Recent comments
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, Thankyou for helping me with so much info. Basically I was thinking of getting a half decent usb microphone as I have a pretty fast laptop running Windows 7. Also thankyou for all your suggestions. I think I will look into buying Cubase Elements for $99. Also I do have a smartphone (iphone 6) so I could try doing what you recomended. I am not a student or teacher so I won't be eligable for those discounts but what I'm thinking is a $200 usb mic and spend $99 on Cubase. I really...
Author: Richard Schletty
OK. Then I think we're set on this number. I'll try to get it "hiphoperated" (recorded) this week. Peace.
Author: Alexander John
Thanks for the suggestions Richard. I really like this line you suggested:
Let's be the people who bring love and light.
Author: Richard Schletty
Instead of this for the last line...
We are people that with love comes light.
...how about one of these?
When we love each other, we bring the light.
or
Let's be the people who bring love and light.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I recommend starting with this free DAW (digital audio workstation):
T6 DAW (by Tracktion)
www.tracktion.com/products/t6-daw
There are newer versions of Tracktion that cost money (Waveform or T7) but you should start with T6 to see if you like it. Get it installed and then drop me a line.
Next question: Do you have a good smartphone? I get very good voice recordings on my iPhone 6s Plus. I email myself a voice or guitar recording and then bring it into Apple Logic X for...
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, I have a laptop with Windows 7 but my budget is very small (about $500) and I'm not sure if that will cover the cost of a basic setup. I was thinking of going to a cheap studio to record it but I'm not sure how to go about it. I recorded non-catholic songs when I was much younger on friends setups but I don't speak with them anymore. Any tips or advice would mean a great deal as I'm also not that tech savvy. Cheers Richard.
Author: Richard Schletty
Hi, Alex. I can try to help you decide what to get for basic recording hardware and software but a lot depends on your budget as well as whether you have a Mac or Windows computer. So, let's start with your computer. Let me know what it is. I have had a busy year. Sorry that I've been offline so much. I promised I'd voice a couple more of your hip hop narratives.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
Hope you have been well. I am looking at recording my mixtape soon as I have just finished all 14 tracks in written form. I don't own any equiptment and was just wondering if you have any recomendations for a cheap basic setup? Hope your well and it's pretty cold here down under but hey that's Melbourne for you. Hope to talk soon. GOD Bless. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
I found two recordings of this song.
Hail Mary, Queen of flowers by Magpalacir Choir with lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuTEbSFWkRo
HAIL MARY QUEEN OF FLOWERS at Calape, Bohol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vrsmfnr6XY
Hail Mary, Queen of Flowers, to you we offer
our love song filled with colors with so much splendor.
Your beauty, it lingers. God's blessings please shower unto us.
Hail Mary, Queen of Flowers, you're sweet as roses,
red roses, pink and yellow, white and scented....
Author: Richard Schletty
Glad you took a second pass at this. Now I will voice it. Talk soon.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I just edited this track. I didn't realise how rushed this one felt until going back over it. Thankyou for your suggestions, definatly needed a bit of tweeking. I hope this version reads easier. Thanks for taking the time to help me with editing suggestions. God Bless. Alex.
1st Verse:
I try not to judge
But still cry when I love...
Author: Richard Schletty
Hi, Alex. I tried recording your hip-hop poem but got stuck at the last two lines:
Let's phase out evil cos it's dynamite
To the people I hope in your lives there's light.
I am not sure what that means and how to speak it. Evil is dynamite? Evil is dynamite to the people? To say something is "dynamite" can mean explosive or destructive. In other contexts "dynamite" can mean good or attractive. "Your speech was dynamite." "Your dress looks dynamite."
Thanks for looking at this...
Author: Richard Schletty
Hi, Linda. You can order a piano sheet music arrangement for Gary Ault's "All That We Have" from OCP:
Downloadable version: https://www.ocp.org/en-us/songs/11072/all-that-we-have#keyboard
OCP sample PDF here: http://cdn.ocp.org/shared/pdf/preview/30106344.pdf
"All That We Have" also appears in these GIA hymnals (which have piano book editions):
Gather 2nd Edition
Gather Comprehensive
Gather Comprehensive 2nd Edition
Catholic Community Hymnal
If interested in a full...
Author: Linda Villegas (not verified)
Good day,
I am a member of the Open in Spirit to God Prayer Group based in the Holy Spirit Parish located in Barrie, Ontario, CAnada.
I would deeply appreciate if you can advise how I can order on line a copy of the piano music sheet for Gary Ault's "All That We Have" music.
Thank you and God bless.
Linda Villegas
Bradford West Gwillimbury
Ontario, Canada
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I'll take a look at it. Good to hear from you again. Blessings on your and yours.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I meant the church as a crutch in a way that it can help you walk through life even if you feel wounded. However in case it is misinterpreted by the listener I can change it.
Author: Richard Schletty
Hope is what we all need. You express it well – the gifts that God gives us all.
"Let GOD be the bandage and the church your crutch..."
I prefer to think of the church as a strong support for a person. I hope you meant it that way. "Crutch" can have a negative connotation.
RCS
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I have just added lyrics for a track I wrote called "Stronger Together" which I think your voicing would do the words great justice. Good to hear from you again. Alex.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
Thank you for taking the time to download and read my lyrics. I'm really glad you liked them and thank you for your kind words. I added a new link to Amazon.com where it's the same content just structured a bit better as the link I originally posted is the unedited version. I would love for you to do more voicings but I realise your a very busy man. So great to hear from you and GOD Bless to you and your family....
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I downloaded your free anthology of hip-hop poems. Nice to see them all in one place. You pour your heart out in these, giving strong testimony to the power of Christ in your life. Best wishes to you and your loved ones. Let me know if you want more voicings. Sorry that I faded away for awhile. I've got too much on my three spinning plates.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I was thinking of recording a album with my own voice and beats. Once it's done I would like to share it online (here especially). I guess I just slightly doubt my ability to do good catholic hip hop by myself completely as my past experience with hip hop has only been the mainstream stuff before I was baptized last year and started changing things in my life including what I protitized. Thanks for everything...
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, it's been real busy here but I'll try to find some time to voice a few more tracks for you. I hope my recordings provide not so much a "template" for styling as they do an inspiration. I hope you or your friends will give it a go soon with your own hip-hop voicings. I'm excited to hear what you come up with. Be yourself!
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I have some more written rough tracks that I was wondering if you wanted to voice once I have gone over them and fixed them up? Hope you have been well. Kind Regards. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Happy New Year to you, too, Alex. I also hope to see more sharing and engagement here at TCS. I've been real busy with work, family and Christmas season music. But I want to get back to our Hip-Hop project. Expect word from me soon.
Author: Mike Sotiroff (not verified)
Ken;
The songs on your Adoration CD are beautiful. I play classical guitar solos as meditation pieces during our Catholic Masses here in Decatur, Illinois. I'm always looking for new arrangements to play especially ones that speak to me as yours did. Do you have the sheet music for your arrangements available for sale?
Your parish is fortunate to have you in their music ministry.
Thanks for your help and may 2018 bring you many blessings.
Thanks, Mike
Author: Richard Schletty
Lumen Hilare sings with voices of angels. A nice, balanced blend that calms the soul. I went to the internet to read more about St. Louis de Montfort and Maria Boguslawska. Hardly anything in English can be found about Maria. I found this at Wikepedia about St. Louis de Montfort:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Montfort
"While the saint is best known for his spiritual writings, he was also a poet and during his missions managed to compose more than 20,000 verses of hymns....
Author: Richard Schletty
Jack, thanks for your kind comments, my good friend-in-music. Too bad we can't get this joint hopping the way macjams.com used to hop. Best to you.
Author: Guest (not verified)
Gotta say, the country (soft rock?) version grabs me. That said, both hit the right note. Wonderful lyrics. Sung and spoken spot on by Richard. Really nice guitar work on V2, Richard...
Jack
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, it is a song sent from on high. Both the organist and the vocalist on this recording are very good. Have you recorded pieces before?
If you don't mind, I'd like to post the credits and lyrics here (which you have in the YouTube video):
Love is Patient
Composed by: Margaret Hoar
Vocals by: Andrea Leluika
Lyrics from Corinthians 13 4:8
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no...
Author: fitz
Song was written by our late Mother who died this year which was very divinely inspired! and being a musician recently recorded it for all to enjoy for free!
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I did see that in your description. I just wasn't sure if you had paraphrased anything. I should have listened carefully with my New Testament open to Corinthians. What is your goal with the piece? Is the sheet music for sale anywhere?
Author: Bob Young (not verified)
I agree...
Lovely and interesting words.
Bob Young
Author: Richard Schletty
I'd like to redo some of the tracks I posted based on the things I learned along the way trying to do "God Hop" or "Hip Chant." Call it what you will, I think there are some particularly good moments. I'd like to replicate that groove consistently to create for you a resonant album of 10-12 poem-songs.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, let me get back to you soon. I'll give you my ideas and recommendations. Thanks.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for sharing this song. Voice and organ are nicely composed and performed. It would be nice to see the lyrics. Is sheet music available?
Author: Richard Schletty
Congratulations, Mark! That's good news, indeed. Your band lives on.
Author: Living Waters
Update! This song just won an award! Read about that here on our blog:
"An Award for Living Waters!"
Author: Richard Schletty
Hi, Jim. Send me a note via the Contact form and I'll try to connect you. Thanks for the photo!
Author: Jim Lee (not verified)
In the 1960s we lived in Shrewsbury MO. Bob was a family friend and frequent guest in our home.
I have been trying to track Bob down. When he lived in Shrewsbury his roommate was "Rod"...I don't remember his last name. I was about 15.
I have a grainy photograph of Bob playing a piano for my brothers and sisters.
any help would be appreciated.
Author: Alexander John
Hey Richard, sounds good. Very old school hip hop feel. For somebody fairly new to the delivery of hip hop I'm very impressed. Hope you are well. GOD Bless.
Author: Richard Schletty
Keep posting your lyrics the way you have been. I’ll rap them as they are (with slight adjustments, as needed). Plus, I enjoy taking your seeds of inspiration to another genre, as a songwriting lesson for all of our viewers here at this website. I want to teach the craft of songwriting, but I’m best at Liturgical, Inspirational and Folk-Rock genres. So that noise you hear occasionally is me stretching beyond my comfort zone.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, I agree that Love 101 would be the most fitting tittle for our project. I just listened to the recent uploads of our songs and they sound great. I do struggle to write in forms other than hip hop but if you are happy for me to continue posting lyrics in that form I will. I guess its because my whole life i have been into it and there is alot of great catholic hip hop artists I have been discovering this year in particular. Peace.
Author: Richard Schletty
I just posted a revised version of the Folk-Country version of Love 101. I felt that some phrasing was either too complicated or a bit hard to grasp. I am trying to make the song accessible to many. Let me know what you think. The two versions of Love 101 should be the model for the rest of the songs. I'd like to suggest that the name of the album be Love 101. - Richard
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, we definitely have alot of good material to choose from and I look forward to seeing and hearing the lineup of songs that we choose to use. Thankyou for collaborating with me and bringing so much life to my lyrics and also adding your own style. Its been alot of fun and I really hope that what we have done touches peoples heart and soul. Were you thinking of putting the album up online for people to download and/or doing physical copies. If we decide to put it online you can put it...
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I'd say we're about halfway toward completing our album. Now we're at the stage where we should decide what the best tracks are. Some of the recordings I did were very rough and I'd like to redo some of them. There are a couple standout tracks that have exceptional clarity, emaotion and/or artfulness. We should try to bring all tracks up this level. I need to master all the tracks so they have the same volume. I am going through all the tracks now and will give you my recommendations soon...
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, please check out the revised Country and Hip Hop songs. I uploaded them here. I added some extra voices in the Country version and adjusted the volume of my voice in the Hip Hop version.
Author: Richard Schletty
Maybe I should do another version of Love 101. How about Gregorian Chant? :-)
I'm glad you and your better half like what I'm doing here. Thank YOU for the inspration. My friend, poet Bob Young, also likes both versions. See his poetry here: www.jesuspoems.com
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard, my better half loves the country version and I dig both versions. I love how you can cross over my lyrics to different genres and make them sound as good as you do.
Author: Richard Schletty
Hi, Alex. I liked the title of your lyrics so much that I thought it should be folded into the refrain and repeated throughout the song. The lyrics below are an adaptation or paraphrasing of your thoughts – but put into a fairly strict and uniform rhyme and meter. As my version develops, I will be demonstrating how "prosody" can make the lyrics compelling. I'll post the lyrics this evening, then slowly work at a melody and chord progression over the next few days. I think this song could turn...
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I laid down your Hip Hop lyrics over some drum loops in Logic Pro. I hope you don't mind that I changed a few things. It's very close to your original. I added the audio file to your original post entry above. Enjoy.
Love 101
Hip Hop version by Alex John
Slight revision by Richard
1st Verse:
The cold weather followed me all around town
But I never sold my soul even though I was down
Then I got to know the lord
That's when I knew it was time to put down my sword
My frown turned...
Author: Alexander John
I like the fact you are crossing over the hip hop lyrics into other genres and I think it takes alot of skill to do that. I was just letting you know that the hip hop lyrics I write and the way I write them may sem a bit messy and a bit over the place but when it comes to hip hop that sort of thing is common. But I really like what we have been doing and the track God Is On The Scene is a great example of what we can both do with our skill sets. Love 101 I think will turn out just as nice. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
It would help to hear some samples of your hip hop songs. I don't mean to push you into a structure that is not your style. My preference is for structure so I'm just showing you options that are inspired by your lyrics. With the above rewrite, I envision a Country styled style of music and singing, a genre that I have not explored. All for the glory of God!
Author: Alexander John
As far as the hip hop structure I am using it differs very much from the structure of all other types of genres. I have been writing and performing hip hop for over 10 years and am very confident in my ability to write "a good rap song". However i'm very new to all other forms of song structure and am willing to learn. I like what you do with some of my lyrics and the way you put them into other genres. It's all for the glory of GOD. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
It'll be a rather eclectic album. I explored a lot of different ways of approaching your lyrics. We need to do more work on all the lyrics. But things are shaping up. Thanks.
Sorry about the delayed approval of your comment. You forgot to sign in. Guest comments had been set to "require approval by admin" but I wasn't getting notices. I set guest comments back to automatic approval. However, I'll be at risk again for spam. It's a delicate balance.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I sang your lyrics but they need some work. Think of lyrics as structured in couplets and stanzas.
Your lyrics should tell a cohesive story that progresses from "problem" to "solution" or some other construct.
I may start all over with different chord progressions, melody and beat. Maybe I'll try it as a God Hop tune. Don't know yet. Just going with the flow. I really like a lot of your "thought-flow".
Author: Joe Benco (not verified)
Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)
is a protestant song and should never be sung in a Catholic Church.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Thank you Richard for the nice comments. I also really like what you did with "Pieces of Peace". The melody makes it very soothing along with the vocals. Also very original the way it is put together. A cross between hip hop, spoken word with a very relaxing instrumental which makes it very memorable. Lookimg forward to hearing the other two and its looking like we have a full album on our hands. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
I like your Love 101 verses. There are some particulary poetic and "dig-deep" expressions in there. I'll try voicing this, along with the last two. Good job.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
A very nice song sung very well. So good to spread the word through good music at the church.
Author: Speakslike
Thank you for the feedback and I pray that our music changes people or at the very least gets them to become more aware of the way we Catholics see the world.
Author: Richard Schletty
Speakslike, you have an interesting song here. You have definite thoughts about the way some people live their lives without being grounded in faith and morals. I hope this sends a good message to people and encourages them to examine their lives. Thanks for sharing.
Author: Speakslike
Thank you to all that are giving this song a listen. Please leave a comment telling what you think of this song. Thank you and God bless you all.
Author: Andrew Joyce (not verified)
Hello there,
I've been looking for the sheet music for Mary Most Holy for piano accompaniment. I'm wondering if you have had it at all?
Author: Nina Bewcyk (not verified)
About 10 years ago I was given a cassette with a beautiful song for children to sing and say the Rosary. I all I remember is the verse "Mother Mary, take my hand and teach me how to Pray. Help me learn to love your Jesus More and more each day". Does anyone know of this song or where I could find it?
Author: Alex John (not verified)
No worries Richard, I look forward to hearing them. Hope you have been well. Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Glad you are back on the scene. Post more songs!
Author: Richard Schletty
Mark, I remember when you first posted this. Did you remaster this? It sounds different in some way. Seems to have more presence and better instrumentation. The voices are better, too. Is it my imagination? This really rocks the house.
Author: MTR
I updated the Playlist by Uploading each of the Tracks in .mp4 format with a Bitrate of around 4096 kbps to make them play easier on a slow Internet connection. Also, the original channel I published this playlist on was Hacked, and unfriendly messages were inserted for the viewer to see, so I had to take that channel down, and publish it on a new channel where the playlist was Unlisted to prevent that from happening again.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I'll be happy to voice your last two submissions. I do think your idea of trying out different structure, rhyming and symmetry in lyrics is good. I fully encourage that so you can expand your songwriting skills and genres. As always, I am willing to critique lyrics in a positive, constructive way. I gave you a sample of an optional song format/approach with "God Is on the Scene." I really like how that turned out. A couple fellow members of MAS (Minnesota Association of Songwriters) dig...
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hey Richard, hope you are well. Just wondering if you like the two latest song lyrics I posted and if you would be interested in voicing them? I am going to explore different ways of lyric/poem/song structure for my next song I think. All the best. Alex.
Author: Mark Lajoie (not verified)
Only a year late, I noticed that you had re-loaded the song, and wanted to express my gratitude!
Author: asiansa09
It is not easy to come by and that we are able to come up with a beautiful song "Our World is So Beautiful" like this in everyday life. I really appreciate to work with everyone.
Author: Richard Schletty
Our World So Beautiful is finished. I have posted both an audio demo and sheet music. See original post at top of this thread.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, Albin, for listening and commenting. Glad you like it. Needs more work but maybe it's headed in the right direction. I'll also do a hip hop version.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I can also rap your lyrics the way you wrote them, as an option. Just wanted to stretch and try something a little different. The rough demo needs work – I sing flat on some of the high notes. Thanks for being flexible in our collaboration. Having fun!
Author: Albin (not verified)
A wonderful composition and performance. The voice, lyrics and music work beautifully together.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
What you have done here by editing and re-constructing has worked well! As I'm so used to writing hip hop my song formations do jump around a lot and that's mainly because if you listen to rap it tends to jump all over the place unless it's a story telling track. But you have done good here and I very much enjoyed it.
Kind Regards,
Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I decided to do a rewrite of your lyrics to snap it all into a regular meter and rhyme. Check it out. No problem if you'd rather not have me rearrange your words. But I do want to show you the possibilities with using a "near-Nashville" formula approach to songwriting. I say near-Nashville because this rendition is my own self-styled flavor of Folk-Rock – I'm not following all the "rules," including the way I sing in my baritone register. This is a story that does not jump around as much...
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, Alex. I just wish there would be dozens of people collaborating. Maybe there are connections and interactions happening of which I am not aware.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
Hope your doing well. I forgot to write back on the chat app but just wanted to say that you running this site is a great way for people to collaborate and get their words and music brought to life with the help of one another. Blessings to you.
- Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Glad you like it. I made some adjustments to the song this afternoon and uploaded the new version. I did pitch correction to my voice, corrected a few notes, and added a little bit more reverb. The song is in the key of D. Now I have to figure out the chord progressions. The next thing I will upload will have a gentle guitar added to my voice.
Author: asiansa09
I feel so peaceful when I listen to the song.
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes! I plan to make this a very beautiful song, complete with piano, guitar and flute. Who knows, maybe viola, too!
Author: asiansa09
Will you prepare the piano sheet arrangement for this song too.
I plan to share with others at Providence meeting during Christmas season.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for your lyrics and your reflections. Yes, we must be attentive to the divine mysteries that miraculously touch our lives each day.
Author: asiansa09
That is why I ask people to pray for me and others whom I know throughout my life upon Christ and Sorrowful Mother Mary.
Author: asiansa09
When I go out to explore the world, the only thing I realize the different between me and others is that I baptism vs. others. God bless me!
Author: asiansa09
I visited China and Thailand 10 years ago in 2007. Hope that my quiet prayer upon Sorrowful Mother Mary and Christ on the land is the seed that I sowed.
Author: asiansa09
I really like your voice for the song lyric. Keep it that way is good enough.
Author: Richard Schletty
I am attaching to Dan's original post a rough exploration of a melody for this song.
Author: Richard Schletty
Please note that I may have to upload a new version of the piano sheet music again (it will be v9). There needs to be a key signature change from Bb to Gmaj in the chorus.
Author: asiansa09
Please let me know when you submit songs to OCP so that I can follow up with you to see what is going on.
Author: Richard Schletty
Note that I just uploaded version 8 of piano-voice score. Now we can submit to OCP.