Recent comments
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.
Author: asiansa09
Thanks for posting the lead-sheet and piano arrangement sheet. That is really help to share with others to sing the song.
Also, I hope that you submit to Oregon Catholic Press soon to see if they accept our work.
Author: Richard Schletty
I'd like to do more with the soundbeds on your poems. The one where I used orchestral brass was pretty cool. Something to think about.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
I just read the interview with you friend and not only does he seem like a fantastic musician but what a prolific one at that. Also he seems very nice. I will listen to some more of his work throughout the week. An extremely inspirational man indeed. I hope to get some more writing done soon to post here and I think the EP is pretty good.
Regards,
Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
maddenmargie: Here are some songs to get started. By "upbeat" do you mean uptempo or a positive message? Will the songs be led by piano, organ, guitar, or sung a cappella? I will keep adding to the list.
God Has Chosen Me (Farrell)
https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/god-has-chosen-me-farrell
God's Gift to All the World (Nguyen, Schletty, van Haren)
https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/gods-gift-to-all-the-world
Enchristment by Nguyen-Schletty
https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/enchristment...
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, glad you think that Hip Hop project might be a good connection. Not sure if the project has a faith component to it. Let me know what you find out.
By the way, you might think about doing a post that has a compilation of all our tracks to date – an EP (extended play playlist).
I just sent links to all our tracks to Tobin Mueller, a friend and a great post-bop/jazz artist. See this article that just came out about his life with music: www.alsothat.com/home/2017/7/16/part-of-his-dna-...
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hey Richard,
I will check out the link soon and get back to you. They might be intrested in our little projects.
- Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, check out this Instagram user and let me know what you think: http://instagram.com/gotchecked_records
I just ran across them today.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I am just being your mouthpiece. I have no idea what you would sound like telling your story, so I just use my own "voice" and attitude and whimsy and gravitas to lay it down. No formulas, no constraints. Mostly, just letting it flow. I do redo a few phrases here and there until it sounds "right." Nashville or LA won't be able to judge these tracks! Thanks for putting your heart and soul on the line. We both hope it causes at least one person out there to think and feel and love a little...
Author: Alex John (not verified)
What you have done with both these tracks is amazing and what's best about our collaborations is it's GOD's work and I feel by doing this in a small yet positive way we are praising the lord aswell of giving believers and people in general something to ponder over and hopefully be touched by in some way. Blessings to you Richard and Thankyou for bringing life to my words better than I ever could.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, my soundtrack is attached to your original post. It is a spoken voice and ceramic drum rendition. Enjoy.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I uploaded my vox track to your original post. Check it out. It is half-spoken, half sung.
Author: Richard Schletty
Good words here. I'll try to speak your soul. Talk soon, Alex. – Richard
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I just took the tracks down for a little while as I needed to edit and change them a little. Look forward to hearing you bring the words to life. GOD Bless.
Author: Maria7Steps
Wow 7 children - indeed they are blessings from above! True inspirations for song writing. Thank you for sharing!
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for your kind and awesome reply! So good to know the details of your music ministry. I hope and pray your words will be an inspiration to others. What a blessing to have 6 children. We have 7 children – and 6 grandkids! We sacrifice much for them but receive much in return. Our concern for their welfare as well as our rejoicing in their "moments of achievement and goodness" are often the inspiration for our original songs. And as you rightly noted, God is the prime source of...
Author: Maria7Steps
Hello, Richard! God works in mysterious ways indeed. My husband and I have been serving in the Music Ministry of Couples for Christ since our children were babies. I believe their exposure to charismatic, contemporary Catholic & Christian, and traditional music plays an important factor for us being a family band now (more of ministers really).
FOREVER (for the sacrament of marriage) was composed by our two elder daughters on one of our anniversaries. SONG OF...
Author: Richard Schletty
Maria, I explored your website and your songs at iTunes. I posted this story for you, based on the member profile you submitted and some images I found on your website. I look forward to your participation here. We'd love to know more about your journey in music. How do you write and record your music? Where does your family band play? What have been your challenges, solutions and rewards with Catholic music? - Richard
Author: Richard Schletty
Providence Health & Services sounds like a very good organization. I visited their website. I can see how your lyrics were inspired by their mission statement:
"As people of Providence, we reveal God's love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service."
Thank you for reminding us of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew:
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, and I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was...
Author: asiansa09
My inspiration to write this song lyric is through the services of Providence of God.
https://phsoregon.giftlegacy.com/
Author: Richard Schletty
Some Catholic songwriters have achieved publishing deals with GIA, OCP and WLP. I would hope that there is always room for newcomers.
A very good songwriter and musician. Paul F. Page, has been largely ignored by the leading Catholic music publishers. See Paul's bio here: https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/paul-f-page-free-music
Paul's "solution" has been to give away his music for free. I am inclined to do the same.
I will endeavor to create here a professional service that will help...
Author: Richard Schletty
Yor EP lineup looks good. Please publish as free offerings. Thanks for letting me share your good introspection with others. And best of luck with your hip-hop studio!
Author: asiansa09
I have never submitted songs for publication, however, do you think that the only way for people to accept songs for publication is when the song are become popular. Do you have any experience submitting songs for publication before? How does it work?
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
I arranged the songs in this order that we did:
1. Raw Faith
2. Blessings
3. Time Watch
4. What's Left Is Beauty
5. Blessing - Remix (your favourite one).
I think that is a good enough EP and I listened to them in that order and I think it works out a nice little project. Would you mind if I shared them with the church (for free distribution) and credit your name as the voice? Also if you would like to...
Author: Richard Schletty
Good to know a bit about your music experience. Really good to know about your studio and album plans. May that all happen in a way that gives glory to God. – Richard
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
When I was younger I used to play the drum a bit but I wasn't very good. Then I rapped for a few years for fun but didnt realy record anything that I was completly happy with. However I am planning to write and rap/record a full Catholic hip hop studio album.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, have you recorded your voice narrating, rapping or singing? Do you play an instrument?
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Sounds like an interesting idea doing a folk pop song with some of my lines. Looking forward to hearing it.
Author: Richard Schletty
Not sure about the number of tracks. Maybe 5. I am thinking about taking your best phrases and doing a Folk-Pop song with traditional structure and styling.
You are the one telling your story. Be careful of too much repetition of certain phrases. Each song should tell a specific story about your journey.
I could offer suggestions for tightening up lyrics and such, but then it wouldn't be so much you. I am normally quite formulaic, following songwriting prescriptions such as even line...
Author: Richard Schletty
I'm carving a bit of new territory here and that's all good. Thanks for the latitude to experiment. I like Blessings (with the music bed) best so far. Sure, an EP.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Very nice work Richard. You are really bringing my lyrics to life! How many tracks do you think we should do in total for this project?
Author: Richard Schletty
I added my audio file to your original post, Alex. Hope it's OK.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
I really enjoyed both versions of "Blessings". So far I think we are doing really well. You mix it up a bit which is great and each recording is unique. I almost have another song written too. Once again great stuff! Were you think an EP or Album we could put together?
Kind Regards,
Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I have attached my recording to your original post. Let me know how you like it. - Richard
Author: Richard Schletty
Sorry, I have not yet submitted our two songs. André van Haren did finish the piano music score for "Enchristment" last week. We needed this engraved score in order to submit the song. We already have what we need for "God's Gift to All the World."
I'll get back to you soon, Dan.
I will post the piano-guitar score for Enchristment later today. I need to add the guitar chords above the voice staff.
Author: asiansa09
Is there any news about our submitting songs to Oregon Catholic Press. Are they accept or denied our songs?
Author: Richard Schletty
On my laptop, the percusssion in Remix was sounding a little too loud and sharp, making the voice hard to understand. I remixed it in Logic Pro X to tamp down the high rat-a-tat sounds. I have added Remix version 2 to the player.
I also decided to post the narrated version I did the other day with gentle 12-string guitar strumming.
Both Alex and I would like to know what other listeners think.
Author: Alexander John
Hi Richard,
I created a seperate blog post for "What's Left Is Beauty" and also added the remix to it and credited you as the performer.
- Alex
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
I will do that today. Also feel free to share our tracks where ever you would like to. Perhaps on your website?
- Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, please post "What's Left Is Beauty" as a separate blog post (as opposed to being buried in comments here). Then people can listen with the MP3 player. Then I'd like to direct a friend to your new blog post. Thanks.
Author: Richard Schletty
Enchristment is now on the lineup at CME Radio (Catholic Music Express). catholicmusicexpress.com/cme-radio/
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard,
Sounds good. It's quite a bit of fun and I think we are getting some pretty good results.
- Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I do plan to run those other two lyrics you wrote. Gimme a couple days. Fun stuff. Hopefully will resonate with some.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Hi Richard, hope you are well. Just a quick message to ask you if you think the other two songs I have posted are worth recording? (Raw Faith and Blessings). If you want something else fresh let me know and I should have another track written by tomorrow.
GOD Bless.
- Alex.
Author: asiansa09
I keep thinking that this song is perfect for confirmation class for prayer.
Author: asiansa09
here is website of Providence that you might find interested in take a look at it
http://www.providenceiscalling.jobs/
Author: asiansa09
This is so wonderful opportunity for us, please follow the direction of how to submit the song according to their website. Please let me know if there is anything I can add for the cover letter.
Look like we still need the music sheet (piano arragement) for the song Enchristment.
Author: Richard Schletty
Here is the quick reply from OCP:
Thank you for contacting us with your request and giving us the opportunity to serve you.
We would be happy to review your submissions. You can see the details of the music submission process at this link: https://www.ocp.org/en-us/submit-music
Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with.
Sincerely,
Paul Senz
Customer Service Representative
Oregon Catholic Press
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan, I just sent an email to OCP. We'll see if they bite! I sent Enchristment and God's Gift.
Author: asiansa09
I was going to ask you about it too.
I saw the website https://www.ocp.org/en-us/missals-and-hymnals-education
I have the same question as you ask too. I was thinking about it a few days ago too. But I never submit anything for publication yet.
Will you make a phone call to them asking about the license of how to submit new song for publication.
https://www.ocp.org/en-us/submit-music
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I encourage everyone to share the song freely – both the recording and the sheet music. They are not for sale anywhere and I do not have a publishing contract with anyone. My songs posted here fall under a Creative Commons public sharing agreement. In other words, share freely but always give credit to the writers/arranger (me, you and André).
Let me know how the community in Providence likes it. Do you live in Oregon? I appreciate their prayers. I wonder if we should submit the song to...
Author: Richard Schletty
I had the same thought. Maybe use both in a project. Thanks for letting me explore like this.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
As I thought it would be the narraration is spot on and I dig the hip hop style - especially since it's your first attempt. Which do you feel is better? I was thinking we could use both in our project (with the hip hop track being a "remix" or something. Great job! I will get to work on more lyrics.
- Alex.
Author: asiansa09
I shared the song music sheet "God's gift to all the world," to associate members and sisters/nuns at Providence, Oregon when I went to the meeting. I also asked them to pray upon Christ and Our Lady of Providence to pray for our team who worked on the song.
I hope that is alright with you to share the song with others.
Author: Richard Schletty
Well, not so sure this works. But here goes. I tried half-singing over a slow hip-hop soundbed. I also did a straight narration.
What's-Left-Is-Beauty-hip.mp3
What's-Left-Is-Beauty-narrated.mp3
Author: Richard Schletty
Alex, I'll be back at it with you in a few days. I hit a pothole here with work and income.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
Extremely well done! I have been wanting to put my work out there in glory of GOD and I think with this Collab we can reach even potentially non-belivers and for me if it makes one person think about GOD who didn't used to then it's worth it.
Author: Richard Schletty
I sing psalms and liturgical songs based on scripture every weekend at two Catholic churches. I appreciate our Catholic heritage very much. I was fortunate to have a Catholic school eduation with priests, sisters and lay teachers instilling in me a deep appreciation of the Trinity. My mother was a very devout Catholic.
Like you, Dan, I am in awe of the "ancient stories and places." What we must try to do is keep these precious narratives alive and relevant for us now, today, in our...
Author: asiansa09
i keep thinking about the joy and the treasure that I get to know about Christ and Sorrowful Mother Mary, especially they are from Jerusalem. It is a far away place from where I came from. I thought I found the king treasure for myself. I am so honor to write about them.
Author: Richard Schletty
Check out my "narrative" style of singing in this project:
www.hungryforheaven.com
Especially:
1st Movement (starting at 2:35)
10th Movement
11th Movement
4th Movement has some good beats.
So, you see that your words could be made quite epic!
Author: Richard Schletty
Dear friend, you set before me songwriting challenges that few are willing to take on. You have inspired me.
Some might say that your lyrics are "badly written" with "broken English." They may say "that's just a poem...that can never be a song." But I am trying to demonstrate that it is possible to use ANYTHING as a launchpad for writing a song. As I work with your lyrics, I try to stay true to your intent. I use many of your phrases or individual words because I know they have great...
Author: Richard Schletty
You are telling me to "leave it as it is." That is not what Pat Pattison at Berklee College of Music will be teaching you. To craft a really fine song, a person needs to keep revisiting it and perfecting it. "Write, rewrite, rewrite!" is our mantra.
Often, songwriters have their songs reviewed by peer songwriters. I went through many revisions on this song already. I am asking others here for their feedback. In fact, I want you to tell me how your friend with the guitar likes it. Is...
Author: asiansa09
I think you should leave it as original music that you sing the first time, don't loose the special moment that you think of the song when you first approach it. Often people change it the second time, they change the purpose too.
Author: asiansa09
I am so grateful that we get to work on several songs for the past weeks.
I notice that we are approaching different styles of the song lyric into music:
1. "God's gifts for all the world" is beautiful done by Richard write his own song lyric for the song and Dan Vi Nguyen think of the original ideas for the song.
2. "For the love of humanity" is a chant style of music.
3. "Christ makes our world so beautiful" is a song lyric turn into poem style of music.
4. "...
Author: Alex John (not verified)
I think what you did with "Time Watch" was extremely effective and if it proves to be a bit difficult to add beats or music we can always keep that style. But I do like the idea of creating a new style.
- Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Adding a beat and music will be more challenging because I have not done Rap or Hip-Hop in the past. Maybe we can create a new style: Soft-Rap, Soul-Rap or God-Hop.
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I have many voices. Glad you like it. Is it too fast or rocking?
Author: asiansa09
Don't change your singing voices for the song, because I think it is very different tone of voices compare to other songs you sing. I like your voices the way you first pick it. I surprised when I first heard it.
Author: Alex John (not verified)
If you want to use the other two tracks I upload aswell please do. I am in the process of writing some more material.
GOD Bless.
Alex.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, Alex. I just reposted the MP3 file. I pitch corrected my solo voice at the very end. I also posted a simple lead sheet with guitar chords.
Author: Richard Schletty
I posted the lead sheet (lyrics and guitar chords) here: https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/enchristment-nguyen-schletty
I also reposted the MP3 file. I pitch-corrected my solo voice at the very end.
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I will provide sheet music soon. I will start with a lead sheet with chord names.
Author: asiansa09
Would you also provide sheet music for the song "Enchristment."
Someone is request me to provide sheet music so that they can play the song for him/herself.