Recent comments
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Thank you for fixing that. I had done it correctly with the last one and apparently forgot how. Thank you also for the feedback!
Author: Richard Schletty
Captain H: I fixed your YouTube embed. You should click on Source and paste it in. Then click on Source button again to switch back to visual editor. The instructions are at the top of the home page.
You have some nice vocal polyphony going toward the end. I would be careful of rushing certain phrases. Some are hard to understand unless one is watching the YouTube subtitles. Don't try to pack too much into a line.
These songs styled as miltary marches and national anthems are...
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Thank you, sir! No issues with copyright so far. These aren't copywritten in China but some are in the USA weirdly enough. I'm confident my use is "fair use" as parody. This is partially why the silly communist band name, etc, to reinforce that it's lawful parody. Only issue I've had is the rightsholder wanted to retain rights for my use of the melody for "Without the Catholic Church, We'd Have No Holy Bible" by running potential ads for their benefit on YouTube. I...
Author: Richard Schletty
Upbeat. In lockstep with our Marian tradition. Have the Kremlin or the CCP contacted you yet about usurping their tunes? LOL.
Keep going! What a unique project!
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, Captain, for taking a listen and citing your favorite arrangement of that old tune. Of course, it may not be the tune from Yolanda's childhood, but I tried!
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Thanks for answering Yolanda. I was curious. Everybody thinks their opinion matters and I'm no exception so I want to state I liked the Fr. J. Roel Lungay version better - at least for listening.
Author: Richard Schletty
Excellent musical setting of an ages-old maxim. The best return comes from investing in the work of the Lord with one's whole heart, mind and soul. Trent Williamson's harmonica is a beautiful overlay. Well sung. Well played.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Wow! Thank you so much, Alex. Glad you found encouragement from it. :-)
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Thank you so much for your kind words.
The creative process is interesting in that it can feel like output comes from nowhere and other times the creative can push himself to make output. If you want more output but it's not coming, force yourself and see what happens! (This free advice is worth what you paid for it)
Yes, we have others, all in the same vein, and more coming. At present this continuously updated YouTube playlist is the most concise place to hear them though all are available...
Author: Alexander John
There is something about the way you deliver your music that puts me in an upbeat and good mood whenever I hear it. It's extremely unique and catchy. I really enjoy the originality and it keeps my head bopping and thinking at the same time. Keep up the great work!
- Alex.
Author: Alexander John
At the moment I'm almost out of lyrics but I hope to do another project. I was thinking of doing a full length album that is a concept piece, but I'm not sure which direction I should go. Maybe incorporate some of my life story and my journey with Christ. Anyway I hope to write and record more soon. I also wanted to let you know that the track you did about the Catholic Church and Holy Bible is extremely catchy, unique and just straight up awesome. All the best, Alex.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Hey Alex~
Having peroused your work here and on a music service a time or two, when I read these words the voice I heard in my head was yours. More tracks in the works?
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Glad that it's working again! That IT pixie dust did it haha. And yes, I enjoy this site and the dialogues that can happen. It provides a home for us and I get to hear what others are up to as well as share.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thrum is a good word – glad I learned it today. I learned scrum at CSB-SJU (Collegeville, MN) in the early 70s when I first saw our rugby team practice. Huddling and heaving in a tight circle is sure a curious thing. I myself threw discus, javelin and shot put.
Your "ill-fated time in IT" – sounds like a bad dream.
Thanks for helping to get some dialogs going here as folks share their music artistry and faith.
Such a joy to have the page refresh now...
Author: Richard Schletty
Fingers crossed and a prayer wafted cloudward. I think I fixed the problem of the "page not refreshing" after publishing a post or comment. Too geeky to explain. I will keep an eye on things. Thanks, everyone, for your patience.
Any Drupal or WordPress developers here among the ranks who would like to help out with content management, troubleshooting, and a possible migration to Drupal 8 or pro version of WordPress?
Richard Schletty
Top Catholic Songs
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
My ill-fated time in IT we had something called Scrum and folks who were Scrum Masters. Not sure if you're familiar outside it's original use which I suspect is sports related. Thrum, a word I did know, got used in the song because of a rhyming dictionary haha. Thank you for your kind comments.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
WordPress - something I've heard of before discussing the site with you! :-)
Author: Richard Schletty
I tried doing some Drupal 6 updates and troubleshooting. The website was offline for about 40 minutes with various errors. The Drupal 6 CMS (content management system) is getting way too old and crusty. I may have to migrate to WordPress to keep everything fresh and shiny for the future.
Author: Richard Schletty
I am having the same trouble. Posts and comments actually do get published but the browser fails to refresh. I am submitting a ticket to SiteGround.com web hosting to have them troubleshoot this issue.
Author: Richard Schletty
Another rousing call to battle for Christians against the wickedness and snares of the devil. I like your word rhymes and cadence.
"A billion strong together in a thrum." Thrum is a new word for me! How could I have not known this all my life?
Now imagine "a billion strong together in a scrum!"
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Oops! Mr Schletty can you kindly remove my triple post? I seem to have hit the button three times thinking my comment didn't upload. :-)
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
What a wonderful piece. I loved the video also as it scrolled and I could follow and attempt to sing along. Hopefully you get a lot of parishes interested in this and your other selections.
Author: Richard Schletty
I hear ya. Melodyne is a necessity for those of us who can't quite sing on pitch all the time. I've tried to improve for many years and sometimes come close. I am 68 years old now and thank God that my range and timbre have been preserved over the decades. I've always had an intermittent problem with glottis spasm when singing sustained notes above high D (w/o going into falsetto mode). That happens sometimes when singing something like "Lift High the Cross" at Mass...
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Good information. You fooled me with one voice doing all the tracks! Excellent. And about you using Melodyne on *some* of the tracks...I have the folks that help me Melodyne ALL my tracks - it would be unlistenable otherwise. So don't feel bad in the slightest. These technologies help us do more.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks for your in-depth comments. Truly appreciated. The original compositions are similar to the Michel Guimont arrangements of English psalms as found in the Revised Grail Psalms from Conception Abbey/The Grail. We sing the Guimont psalm tones most weekends at the Church of St. Mary in St. Paul. Minnesota. However, the Spanish salmo arrangements Tony and I create are a bit simpler than the Guimont arrangements. We try to avoid complex chords, like inversions and difficult "...
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
First off, I hit the play mp3 button and then when it "didn't work" I played the video. So I started out thinking this was some sort of round as both began playing but not in synch! Haha. As a non-Spanish speaker and relatively unfamiliar with liturgical music (take what I say for what it's worth) I think this sounds good. It sticks in the mind which is wonderful as it writes the text onto hearts and souls and is carried by the hearer during their days. As guitar is probably the normal...
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for your comment! I created lyrics for Dave's track and recorded my voice for this song 15 years ago! Where has the time gone?
Author: Steve Byrne
I love how this song flows. Great production and lyrics. Very prayerful. My prayers go with you.
Author: Richard Schletty
"Peaceful and meditative" – just as you said in your description. Reminiscent of some of John Michael Talbot's prayer-songs. Well done. Good guitar work. Sweet vocals. Keep the songs coming! Do you have your songs available as guitar lead sheets?
Author: Richard Schletty
This song is a gentle reminder of how the Most Holy Trinity can infuse our being through self-abandonment and welcoming prayer. I like the interplay of voices (polyphony). Thank you for sharing this wonderful composition.
Author: Richard Schletty
This sounds good. Reminscent of circle singing and Sacred Harp singing, with harmonic layering and improvised solos led by the Spirit. Well done.
Author: Richard Schletty
Well spoken. Well sung. Thank you, Fr. Maximilian, for your teaching on the beauty of creation. We must re-instill awe and wonder in our youth.
Author: stevdrak
Captain, thanks for your lovely feedback and for taking the time to comment. I'm happy that the music could transport you to happy days growing up. God bless.
audra from Color
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
I grew up in an evangelical denomination that used only a cappella music and this song, especially the first and last parts with the call-and-response styling, reminds me of this same type of music we sometimes sang. Enjoyed. Thank you for sharing!
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Father has a gift for weaving a great piece together. Catchy without being gimmicky. Excellent track.
Author: stevdrak
Thank you Richard, I always appreciate whatever feedback you have to share. Thank you as well for providing this platform for Catholic artists to minister. May God continue to bless you
Author: Richard Schletty
Captain, you found what I found at St. James Music Press a few years back. A lot of very good music. I posted other stories in the past here at TCS highlighting their seasonal offerings. Just do a search here for St. James Music Press.
topcatholicsongs.com/search/node/St. James Music Press
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
I'm not involved in my parish's music ministry but what a great resource for those who are (and for Catholic music fans like myself). Just wanted to point out you can see everything and hear many of the songs before you have to pay for the license. The only risk to look around is the time it takes you to sign up. Check this out!
Author: asiansa09
How do we get our songs to be in the litergy song book of Catholic church?
Author: Richard Schletty
The last two songs here are my collaborations with Alex John. I adapted his poetry to create my own takes on his good sentiments re God and love.
https://youtu.be/SD0nlxssm7A?t=1359
22:39 – Love 101 – by Richard Schletty and Alex John (home studio recording)
26:14 – God Is On The Scene – by Richard Schletty and Alex John (home studio recording)
Author: Alexander John
Thanks for taking time to listen to my music and I hope you enjoy the EP.
Author: balynch88
Liked your music, had to listen to a couple of the songs, will plan on sitting down and listening to the entire EP soon. Keep up the good work.
Author: Richard Schletty
Here are two Divine Mercy songs that Dan vi Nguyen and Richard Schletty composed:
God's Gift to All the World (Nguyen, Schletty, van Haren)
For the Love of Humanity: a Divine Mercy chant based on messages from Christ to St. Faustina
Author: balynch88
Thank you for listening, I also enjoyed the song you posted, great orchestration. Will keep an eye out for more of your work in the future.
Author: Alexander John
That is very kind of you to say and I appreciate the lovely feedback. Im glad you enjoyed them! Stay safe and God Bless. I will also let my dad know that you dig his production. All the best, Alex.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Alex,
I've haunted this site for maybe a month and have enjoyed your tracks. At one point I went back and found stuff from last year. I enjoy hearing spoken word performance with your cool accent and of course I love the subject matter. Oh, and your dad did a great job with the BGM.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Enjoyed this approach to music. It's familiar and yet different. I like the "throwback" feel and your deliberate marketing using similar language to differentiate your music. A couple weeks ago I had this on repeat for like 2 hours as I cleaned house. When I clean house, I need to feel like I'm already walking on water as it's not my favorite task.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Listened to this whole record last night and went kind of nuts over the "Don't Be Afraid to Shine that Light" track. Also enjoyed the natural approach to vocals, I think it fits the style of your music. For our vocals we had to comp like crazy and Melodyne the heck out of the General Secretary's Nephew's voice to get his privileged tail to sing in tune.
Author: Captain Hogcurl...
Why can't more of you be like your Webmaster here? Unsolicited positive comments to the General Secretary's Nephew's band. We normally have to extract these types of comments after our forced education sessions.
Author: Richard Schletty
This reminds of Monty Python's Flying Circus when they'd say, "And now for something completely different." Your song is entertaining and didactic. I've been reading "Patrology" by Johannes Quasten so your short history of ecumenical councils, heresies and guidance by the Holy Spirit, all as part of Catholic Bible development, resonates with me. Thank you for sharing!
Author: Nothingless
Thank you Richard, my friend
it's a joy to receive your encouraging words
blessings and prayers from Israel
Author: Richard Schletty
A rockin' reflection on all the goodness of our Creator that surrounds us throughout life's journey. Excellent mix and nice imagery.
Happy Easter to you, my friend.
Author: Richard Schletty
This is beautifully done. Guitar and voice are simple and sublime. A heartfelt prayer. Thank you for sharing.
I embedded your YouTube video for you. The instructions are in the blue box at the top of the home page.
Author: Richard Schletty
You have been an inspiration me, Dan Vi. I sang two of the songs we crafted together on Divine Mercy Sunday at the Church of Saint Mary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Author: asiansa09
It is such a treasure to tap into the sainthood direction.
I guess I feel better just to be simple minded when I first know about Saint Faustina through the Divine Mercy of Christ. But when I get to know more about the direction of sainthood in Catholic, I realize it is a tremendous resources that we haven't explore it throughly.
Author: Richard Schletty
You are welcome. This is our original post from September 28, 2017. I sang this song on Good Friday at the prayer vigil sponsored by plam.org in front of Planned Parenthood's abortuary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I also sang God's Gift to All the World.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you, Filippo. I am glad you like this. The woman who inspired me to do this is Dan Vi. Her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus runs deep.
Author: Nothingless
This is beautiful!!
I love the st Faustina writings, are really worthy to be sung, you created an intimate and appropriate acompaniement of her message
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you, Alex, for listening and commenting. Grace and peace.
Author: Richard Schletty
Dear "zorahope",
I'm glad you can help shed some light on the way this song should be sung. I was working blind, never having heard it before I attempted to sing it from the sheet music arrangement in Hymnal for Young Christians. I was confused by the cut time assigned to the piece. The verses seemed to go way too slowly, so that's why I sang them the way I did. I subsequently purchased Blue's original vinyl album. I might post the origonal recording – perhaps the...
Author: zorahope
I know I'm seriously late to this conversation (about 6 years late!), but I stumbled upon it looking for something else and these posts caught my eye because I, too, grew up singing and playing this song in our little Catholic church in North St. Louis, MO.
Richard, on your YouTube version, you are playing the verses twice as fast as your refrain. When I played it back in the day, I kept the same time signature throughout. We actually did it more as a 4 than as cut time, but that...
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
Thanks for you kind feedback. If you don't mind putting up the YouTube links it would be very much appreciated because I have no idea how. So glad you enjoyed the songs and Thankyou for taking the time to listen to them. God Bless, Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
You can embed YouTube videos here. Instructions are at the top of the home page. If you can't figure it out, I would be happy to do it for you.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I am very happy to hear your published God Hop tracks. You and your father did a great job on making your good words distinct and well-paced – with a nice underlayment of beats and instrumental sounds. These narratives speak well of your journey with Jesus Christ. I hope that lots of people listen. God bless.
Author: Richard Schletty
Not bad for an iPad! It is beautiful. Have you created sheet music for this setting of Psalm 23? How do you intend to share/market your psalm settings?
I am very much interested in your other psalm settings.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I upgraded my microphone to a Rode and I am liking it a lot more. We are almost half way through recording the ebook of lyrics I sent you a link for quite a while ago. There were 17 tracks written there and we are doing them one by one. We will pick our favourite 12 or 13 to put on the album and I will put a link on this site to it. Thanks for the feedback and hope you are well. All the best, Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Definite improvement in the voice level and pacing. Good reflections on your journey with Christ. Congrats to you and your dad. Looking forward to the entire album.
Author: Richard Schletty
Excellent! I like the inspiration behind this song. Let's all endeavor to walk on water today, despite our self doubts!
FYI, you need to click on Source (top left of formatting toolbar) to enter the YouTube embed code into the source code editor. Please make the width 480 and height 270 (to accomodate small screens). I fixed it for you.
Also note that hitting Return gives you a line feed or break <br>. Hitting Shift + Return gives you a new paragraph <p>....
Author: Fr. Maximilian ...
You really went the extra mile for my little post! May God reward you...
I'm using all digital recording equipment (much of the software is able to replicate that classic sound - compressors, amp simulators, etc.), but the vintage vibe comes primarily from the fact that I'm recording actual instruments (real drums, guitars, etc. and featuring others on real instruments like saxophone, harmonica, flute, etc.) and another reason is that I stopped listening to rock music (Christian or secular)...
Author: Richard Schletty
I see you added the YouTube link. Normally, simply pasting in the YouTube video URL (address) will result in the video showing up on this web page. Optionally, you can grab the embed code and paste it into the "source code" view – but that is more geekish. Let's see if pasting in the YouTube video works here...
Author: Living Waters
Thank you so much! I am not sure what that means, but I more than willing to do anything to promote this video.
Author: Richard Schletty
You can paste in the YouTube URL in your original post and it will show up as an inline video. Would you like to do that? It might draw more people to your post to have the embedded video. Looks good!
Author: Living Waters
Mark Lajoie here speaking for Living Waters! The video for this is now over 6000 plays on YouTube. For any who venture here we would be beholden to you if you go take a look at that and subscribe to our site!
LET IT REIGN on LivingWatersUtube!
https://videoapi-muybridge.vimeocdn.com/animated-thumbnails/image/18753964-41e9-4628-b1e1-78d5d2f64189.gif?ClientID=vimeo-core-prod&Date=1615928273&Signature=ff40e86363a6c2bc0a96a495679171c780505cc2
Author: Richard Schletty
This is awesome, Michael. The lyrics overflow with emotion. What a testimony to the transformative power of the Body of Christ. Well produced, well sung! I can see this being perfromed on stage. Thanks for sharing.
Author: Richard Schletty
Fr. Maximilian, these songs sound very good. Sung with passion and artistry. Did you use some classic analog equipment to record?
SiteGround recently switched this website to a different web hosting space – from Apache to NGINX. It has caused some problems with serving up certain files with spaces and caps. I noticed that A Battle Cry Goes Out.mp3 wasn't playing in the MP3 player so I re-uploaded it as A-Battle-Cry-Goes-Out.mp3. I hope to have a fix soon. I also just...
Author: Andrzej
Thank you, Richard, for taking the time to listen/watch and for your kind comment - I appreciate it very much!
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you, Andrzej, for sharing your evocative music and beautiful imagery.
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan Vi, congratulations for being mentioned as a Catholic songwriter in your Providence Associates newsletter. Keep making songs of faith! Here is the paragraph about your songwriting from the PDF file you sent:
"Dan Vi Nguyen has devoted time and creative energy to writing lyrics to uplifting and spiritual music. She collaborates with other artists who compose the music and/or perform the songs. Her lyrics are her personal song of praise and she is happy that these are being shared...
Author: Richard Schletty
Stephanie, this is a very artistic and spirit-led song. Thank you for sharing. Welcome to Top Catholic Songs!
Author: Alexander John
This was a wonderful piece. Thanks for sharing this Richard. It was truely beautiful. Hope you share it on other platforms too.
Author: Alexander John
Unfortunately I'm not very tech savvy but want to learn more about mixing and even beat making myself. I want to research and learn about music theory. I think I will start with some instructional videos from YouTube. Thanks for feedback it all helps as you know what your talking about. I'm not sure if I mentioned but my dad lives in England so our Collabs are not done in person but it's a great way to still feel extra connection with him from a far. All the best. Alex.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, this sounds a lot clearer and flows and finishes nicely in the mix. I appreciate you adding some nice touches. I'm glad you liked the tracks. I haven't recorded any more but still working out what to do next. Blessings and thanks again. I will send a link to my dad. All the best. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I think your voice needs a boost in Track 1. I ran your audio file through Adobe Audition and used Center Channel Extract to bring up your narration so it's not drowned out by the music. See what you think. Albin can adjust this in the original mix.
topcatholicsongs.com/music/15th-October-2020-RS1.mp3
Richard Schletty
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan, this is very nice. Your songs are being very nicely produced by John Johnson from TuneDesigner. I like the theme of a banquet where we find rest and renewal with the Spirit of the Lord.
Author: Richard Schletty
You are creating some nice dramatic moments with this melding of reflections and sound effects. The tubular bells could be a little less loud. Your voice always needs to stay "on top" of the mix.
Blessings,
Richard
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, keep up the good writing. Your Dad is creating some nice soundbeds that support your reflections on God's mercy and love.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
That is very true. Just wanted also to let you know that once I have finished the album I will share it rather than putting up one song at a time. So far we are 5 songs into it with 12 remaining. Thanks for the feedback, it really is helpful. Check in again soon. God Bless. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
You are welcome, Alex.
There are a couple "rough edits" in the remix I did of your Dad's version. Maybe I'll smooth out a couple transitions and re-upload the song. Good job! I like your speaking voice and the resting spaces you now have in your delivery. There is no need to emulate the frantic pacing of hip-hop music. Find your own voice and tempo. When we pray internally, our thoughts are not an contant stream of words. We have many resting points as we ponder our...
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
Thank you for getting this online. There are more on the way. I received your message and when the next track is done I will upload it the way you showed me. Thanks again and God Bless. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
I actually recorded this a couple years ago. This OCP song is in my GIA Gather 2 and 3 guitar books.
Good to hear from you! – Richard
Author: asiansa09
I am glad that you still keep in touch with Oregon Catholic Press (OCP).
Author: Richard Schletty
Steve wrote:
"Many thanks for your encouragement, Richard. This site really is an excellent source of material and has really enriched my own ministry in my parish. God bless."
You are welcome. And thank you for your musical contributions to TCS.
Author: asiansa09
The song lyric, All Colors Wish One Wish, recorded at Nashville Song Services.
Author: asiansa09
I find the treasure of our Father
Who stand tall for his believe
Freedom for mankind leading the nation with no slaves
Wild rides with his ambition for the nation.
All colors with one wish
No segregation when it comes to the colors of skin
We all the same in our heart
That we are special create under God’s image
We should respect each other once and for all
That we belong to one human race of mankind
Father once said, let freedom ring for all nation
Start with a dream where mankind is united as...
Author: Richard Schletty
This is really good. And a very timely message in this time of political rancor, civic disturbances, and fading spirituality. I am so glad the lyrics finally came to fruition as this song.
Your singer is excellent. Be sure to give proper credits to musicians and producer. And I would like to see the lyrics posted here so we can follow along.
I hope this song will help to bring us together and heal wounds. I pray that reverence for God and mutual respect among men, women and children will...