

Seventh Station – Jesus falls again
music by Clint Wells – mp3 ¦ chord chart

Thou Man of grief, remember me,
Thou never canst Thyself forget.
Thy last expiring agony,
Thy fainting pangs and bloody sweat.
Father, if I may call Thee so,
Regard my fearful heart’s desire;
Remove this load of guilty woe,
Nor let me in my sins expire!
I tremble, lest the wrath divine,
Which bruises now my wretched soul,
Should bruise this wretched soul of mine,
Long as eternal ages roll.
-
Words: Charles Wesley, 1762
Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8)
—

Eight Station – Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
(music by Melanie Penn)

He dies, the friend of sinners dies,
Lo! Salem’s daughters weep around;
A solemn darkness veils the skies,
In trembling shakes the ground.

Ye saints approach! the anguish view
Of Him who groans beneath your load,
He gives His precious life for you,
For you He sheds His precious blood.

Here’s love and grief beyond degree:
The Lord of glory dies for men;
But lo! what sudden joys we see!
Jesus, the dead, revives again.

The rising God forsakes the tomb;
Up to His Father’s court He flies,
Cherubic legions guard Him home,
And shout Him welcome to the skies.
-
Words: Isaac Watts, 1709
Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8)
—

Ninth Station – Jesus falls a third time
music by Clint Wells – mp3 ¦ chord chart

Jerusalem! my happy home!
Oh, how I long for thee!
When will my sorrows have an end?
Thy joys when shall I see?

Chorus:
Home, sweet home, my long-sought home,
My home in heav’n above.
Thy walls are all of precious stones,
Most glorious to behold!
Thy gates are richly set with pearl,
Thy streets are paved with gold.

(Chorus)
My friends, I bid you all adieu;
I leave you in God’s care;
And if I here no more see you,
Go on; I’ll meet you there.
-
Words: “F. B. P.”, 1583
Meter: Common Meter (8,6,8,6)
—

Tenth Station – Christ is stripped of His garments
(Vers#1 by Jered McKenna // Vers#2 by Benj Pocta)

The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear;
Oh may we all remember well,
The night of death is near.
We lay our garments by,
Upon our beds to rest:
So death will soon disrobe us all,
Of what we here possess.
-
Words: John Leland, 1792
Meter: Short Meter (6,6,8,6)
—

Eleventh Station – Jesus is nailed to the cross
(music by Eric Marshall)

Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined,
To bleed and die for thee.
Hark, how He groans! while nature shakes,
And earth’s strong pillars bend!
The temple’s veil in sunder breaks,
The solid marbles rend.
’Tis done! the precious ransom’s paid!
Receive my soul, He cries:
See where He bows His sacred head!
He bows His head and dies.
But soon He’ll break death’s anxious chain,
And in full glory shine!
Oh Lamb of God, was ever pain,
Was ever love like Thine?
-
Words: Samuel Wesley, Sr., 1700
Meter: Common Meter Double (8,6,8,6,8,6,8,6)
—

Twelfth Station – Jesus dies
(Music by Brian T Murphy and  Ashley Spurling)

Alas and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sov’reign die!
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
Chorus:
Oh, come, sinner, you will hear
The Savior say, “Weep not for me,”
See the Savior on the cross!
Oh, sinner, hear Him cry,
“Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabacthani.”
Thus might I hide my blushing face,
While His dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

Chorus
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
-
Words: Isaac Watts, 1707
—

Thirteenth – Jesus’s body is taken down from the cross
(Vers#1 by Michael Van Patter // Vers#2 by Jered Mckenna)

’Tis finished, The Redeemer said,
And meekly bowed His dying head.
While we the sentence scan,
Come sinners, and observe the word,
Behold the conquest of the Lord,
Complete for sinful man.
-
Words: Samuel Stennett, 1787
Meter: Common Particular Meter (8,8,6,8,8,6)
—

Fourteenth – Jesus body is laid in the tomb
(music by Matt Boswell)

From Indelible Grace
(here is their most recent ‘live’ album that is a greatest hits album of sorts)

Arise, My Soul, Arise  – Kevin Twit

O Love that Will Not Let Me Go – Christopher Miner

God Be Merciful to me (Ps 51) – Christopher Miner

The Church’s One Foundation  – Brian Moss

On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand – Christopher Miner

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken – Bill Moore

Jesus, I Come – Greg Thompson

Father Long Before Creation – Andrew Osenga

All Must Be Well – Matthew Smith

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From Red Mountain Music
www.redmountainmusic.com

Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts  – Brian T. Murphy

Jesus, Lover of my Soul – Greg Thompson

Help My Unbelief – Clint Wells

God of my Life, to Thee I Call – Clint Wells, Brian T. Murphy and Benj Pocta

All Things New – Clint Wells

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From Sojourn Music
www.sojournmusic.com

In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross

We are Listening

Only Your Blood

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From City Hymns
www.cityhymns.com

Out of the Depths (Psalm 130)

Satisfied

There is a Fountain

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Bifrost Arts
www.bifrostarts.com

Jesus Savior, Pilot Me

Kyrie

Be Still My Soul

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From Sovereign Grace
www.sovereigngracemusic.org

Before the Throne of God Above - Vikki Cook arr.

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From Cardiphonia / Redeemer
www.cardiphonia.org

Come, Holy Ghost - Bruce Benedict/Ray Mills

Alas, and Did my Savior Bleed - Annie Quick

The Lord is King – Nathan Partain

Come, Thou Everlasting Spirit – Benedict

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I’m hoping I’ve missed 20 or 30 more that you sing regularly.  You can see some more suggestions over at our facebook page – liturgyfellowship

Donatello "Massacre of the Innocents"

This Sunday celebrates the first Sunday of Epiphany where we celebrate Jesus Christ coming into the world as light into darkness.  His life in every way shines God’s glory into our world but with the coming of God’s glory we also face the uprising of sin and evil.  Here is a song I wrote a few years ago meditating on some of the contrasting themes of Epiphany (the Light coming, those that journey towards it and away from it, the fight of darkness against the light).

<Here is our post from last year with a lot more on Epiphany>

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O Holy Child (Hosanna to the King)
mp3 | chords | leadsheet

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Oh holy child, you’ve been made known
A thousand miles into the unknown
A light in the sky, for all mankind
You shined from the deep dark of space
You shined in the deep dark of our sin.

Refrain
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King

Oh holy light you’ve been made known
From Babylon, with the rising moon
Up to the king of Jerusalem
But not from the throne of David’s Citadel
Not from a throne but from a stable

O holy night, you’ve made been known
Where heavenly hosts, and shepherds roam
All to the wonder of His seemless light
You shined from the womb of prophets long-foretold
You shined from the womb into the night.

Oh holy wrath, oh holy blood
Bethlehem’s cries and Rachel’s breath
Running from His righteous wounds
He came for the peace, of ancient Israel
He came for the peace, for favored men.

(c) 2009 Bruce Benedict

Collection of Hymns for the New Year – Charles Wesley

(use tune for “O Worship the King“)

All praise to the Lord whose trumpet we hear,
Which speaks in his word the festival year:
The loud proclamation of freedom from thrall,
And gospel-salvation is published to all.

2 The year of release ev’n now is begun,
And pardon, and peace with Jesus sent down:
Eternal redemption through him we obtain,
And present exemption from hunger and pain.

3 Ye spirits enslaved, Your liberty claim,
Believe, and be saved through Jesus’s name;
That infinite lover of sinners embrace,
And gladly recover His forfeited grace.

4 With joyfullest news your prisons resound,
Your fetters are loose, your souls are unbound:
Resume the possession for which ye were born,
From Satan’s oppression to heaven return.

{From The Hymnary}

Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.

1 While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. Refrain

2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain

3 Down in a lowly stable
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that bless-ed Christmas morn. Refrain

The text of this beloved spiritual was first published in Folk Song of the American Negro (1907), a study of African American folk music by John Wesley Work, Jr.. The song may date back to earlier sources, but evidently the original text was lost. According to Edith McFall Work, widow of John Wesley Work, III:

the verses of these songs were published by John Work, II, in place of the original ones which could not be found. In 1940 John Work, III, had the songs copyrighted and published [at 215] in his book American Negro Songs.”

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Chords | Leadsheet | info

{some of our favorite arrangements}

Branches

Sojourn Music

Seryn

David Crowder Band

The Restoration

Cardiphonia

A number of years ago I realized that it would be really helpful to the church to sing a few Christmas songs after Christmas.  Our people needed to experience, sing, rest and reflect on the reality of Christ’s birth beyond the life craziness of Christmas week.

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Here are a couple of reasons why we should consider singing Christmas music after Dec 25th.

1. It Teaches us Good Liturgical Habits – We tend to confuse and conflate Advent and Christmas in our churches.  If we celebrate December 25th as the birth of Jesus then it makes sense to me that this monumental redemptive event deserves a few Sunday’s of our focus.  IN FACT, for churches that follow the traditional Liturgical calendar Dec 25th actually begins the 12 Days of Christmas with the season of Epiphany following close after.  So, most of the story that we sing in Christmas music actually doesn’t unfold until the weeks and months after Christmas.  Allowing a few Christmas songs to cheat into January gives people some time to work out the beginning of their savior’s life and to cherish all that his birth means for us, our world, our future hope.  When we do this it also helps to shape our Advent season with a greater focus on longing and second coming themes. I often have conversations with worship pastors who struggle to communicate BOTH Advent AND Christmas in the same seasons…they get confused and conflicting messages from pastors and other staff also struggling to pile in all that the December church season demands.  (I would say this same logic applies to Easter – Sing the big Resurrection songs for a few weeks AFTER Easter!)

2. It Helps us to Rest in the Reality of the Incarnation –   December is such a hectic season that our people rarely get a chance to REST in the glory of the Incarnation.  Before we’ve put away the decorations, stockings and stuffers from Christmas we are rushing into the new year and making plans for Lent, Easter, world domination or whatever.  When we sing Christmas songs after Christmas people listen and reflect on the lyrics in a much more profound way then is possible in the December haze.

3. The Incarnation is a Truth to Proclaim Every Sunday – When we quarantine Christmas music to the month of December we run the risk of our people thinking that the incarnation only matters one month a year. Every sunday at our church there is a focus on proclaiming Christ’s death and resurrection.  Yet, we can’t arrive at either of these without the incarnation.  By singing Christmas songs after Christmas you take a small step to widen God’s people’s understanding of their savior and the gospel ramifications of His birth!

4. It’s Counter-cultural and Subversive – Singing Christmas songs after Christmas is incredibly subversive, counter-cultural, and almost blasphemous in the world’s eyes.  Yup. A great reason to do it!  The World forgets about Christmas after Dec 25th…and for all that the world gives us we want to forget it too! (Unless you count the after xmas sales..again, not helpful!)  But in this silence we can create some space to really teach our people about what Christ’s coming truly means.  It means not the end of gifts and celebration — but continuing to celebrate and talk about the coming of the greatest gift we’ve EVER been given!

Hope that is helpful…a few brief thoughts. Would love to hear your feedback!

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Songs We Have Used:

Joy to the World (Isaac Watts based in Psalm 98)
mp3 | leadsheet | info

Go, Tell it On the Mountain
mp3 | leadsheet | other versions

Savior of the Nations, Come (Benedict arr.)
mp3 | leadsheet | capo

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
mp3 | chords | leadsheet | info

Joy Has Dawned (Getty,Townend)
mp3| leadsheet

This is the Christ (McCracken arr.)
mp3 | chords

Angels from the Realms of Glory (traditional)
Bill Mallonee arr, Modern Worship arr | Zac Hicks arr | | leadsheet | info |

Who is This, So Weak and Helpless (McCracken/Miner arr)
mp3 | leadsheet

O Sing a Song of Bethlehem (Louis Benson)
mp3 | video | leadsheet | info

The Son Forsook the Father’s Home (benedict arr.)
mp3 | chord chart | leadsheet

Hail to the Lord’s Annointed (The Welcome Wagon)
mp3 | leadsheet (link to buy)

Once in Royal David’s City (Trad/Sufjan Stevens arr.)
mp3 | leadsheet

Simeon’s Song – (Consolation – Shape Note)
mp3 | leadsheet | (c) | info

See HERE for Epiphany songs and HERE for more Xmas themed songs.

Judea is a much loved shape-note composition by William Billings, widely regarded as the father of American choral music.  He was an untrained musician by today’s standards who dedicated his life to writing hymns and teaching ‘singing-schools’ in the rural parts of new england in the late 1700′s.   Recently this tune has been recorded by two high profiles classical ensembles interested in performing ‘early music’ – listen to The Tudor Choir and The Rose Ensemble.

Here is a rough demo I recorded for our singers to learn the song and the sheet music we used.

Demo-mp3 | Choral Arr-pdf

Billings often wrote music and lyrics for many of his compositions – I love how his rough prose captures the scene in Luke 2 in a more authentic way then many of our either over-sentimentalized or ‘refined’ carols do.  Certainly the angels would not have sung “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” to a bunch of dirty, outsider shepherds. Billings reminds us that the incarnation’s entrance was nothing if not a humble affair -

As shepherds in Jewry were guarding their sheep,
Promiscusly seated estranged from sleep;
An Angel from heaven presented to view,
And thus he accosted the trembling few.

Billings’ style was largely the inspiration for our version of “On a Hill in Bethlehem” which I’ll post today or tomorrow.

As advent looks towards Christ return on earth it also looks to the celebration of the heavens.  In that spirit we have given you “O Feast of Nations” as an 8th verse.   On Xmas eve as you celebrate with friends and family give part of your time to reading through this devotional – pointing us towards the feast of the Lamb.

[PDF download]
[PDF of Leadsheet]

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Musical Versions of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Red Mountain Music
Castle Island Hymns
Sojourn Music
Sufjan Stevens
High Street Hymns
Pageant Music
Christ Church Berkeley
Covenant Choral Ensemble
David Crowder Band
BiFrost Arts
Belle and Sebastian

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A collection of sonnets for the O Antiphons by Malcolm Guite. (HT David Taylor)

I Wonder as I Wander is a fascinating, and relative new comer to the advent and Christmas season song reportoire.  Yet it has also been extremely popular across musical genre’s being recorded by everyone from Joan Baez to Julie Andrews to Harry Connick Jr to Chanticleer.

It was originally discovered by John Jacob Niles, who like Alan Lomax, traveled the Appalachian folkways in the 1920 and 30′s collecting songs of all kinds.  John discovered this song while traveling through Murphy, NC in 1933.  The daughter of a traveling evangelist family was singing it and John paid the girl a few dollars to sing it long enough for him to sketch an idea of the melody and lyrics.

This text and its origins reflect the earthy resonance of Jesus’ arrival in the world. As you read the lyrics and hear the music it’s not hard to imagine this being sung by the Shepherds as they gospeled the story over the hills of Bethlehem.

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I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.

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Here are links to a few different versions plus one we are working on for our Lessons and Carols service.

John Jacob Niles
mp3 | info

Forest Mountain Hymnal
mp3

Wovenhand
mp3

Cardiphonia arr
mp3 | leadsheet

[Purchase at BandCamp]

What do I think of this new Christmas/Advent hymns album by Boston City Life musicians Bobby Krier, Justin Ruddy and ensemble?  Nom Nom Nom!

The arrangements are super interesting to listen too, the production work includes stellar contributions from friends Gloria Notes and Magik Magik among others, and most of these can be worked out in a congregational setting. There’s a great mix of traditional carols ancient and new and even brand new compositions.  Musically it is by far the most quirky and poppy of the “re:hymned” albums I have listened too, which makes it a refreshing balance to the indie-folk that currently dominates the genre.

Lyrical Observations:

Read the hymn “Jesus Came, The Heaven’s Adoring” that is the basis for track one.  It is one of the few xmas texts that allows us to sing into the sorrow that many of us feel during this time of year and find Jesus at the bottom of it.  Bobby has done a great job with the music for this text.

Give Emmanuel Come by Justin Ruddy a good listen.  These are original lyrics that do a great job of walking us through the scene from Luke 2.  I love how he ties the angels long wait for Christ’s birth with our continued waiting for Christ to return and make all things right.

*Thanks to Bobby and crew for contributing to our latest compilation with their track – Satisfied by Grace.

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‘Christmas’ Track List:

01 Alleluia (leadsheet)
(based in the hymn “Jesus Came the Heaven’s Adoring)
02 Hark The Herald Angels Sing
03 Word Become Flesh
(words and music: Justin Ruddy)
04 Gloria
Text by Caelius Sedulius 5th century
(refrain) Bobby Krier | Music: Bobby Krier
05 O Come All Ye Faithful
06 Emmanuel Has Come
(words and music: Justin Ruddy)
07 I Heard The Bells
(words: Henry Longfellow | Music: Kevin Burtram)
08 Christmas Night
(words: Traditional |Music & refrain: Bobby Krier)
09 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
10 Silent Night