The latest e-news from St. James Music Press:

We’re well into Lent, and so far, we’ve kept up with our Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and complete abstinence from exercise!

With all of that going on, you may still be planning (or need to make changes) for Holy Week so we want to be sure you saw some of our new releases as well as remind you about a few of our favorite gems from the back catalog.

These are appropriate anytime in Lent as well as for Holy Week. “When Jesus Wept” is also particularly suited for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

If you haven’t been on the site for a while, there’s a lot of new music and we’ll also be updating our suggestions on the catalog page as we move closer to Easter.

Jump on and have a look!

Featured Scores

Drop, Drop Slow Tears

For 2 part mixed choir and keyboard (organ or piano) - Sarah MacDonald brings you an immediately useful setting of Gibbon's tune Psalm 46 with the text by Phineas Fletcher. The accompaniment provides interest and the vocal parts are easily managed - this can even be sung by two singers. - View sheet music • Sarah's arrangement at YouTube: https://youtu.be/qurGiRUDAj0

When Jesus Wept
For two-part (equal voices) choir and organ. An arrangement of the classic canon by William Billings, with additional text from a hymn by Charles William Everest. - View sheet music

Ave Verum Corpus
Also by Sarah MacDonald, this score, or any combination of 3 voices is a nifty canon using the well-known latin text. Appropriate for Lent, Holy Week, or communion anytime! - View sheet music

My Song is Love Unknown
An arrangement of the beautiful hymn tune by John Ireland. James Kirkby arranges a beautiful two-part (mixed) choir IN CANON and organ with an optional descant. It's all of the "wow" with half of the work. - View sheet music

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St. James Music Press | www.sjmp.com | 828-859-0323

Posted on behalf of SJMP by TCS editor R. Schletty

Responsorial Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22 for the 2nd Sunday in Lent Year A

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The Lord looks on those who revere him,

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/UoDQxICgXDo

Responsorial psalm in Spanish for 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle A. Free download of sheet music at the following link. All the psalm verses are available.

https://insong.org/product/domingo-2-de-cuaresma-a-salmo-32-senor-ten-misericordia-de-nosotros/



Music © 2019, Anthony Moran, https://insong.org

Responsorial Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17 for the 1st Sunday in Lent Year A

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness.
In Your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me

This song is an original composition that expresses the love that God has for us... it is relentless, never giving up, always persuing. 

The voice and guitar in this may sound familiar... the composer and singer, Michelle Sambrano is the leader of the Sing Psalms Project and has been posting responsorial psalms each week.  She is also a very active member of Color, another of the music ministry groups located at the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, St John, Barbados.

We hope that you will enjoy listening to Relentless.  Original song by Color, music composed by Michelle Sambrano

 

Salmo responsorial (responsorial psalm) para Domingo 1 de Cuaresma Ciclo A: Salmo 50 - Misericordia, Señor, hemos pecado. Todos los versos del salmo están disponibles. / Responsorial psalm for First Sunday of Lent, Cycle A. Free download of sheet music at the following link. All the psalm verses are available.

https://catholicliturgyinsong.org/product/domingo-1-de-cuaresma-a-salmo-50-misericordia-senor-hemos-pecado/

Musica: Anthony Moran © 2019, Catholic Liturgy in Song Texto: Leccionarios I, II y III. © 1987, 2004, Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral Litúrgica de la Conferencia Episcopal Mexicana.

Originally published February 23, 2020

Responsorial Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17 for Ash Wednesday

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness.
In Your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me

Responsorial Psalm 102(103):1-4,8,10,12-13 for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The Lord is compassion and love.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord is compassion and love.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,

Here is our original music setting to this very lovely devotion. 
 
 

What's more Catholic than the Pope?
 

Ready for your second new publication of 2023? That's right, your St. James Music Press music library just got a little bigger and you didn't need to file a thing. You will, however, want to schedule this incredibly elegant canon during one of your Lent or Holy Week services! It's three times the beauty for one-third of the work.

Ave Verum Corpus by Sarah MacDonald is for any combination of 3 voices, uses the well-known Latin text, and is perfect for Lent, Holy Week, or communion anytime. Click on the video or go directly to SJMP to hear it for yourself!

Responsorial Psalm 71(72):1-2,7-8,10-13 for the Epiphany of the Lord (Mass of the Day)

All nations shall fall prostrate before You, O Lord.

O God, give Your judgement to the king,
to a king’s son Your justice,
that he may judge Your people in justice
and Your poor in right judgement.

All nations shall fall prostrate before You, O Lord.

In His days justice shall flourish

Responsorial Psalm 66(67):2-3,5,6,8 for New Year's Day

O God, be gracious and bless us.

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let Your face shed its light upon us.
So will Your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn Your saving help.

O God, be gracious and bless us.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for You rule the world with justice.
With fairness You rule the peoples,

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" is a classic hymn that holds out a promise of Christ's help for troubled souls. The words were first written by Helen Howarth Lemmel in 1918 and has been translated into many languages around the world.
Originally published "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" in England in 1918. 

https://youtu.be/TViMWrDHpsw

Dedicated to St Mary Catholic Church, in Anacortes WA.
And to all all troubled souls of our world, turn your eyes and hearts to Jesus!!!

Peace, Love, Hope, and Salvation to all peoples!!!

Feedback is very much appreciated.

"Take My Hand, Precious Lord" (a.k.a. "Precious Lord, Take My Hand") is a gospel song. The lyrics were written by Thomas A. Dorsey, who also adapted the melody.

I dedicate this song to all suffering peoples of our world, from war, hunger, abuse, loss of loved ones, loneliness, poverty, ignorance, and all forms of pain.


Feedback is very much appreciated.
Looking forward to all the goodness and humbling moments of 2023!!!

https://youtu.be/7oKbap4CNpM

Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1-3,11-13 for Christmas Day (Midnight Mass)

Today a saviour has been born to us: He is Christ the Lord.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless His name.

Today a saviour has been born to us: He is Christ the Lord.

Proclaim His help day by day,
tell among the nations His glory
and His wonders among all the peoples.

Note from editor Richard Schletty: Tom Mohr has been in leadership roles almost continuously since 1980. Tom's "Rising Leader Series" includes reflections on faith and leadership, coupled with recordings of his own original songs of faith. Read Tom's bio here. Below is an excerpt from a letter Tom sent to me today.

Dear Richard,

As you know, I have been publishing throughout this year a weekly letter, sent to 50,000 churches throughout North America. Each letter has a letter, poem, and link to the song for that month. I have called this series The Rising Leader Series.

I am now turning in earnest to the work of promoting my music and seeking out performing opportunities – especially for my Rising Leader Series message.

Here are the links to 52 letters for the Rising Leader Series:

Q1: Who is God?
Week 1: Abba Father
Week 2: Creator God
Week 3: Connected in Space
Week 4: Connected in Time
Week 5: Pluralism ...

"The Christmas Song" sometimes titled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You" is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Torme. 
 
According to Torme, the song was written in July during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed Christmas song was born. "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells's) piano with four lines written in pencil", Torme recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics." 
 
The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song in June 1946. 
 
Dedicated to all beautiful peoples of our world! 
Peace and Joy is my wish for all!!!
 
Feed back is much appreciated. 
https://youtu.be/18nFWsRfrx8

I recommend this streaming music radio station. – TCS editor Richard

GreatCatholicMusic.com – greatcatholicmusic.com

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