Recent comments
Author: Nothingless
Thank you Richard!!! You are always positive, so kind and encouraging! God bless you!!!
Author: Richard Schletty
I really like this snapshot of contemplative, spiritual journeys. Good music. Good imagery. Thanks for sharing. This should cause us all to take time to focus on God and the gifts of nature and human life.
Author: Nothingless
The lyrics of this song are really beautiful. It is very well recorded and sung, but the melody and style of the song were not so catchy to my ears.
Then I went on Margo's website and I discovered there is plenty of beautiful songs, and a lot of variety of styles and moods, and I really loved some of them. I appreciated a lot also she offers everything for free, I definitely recommend to visit her website and browse her songs.
Author: Nothingless
Very nice song, creates a nice spiritual atmosphere. I loved the way you play and sing
Author: asiansa09
The song, "God's Gift To All The World," posted on Drooble.com reach international audience.
Sign up for Drooble.com and search for Vi Nguyen to hear songs.
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan (TCS member Asiansa09) posted this in a separate blog article. She expressed her joy:
Hi Richard,
I just want to share with you my joy regard to the song, God's Gift To All The World, that we worked together on the song a few years ago that I posted the song on Drooble.com that I recently received a recognition for 200 times plays on the radio.
I am also gratified by this news. We hope and pray that our collaborative song to bless many – Richard
Author: Richard Schletty
So happy to know that our song has been getting airplay. Thanks for the good news.
Read about the making of "God's Gift" here: https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/gods-gift-to-all-the-world
Author: Steve Byrne
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.
Author: Richard Schletty
Steve, this is very smooth and infused with devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. Thanks so much for sharing. You have a great voice and excellent audio mixing/mastering. May this song bless many.
Author: msmith
Richard, you are doing a great job keeping the site going!
Thank you for your kind words regarding my voice.
Margo
Author: Richard Schletty
Margo, I felt very fortunate when this site was handed over to me by CAM "charter member" Nick Alexander. I have tried to keep it going as best I can with my limited resources and time. The technology the website runs on is old, but it hasn't broken yet!
Your voice sounds really good! What a blessing when God's gift of singing persists.
Author: msmith
Richard, thank you for your kind words. Thank you also for providing this site for songwriters to share their songs. It's a very generous service you provide for us. Thanks again. Margo
Author: Richard Schletty
Margo, this is a beautiful song. Well written, well played, well sung. In this current age of rage we all need to be reminded of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. It could pave the way to all sorts of healing. Great to hear from you!
Author: Richard Schletty
Filippo: The song is excellent! I love your breathy, inspirited styling and beautiful guitar backing. Bravo.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, thanks very much for taking the time to give feedback and I have started putting pauses between phases in my recordings and your right it makes it much better for the listener to digest I actually e-mailed you a track where I did that, it's a bit of a downer of a track and isn't a catholic one but I think you might like it. I will post up a track with that format soon and yeah my dad has been taking care of all the instrumentals. Hope you and your loved ones are OK during these hard...
Author: Richard Schletty
Another good track. "When my pockets are empty you fill my heart." Post the lyrics so we can follow along!
Keep up the introspective rapping to keep Satan from entrapping. (I just made that up)
Author: Richard Schletty
Good words to ponder. "I make sure to worship the Lord and His mercy is the cure." Amen!
Your mixes are getting better. I like the background soundbed. Is this one also done by your Dad?
Once again, I urge you to put some space in between phrases. It will make the track even better!
Author: Richard Schletty
Good to have both lyrics and chords. Well done!
Author: asiansa09
For The World
Lead Sheet
Intro:
G - D/F# - Em - C
Verse 1:
G D/F#
We are in debt for our sin upon Christ
Em C
But the cross is the only light that shines
G D/F#
To pull us on the path of closer to God
Em C
For his mercy of forgiveness our sin
C add (b5)
We get to become union with God.
Chorus:
G D/F#
When the Lord, Jesus...
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan and Chas: This is very good. Excellent lyrics and musicianship. It would be nice to see the lyrics for the song within your post. Did you publish this at YouTube? God bless you always.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, thanks for the feedback it's much appreciated. I will try put pauses in the right spots on the next recording I do. Thanks so much for the RCS Cut. It was great to hear and I loved the effect you put on my vocals. I tried about an hour ago to upload it several times but it didn't work. Hope your well and will try again tomorrow. All the best, Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Interesting soundtrack with juice harp (Jew's harp) and chorus. I like how your voice is out front on this one. Again, please think about adding more pauses between phrases. The listener needs time to digest each choice thought-morsel. Keep up the good work of expressing your faith journey poetically, accompanied by a music thread.
Author: Richard Schletty
No problem as far as the lyrics. Looking forward to your album! 2020 has been good so far. Hoping the same for you and yours.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, unfortunatly I don't know what I did with the lyrics for this track! The first time I have lost some written verses. My dad did the instrumental to this track and we are going to collaborate on a album/mixtape together with him making the beats and me the vocals. How have you been? Hope 2020 has been good for you so far. All the best. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Sounds good, Alex. Your voice is a little hard to understand in some places where the music and chorus are a bit too loud. At least that's the way it sounded on my MacBook Pro. Might be better understood if I listen in headphones. Thanks for sharing!
Posting the lyrics here might be a good thing so we can follow along.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, I uploaded one more which is more like spoken word than hip hop.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, after a few years I have finally shared one of my few Catholic Hip Hop recordings. I used to rap prior to being catholic about more negative things so I wasn't sure how to approach putting God worship words to a beat but it's here now and would love your feedback. The instrumental and hook/chorus came from somewhere else but I'm allowed to use it as long as it's not for profit or download. Hope you like it and I might upload another one soon. God Bless and trust you are doing well!...
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, what I might do is re-record the two I have left that I kept as I'm still not very happy with them. Give me a week or so as I'm sick at the moment then I will re-record over maybe different instrumentals. I would appreciate the pointers too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too. God Bless.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, if you like you can send me a sample or two of your recording attempts. Maybe I can give you some pointers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May the Holy Spirit be with us and guide us.
Author: Alexander John
Thanks Richard, have a blessed Christmas also with your loved ones too! Unfortunately I'm not too happy with how my recordings are sounding so I'm hesitant to post them. I don't know what it is, I used to get great pleasure in recoding with a passion but now as I just like writing them and I have lost the drive and enthusiasm to lay down a good track. Anyway I did put up a link for an ebook I put out with an albums worth of material. Have a safe Christmas and New Years Richard and God Bless....
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, Alex, for sharing your lyrics. Looking forward to your recordings! Have a blessed Christmas with your dear ones.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, good to see you working those words of affirmation. It will be interesting to see how you deliver these words over a Hip Hop beat. I know your conviction and passion will flow. God bless. – Richard
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I had heard about Kanye West's embrace of Christianity but have not yet heard his album. Sounds like a good thing! Looking forward to your own Hip Hop album. Best always. – Richard
Author: Richard Schletty
I realize "prosody" is a challenge – matching stressed and unstressed syllables to the music. How about this?
And may the Spirit cover us,
Filling our hearts with peace for evermore...
or
May wings of the Spirit cover us,
Filling our hearts with peace for evermore...
I see that in Chorus Two you wrote "he" but meant to write "his." I recommend dropping the pronoun. How about this? "hold us in peace" can easily be sung in proper rhythm as even...
Author: Steve Byrne
Thanks very much Richard. I think your suggestions are beautifully expressive. I may have to change the synopation of the tune slightly to fit, but always a nice challnege! Thank you very much for the recommendations.
Steve
Author: Richard Schletty
Theresa Moorcroft contacted me by email with the following information:
"Mary, My Mother" was written by my Uncle Barry, Father Warren Smithbower. It was a dedication to his Mother, Lucinda Barry. We sang it at her funeral.
Cheers,
Theresa Moorcroft
Author: Richard Schletty
Steve, a very fine song. What a vibrant expression of faith.
I can understand how some would prefer a gender neutral Holy Spirit. Here are some possibilities:
Chorus one:
We sing a song of peace, we sing a song to share
A peace bestowed by jesus, to show us how to care.
And may the Spirit hover over us,
Filling our hearts with peace for evermore
to bring us always closer to the Lord
Chorus one:
We sing a song of peace, we sing a song to share
A peace bestowed by jesus, to show us how to care...
Author: Richard Schletty
I really like "Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory." I like the chord progressions. I like how the soundscape "opens up wide" at "Christ in you". Really good. I think I'll sing it!
Author: Richard Schletty
Brendan, this sounds and "feels" good. You sing and play earnestly, beseeching God's help and giving thankful praise. Thanks for sharing this! Now you have me interested in the Chord Pro app! I briefly demoed it a few years ago.
Author: Richard Schletty
Amen. We live in the presence of God and earnestly hope that generations to come will honor the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Well written, played and sung. Nice upbeat song.
Author: BrendanDelumpa
Richard,
I will be posting more in the near future. I'm working on a new project - of which Ephesians is part - that is a collection of songs based on scripture. But more pointedly, they're hymns meant to be played at Mass so they'll all be singable. I really don't want to go the pop music route with these.
Thanks!
Brendan
Author: Richard Schletty
Brendan, thanks for sharing your song. I like it. It is infused with Christ-energy. I would love to hear more of your songs. God bless.
Author: msmith
Hello iMwaba,
Thank you for your comment.
Please check your email messages on this website. I sent you a message about receiving the song.
Thank you.
Margo
Author: Richard Schletty
Joey: Yes, you may use it. You have direct permission from the music composer, Matilda Jane Kraemer. Let us know how it goes!
Author: Joey Ibarra
hi there
I would like to ask permission to sing Psalm for this Sunday's mass,
Psalm 67,
we have CCLI copyright in our parish,
is that enough?
Thanks for your help.
Joey
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for sharing this very prayerful music for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. May it draw many closer to the herat of Christ.
Author: msmith
Thank you, Richard. God is good! He is very generous with His grace, especially on this Divine Mercy Sunday.
Author: Richard Schletty
Margo, this is a very well written, recorded and produced song. Very meaningful words about the mercy of God. You weave together several vocal and instrumental elements with clarity and balance. Bravo.
Author: Richard Schletty
It's good to hear from you again after a long hiatus. Keep in touch!
Author: Richard Schletty
Caleb, these songs are excellent! Meaningful words artfully delivered. Your voice is very good. I could use you on my Hungry For Heaven project!
Author: msmith
Richard, thank you for providing a place for songwriters to share their music and for all of the music you share.
Alleluia, Jesus is risen!
Margo
Author: Richard Schletty
Margo, this Easter song of affirmation and hope is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing it. I hope you are well. Please encourage other previous CAM members to post their songs here.
"Let the Good News of our Savior spread."
Richard
Author: msmith
This is a beautiful song. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Blessings.
Margo
Author: asiansa09
Don't worry that we don't get it for acceptance our songs at OCP. But it is the path for next generation to find the way to enter into credible publishers. Maybe our family members and relatives can do better than us, and that they will find their way through in music industry. I think they need to go to colleges/university to get their work for publications.
Author: Richard Schletty
I hope that you find ONELICENSE.net helpful in understanding how church music is licensed. I hope you can get your songs accepted and licensed by a major Catholic music publisher. Having all three of our songs rejected by OCP was a disappointment. I wish that OCP had suggested how we might improve our songs.
My big frustration here at TCS is not being allowed to show lyrics or scripture texts for copyrighted songs and psalms that are managed by ONE LICENSE. If I were to pay for licensing that...
Author: asiansa09
https://www.onelicense.net/
Thanks Richard for sharing this websites. It is open up the door of opportunity for me and others for our next generation to dream and pursue the hope to get publishing our work. Be courage!
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I will adjust words as necessary to make good sense and to make the singing flow. That is what I did with our other collaborations.
Author: asiansa09
It might be helpful for you to lookup the vocabulary of the words in the song for clarification before you write up the song for it. I just write it from my own understand and I use "big words" that it might need to clarify in the song context.
Author: Richard Schletty
I will try to create a song with your lyric ideas. Thanks.
Paul Inwood wrote a very nice song in 1985 called "Center of My Life." I sing this a few times every year at church. Chris Brunelle sings it very nicely in the YouTube video below. Click on the YouTube Description to see the lyrics. Dan, I think I can create a very nice song for you which incorporates many of the Christocentric points you have noted in your beginning lyrics.
Author: asiansa09
Hi Richard,
Lately, I took the class Cathechesis 101, and I feel so inspire of the concept in Christ that I try to pull out some important concept to write the song lyric. Let see if you can gather your thought to write up a song for it.
Author: Richard Schletty
Here's another shout-out to site members and visitors. I welcome comments here about your experiences and hopes concerning promotion of new Catholic music. Are there some brilliant initiatives you've seen? Have you encountered roadblocks similar to what Benjamin Brekke describes in his lead post above? Does your heart gravitate more toward contemporary Christian music, hard rock, acoustic folk styling, multi-voice hymnody or simple traditional chant? What apps or devices do you use...
Author: Richard Schletty
This is the video Dan vi Nguyen posted at topcatholicsongs.com/lift-up-my-spirit-in-you
Author: Richard Schletty
I used Cubase for a short while but then settled back in with Apple Logic Pro X. Let me know if you are interested in some quick Logic Pro tutorials on how I mix and master various songs I have posted here at TCS.
Author: Richard Schletty
Unfortunately, this song was not accepted by OCP (Oregon Catholic Press). I hope they reconsider. Dan vi Nguyen and I also submitted two other songs we co-wrote and they were also rejected. She and I had great expectations.
Author: Guest (not verified)
Interesting song. I never heard the word Enchristment but I sure understand it in the context of this song. Well done.
Author: Richard Schletty
Dear Holy Chorus, I just noticed that your YouTube video of Holy Flame is gone. Have you re-recorded and re-posted it?
Best,
Richard.
Author: Richard Schletty
Steve, I appreciate your comment. I tried to do a balanced presentation here of original "unsigned" music by independent Catholic music composers alongside established music published in major Catholic hymnals. Let's just say that licensing is COMPLICATED! Composers do deserve to get royalties. I do want to make my just contribution to those composers whose music I have sung at church for so many years. It's just that I have not figured out how to monetize this site. I really don't want to do...
Author: Steve Byrne
Your may not have received any funds through creating this support network, Richard, but your ministry here through this website is highly valued! God bless, Steve
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, may you likewise be blessed in this season of hope and good will.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
Just wanted to wish your family and yourself a Merry Christmas. Hope you also have a happy and safe new year too. God bless. Alex.
Author: asiansa09
It is very interesting to write song lyrics about sainthood and his/her work.
It is a big topic.
Author: asiansa09
Song Lyric: TABLE OF THE KING
12/02/2018
By: Dan Vi Nguyen
CHORUS
Come, come to the table of the king
Come, come to the table of the king
VERSE
Come to the table of the king
We all share the food and water we have
In thankful for God provides us with breads
CHORUS
Come, come to the table of the king
Come, come to the table of the king
VERSE
Come to the table of the king
We offer thankful for his meals
To nourish our body mind and spiritual life...
Author: asiansa09
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89milie_Gamelin
There is a history behind the song lyric "Table of the King" from Blessed Gamilin Emilie that you can read about it on wiki linked above.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks for the co-writing invitation. I'll try to get to this soon. God bless.
Author: asiansa09
Hi Richard:
Will you co-write the song with me and write lead sheet for the song.
I really like this song to have a lead sheet for the song lyric, so that we can sing it at the associate members meeting.
Author: Richard Schletty
Well, really great vocals and a very able audio tech/mixer. This Top Catholic Songs site was run by others from 2007 to late 2013. The early emphasis was promoting songs written by a select group of performing artists – all members of the Catholic Association of Music (founded by John Michael Talbot). I took over TCS in January of 2014, cleaned up the spam and outdated Drupal modules, and expanded the mission of the site to embrace the entire range of Catholic music old to new – simple...
Author: Steve Byrne
Thanks again, Richard, for your encouragement. They are my vocals (albeit a good few years back) in an audio-savvy friends bedroom!
How have I only discovered this site recently? What a great idea to share music and experience of faith! Hope you’re well and singing on!
God bless,
Steve (Surrey, UK).
Author: Alexander John
The whole video was really really great Richard. When I find some time I would like to do some more writing. At my local library there is a ton of books on how to write songs. I would like to step outside the hip hop structure and teach myself other ways to write different genres which I may have mentioned to you a while ago. Hope you are doing well. All the best. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex: And all the best to you and your wife. Thanks for telling me about your listening session after mass. You inspired me – we are both smiling. Drop back in when you get some time and inclination. I'll leave the pot of coffee on.
Author: Richard Schletty
Steve, this is absolutely stunning as far as being "in and with Christ" and top drawer as far as production. Is that you singing? I am in awe of your group's ability to create beautiful, inspiring music.
Author: Steve Byrne
What a great idea to have a songwriters forum such as the MAS. Haven’t seen any similar opportunities here in the UK. You sing with a lot of passion and conviction, Richard, and I went to listen for a couple of minutes before realising I was watching the YouTube clips for over half an hour! Very well done indeed.
‘Every blessing.
Author: Richard Schletty
Great, Steve. Thanks for linking us up with your sheet music. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and your group.
Author: Steve Byrne
Dear Richard,
Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words of encouragement. Very much appreciated!
Very happy to supply the sheet music for the song - different versions available here for anyone to use.
Thanks again, My prayers go with you.
Steve
Author: Richard Schletty
Aurora, thank you for shedding more light on this song. If you can find all the lyrics, would you be so kind as to post them here?
Author: Aurora
Hello! I graduated from Poveda Learning Centre (class of 1980), originally called Institucion Teresiana in Manila Philippines. We had annual Marian song competitions and I am told this version, which Povedans call "As the Rain Rushes Down" was composed by an earlier class. I think it has one verse as Maria sings it.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
Yesterday when my wife and I got back from church I checked in on this site for the first time in quite a while and saw the link you posted. We watched it together and it was a great line up of tracks and it was pretty cool to see our two at the end. Well done and thanks for using a couple of ours. Hope you have been well and I plan to come back to this site a bit more often, just life has been messy lately....
Author: Richard Schletty
Hi, Alex. Good to hear from you. Did you see the YouTube of my half-hour show which includes two of our song collaborations?
https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/songcasters-episode-13-schletty
Author: asiansa09
This song is also an inspiration from being an associate member of Sisters of Providence with the mission of Blessed Gamelin Emilly "Table of the King."
Pictures of Blessed Gamelin Emilly at Portland Providence Health & Services, Portland, OR, USA.
Author: asiansa09
Lately, I have to take my daddy to the Providence hospital for medical reasons. They always take pulse of his heart beat for each visit. I realize that it is very important that we all start with heart beat.
Author: asiansa09
I don't have melogy for this song yet.
I try to write the song lyric with 8 counts and 4 beats.
And also the chorus repeats 2 times or 4 times.
It is difficult to write 8 words per line for 8 counts, because English is my second languages.
Maybe Richard can co-write the song for better lyric of the song.
Author: Richard Schletty
I am glad you saw this post with our song "Our World So Beautiful." I was hoping you would. You have inspired several good songs and I thank you for that. Let's keep collaborating!
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan, thanks for sharing your song about the sanctity of life from the moment of conception. We must all respeact human heart beats – even the tiniest ones!