Similar to my previous albums in this series (aside from the guitar instrumental album 4), volume 6 is true to its title: relevant, Christian, and song sketches. As stated in previous blog album announcements, my goal is to inspire contemporary Christian artists to write songs that are relevant. I am not a singer or an established and seasoned songwriter. An artist who is, though, might feel inspired, “If this newbie has the gumption to write Christian songs that address critical current issues, I can do the same–but much better!” That’s the hope and the purpose of my song sketches.
Album 6, while being relevant, is relevant only indirectly. It’s not, as previous albums have been, direct social and theological critique. Instead, my sixth album is relevant to one’s spirituality; its lyrics are classic Catholic prayers adapted from the prayer book Manuals of Christian Prayers, Compiled by Rev. James D. Watkins. Praying deeply changes one’s self and one’s culture; and that’s relevant! (OK–I’m stretching here; but I wanted to keep the album title before the release number.)
Studying ScoreClub.net will help me in arranging/scoring my sixth album, making it melody and harmony driven rather than chord-progression oriented. Ace Studio was used minimally on my last couple of albums, but its AI/sampling singers take center stage on this sixth album in the Relevant Christian Song Sketches series. A good thing, given my own singing ability!
Follow these links to my six previous albums. Each album is on a variety of popular streaming platforms. This reveals my songwriting aspirations, methods, and philosophy.
Relevant Christian Song Sketches 5
Relevant Christian Song Sketches 4
Relevant Christian Song Sketches 3
Relevant Christian Song Sketches 2
Relevant Christian Song Sketches
I discuss my album further on my podcast.
Lyrics for RCSS 6
Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel p 75
Angel of God
My guardian dear
To whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide.
____________________________
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas p14
I come sick to the doctor of life
Unclean to the fountain of mercy
I come blind to the eternal light
Poor and needy
To the Lord of heaven and earth.
CH
May I receive the Bread of angels
The King of kings and Lord of lords
With humble reverence
With purity and faith
May I receive the Lord’s Body and Blood
V CH V CH :
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The Universal Prayer, Pope Clement XI p36
Lord, I believe in you
Increase my faith
I trust in you
Strengthen my trust
I love you
Let me love you more and more
I am sorry for my sins
Deepen my sorrow
CH
Enlighten my understanding
Strengthen my will
Purify my heart
Make me holy
CH V …
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Complete Trust in God, St. Francis de Sales p64
2X
Hold fast to His dear hand
He will lead you safely through
2X
When you cannot stand
He’ll carry you in his arms
CH 2X
He’ll shield you from suffering
Or give you unfailing strength to bear it
CH V …
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Prayer of Saint Anselm of Canterbury p218
C 3X
I was created in Your image
To know and thank and love You
B 3X
I seek not to understand
That I may believe
A 3X
I believe that I may understand.
C A B A C
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Prayer of Dedication, Anselm p219
I give you my hands, Lord, to do your work.
I give you my feet to go your way.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind to think in me.
I give you my spirit to pray in me.
I give you my heart
To love in me
R
Jesus, live and work and pray in me.
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Prayer for Leading a Holy Life, St. Thomas Aquinas p 225
May I find joy in nothing
But what leads to you
Sorrow in nothing
But what leads away from you
May I seek to please no one,
Nor fear to displease anyone.
May I fear only you.
CH
Let me find pleasure in all toil that is for you
Weariness in all rest where you are not.
CH V CH V CH :
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The Mission of My Life, St. John Henry Cdl. Newman p230
CH
He does nothing in vain
He knows what He is about
He may take away my friends
Throw me among strangers
Make me feel desolate
Make my spirits sink
Hide my future from me
CH V …
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For All Good Things, Aquinas p264
3X
Let every day combine the beauty of spring
The brightness of summer
The abundance of autumn
The repose of winter
3X
At the end of my life
May I see you and know you
In the fullness of your glory.
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Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi p323
R
Make me an instrument of your peace, Lord.
2x
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
2x
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
2x
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
CH
It is in giving that we receive
In pardoning we are pardoned
In dying we are born to eternal life.
CH V/REF …CH CH
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Here are my rookie orchestration notes that I intend to refer to
- Mark the line with dynamics and accents.
- Write metaphors to describe the piece, for directing your writing.
- Decide on instrumentation. How many of each group?
- Add or subtract instruments for crescendo or decrescendo.
- Add extra instruments on accents, including percussion.
- The C-Bass usually moves in octaves or in unison with cellos or bassoons. For passages that are very high or low in pitch, double them in octaves.
- Four winds are needed to double a trumpet in octaves.
- All combinations of woodwinds and strings are good.
- Horns are good with cellos.
- Most writing is four-part, with doubling.
- At low pitches, intervals are wide; at higher pitches they are close.
- Trumpets and trombones often are doubled by brass.
- When a trumpet part is too low, use horns. When it’s too high, use oboes and clarinets in unison.
- Tutti for forte passages.
- To develop crescendo, add strings, then winds, then brass. Reverse for decrescendo.
- Include percussion on rhythmic passages.
- Choral parts are usually doubled by instruments.
BirgittaVille 