Recent comments
Author: Richard Schletty
Nice to see you come on board here, Alexander John. I hope you get some feedback on your lyrics. Any idea about the style/genre of song you envision? I'll try to give you some suggestions. Do you sing and/or play an instrument? If not, no problem. The Lord provides.
Author: Richard Schletty
No problem. It was just an idea. I hope I am doing a good job adapting your lyrics to my Midwest U.S. language and culture. I love writing lyrics and am happy to collaborate with others on lyrics, melody and chord progressions. Thanks again for inspiring me. I hope you can inspire others, too.
Author: asiansa09
I just want to incorporate my own language to American music. I haven't thought of singing my own voices for the song.
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I will. I think we are a team now! But if any other member of Top Catholic Songs would like to try editing the rhyme and rhythm, or would like to come up with a melody, or would like to sing the song (when it is ready to be sung), you are most welcome. Let us know!
Author: asiansa09
Can you take on the English version for the song, I know that the song need a lot of editor, especially on the rymth and rythem.
Author: Richard Schletty
Very nice. I would love to hear you record these words in your native language (Vietnamese?) and in English. The English needs to have some grammar corrected. I can suggest some changes for you. I am thinking of using your voice with music in the background. The song would also have my singing of the English words. What do you think? Can you record your voice and upload an audio file?
Author: Richard Schletty
Very nicely done. Very devout singing. I love that flute. Good video editing. Make more!
Author: asiansa09
The song is good enough.
Now, I think that if you can work with someone like choir director to get the song official to be publish in Catholic music.
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan: Thanks for your encourgement. It means a lot to me. I would love to hear someone else sing "God's Gift to All the World." It may still need to be modified in some way to make it more singable. Or maybe it is OK? For those reading this comment in this story, we are talking about this song: topcatholicsongs.com/gods-gift-to-all-the-world
Author: asiansa09
I keep thinking that imagine the song "God's love for all the world" and other songs will become a wealth of spiritual food resources for others to listen and experience God loves for people.
Imagine the song will be sing at church for people to listen. That is amazing!
Author: asiansa09
It is good to have a choir director at your level in music to become a successful artist. Her assistant will lead you far.
Author: Richard Schletty
I will continue to work with Mary Joy! She has been a tremendous mentor in both voice and use of my guitar in our small ensemble at St. Mary's.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you, Edgar. I appreciate the listen and comment. Much credit goes to asiansa09.
Author: asiansa09
I am so grateful that choir director has an eyes on you, I think you should continue to work with choir director. Choir director will lead you in your artist path.
Author: Richard Schletty
God willing, I will sing this for faithful listeners in a prayer service or concert. Let's work on another song! I know you have other lyrics posted here at TCS. Prayerful music can help lead people to Christ.
Author: EVELYN ONWUEGBUSI (not verified)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x18UfKCnli4
Author: asiansa09
Wish you luck, Richard, that someday you and others can sing the song at concert.
Author: asiansa09
I know that you get really emotion when come to the issues as you think about every child is God's gift. Pray with Sorrowful Mother Mary and they will go to purgatory and that we will be save.
Author: Richard Schletty
So true. I am sure that I will sing the Folk-Gospel song "God's Gift" when I sing at Pro-Life prayer services in front of Planned Parenthood where they kill babies.
Author: Richard Schletty
I like the Folk-Gospel song, too, and you inspired me to do it. Thank you for expressing your faith and thank you for sharing the song. I am very pleased with it and I hope it will lead people to Christ. God bless.
Author: asiansa09
I really like the song you sing "God's love for all the world." I also let my friends and family members to hear it. They love it too.
Author: asiansa09
Well, if you can sing in the church or at a Divine Mercy liturgy. I think they prefer the last chant version that you post. But it is all up to you, because every situation is different.
Author: Richard Schletty
You say you like the first time I sang the song – that my voice is more confident in it. Do you mean the first chant version which I posted yesterday, or the Folk-Gospel version I did last week? I want the chant version to be more peaceful and contemplative – something that could be sung in church at a Vespers service or at a Divine Mercy liturgy.
Author: asiansa09
I think I like the first time you sing the song too, because I can hear the confident in your voices better than this one.
Author: Richard Schletty
asiansa09: Here are some suggestions for your original lyrics. I tried to have less repetition of words. I did not try to rhyme. I read about Sr. Faustina and added a couple more things she said. I am using a chanting style that is much different than the Folk-Gospel version I did! My choir director at St. Mary's likes it and thinks I might be able to sing it at a Divine Mercy liturgy. Here are two versions. The first one was sung a cappella (without an instrument). In the second version I play...
Author: asiansa09
Of course it is alright to put my name on the song. That is my honor.
Author: Richard Schletty
Indeed, you are the inspiration for the song! If it is a success, you get half the credit. Is it OK that I put your name on the song? It is at BandCamp.com but a person can download it for free. If they want, they can make a donation. I don't expect it to earn any money. I'd rather give it away free. In a few days, I will have the sheet music ready with a piano part and guitar chords. Thank you, Dan!
Author: asiansa09
If you ever get royalty for the song, please contribute to the Catholic church.
Author: asiansa09
I hope I am your inspiration for you to write a successful song "God's Gift to All The World."
Author: Richard Schletty
Dan, I did do an a cappella exploration with your original lyrics. I mentioned before your lyrics may work nicely as a chanted meditation. Here is my extemporaneous (ad libbed) recording:
For the Love of Humanity-a cappella exploration
Author: Dell Evensen (not verified)
Thank you, I enjoyed it and did share on facebook
beautifully done.
god grace you so much, Praise God now and forever
Dell
Author: Richard Schletty
You are welcome, Dan. I very much enjoyed collaborating on this song with you. Your original lyrics could be done chant style – due to the long lines and uneven meter. I might give that a try, just for fun. I may still get a piano arrangement from my colleague André. Note that I made a mistake in singing line 4 of verses 2 and 3. I was supposed to sing higher up the scale like I did on line 4 of verse 1.
I'm thinking of changing the chorus to this. It has rhyming for lines 1 and 3. The song...
Author: Richard Schletty
Here is my first version of chords and melody. Suggestions welcome.
Note: My song adaptation of Dan's song lyrics is now posted in a separate story here: topcatholicsongs.com/gods-gift-to-all-the-world
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://richardschletty.bandcamp.com/track/his-gift-to-all-the-world" href="http://richardschletty.bandcamp.com/track/his-gift-to-all-the-world">His Gift to All the World by Richard Schletty</a...
Author: Richard Schletty
Good. Glad you like it. I can hear the song in my head. Time to record it!
Author: Richard Schletty
Ok. I will keep that in mind about including Christ. Thanks.
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I will sing the song. Thank you for asking. I might have a composer friend help me with a piano arrangement.
Author: asiansa09
I see, I just realize that there should be somewhere you should mention "Christ" so that instead of "he" all the time.
Author: Richard Schletty
No problem. I can put in "Christ" instead of "Our Lord." The reason I have "Lord" is because it is a near-rhyme with "world" in the last line.
My rhyming scheme is this: ABAB
This change to the 2nd and 4th lines would restore the rhyming:
I see blood, I see water
from the heart of Jesus.
He brings light, divine mercy.
His love heals us.
or
I see blood and water flowing
from the heart of Christ, our Lord.
His divine mercy and love
are a gift to all the world
I still can't get the 1st and...
Author: asiansa09
That is so wonderful song lyric that you wrote. I agree with you totally that you make the song so up high. The message comes through in the song.
I should say "Christ" first in the chorus instead of "Our Lord."
Author: Richard Schletty
I like "Sing of Mary" – easy to sing. I have sung this in church since the early 1960s! It was composed in 1938 by Roland Palmer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X7xdTg4wXA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r36KJfoBeFs
http://hymnary.org/text/sing_of_mary_pure_and_lowly
I also like "I Sing a Maid" but it's a little more challenging. Composed by M. D. Ridge in 1987.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaS9NwYjsLo
http://hymnary.org/text/i_sing_a_maid_of_tender_years
Author: Richard Schletty
I would like to suggest modifying your lyrics to create an even meter and flow. This will help as I try to create a nice melody that people will remember and find easy to sing. I have tried to include most of your words about the messages to Saint Faustina from Jesus Christ. I am not sure it is necessary to say "Messages from Christ to sister Faustina" in the verses. It also think the title of the song should appear in the refrain rather than in the verses. I suggest keeping each verse only 4...
Author: Guest (not verified)
I am looking for a Marian song that is upbeat, and simple enough for children to learn and sing.
Any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
Author: asiansa09
No, I don't have music for this song yet. Will you sing for me or write music for the song?
Author: Richard Schletty
Hello! Do you have music yet for your lyrics? A good reflection for today – Divine Mercy Sunday. Thank you for sharing.
[Edited: Note that my song adaptation of Dan's song lyrics is finished. Listen to it here: topcatholicsongs.com/gods-gift-to-all-the-world]
Author: Elizabeth (not verified)
Im' a catholic and very interested in singing church hymns. I'm chosen in my community to sing this psalm 131 on meditation in my community celebrating the Uganda Martyrs of 2017. Ilike praising and singjng God's hymns.
Author: Richard Schletty
Very nice. Beautifully sung words that express the central belief of Christianity – that Jesus Christ, victorious over suffering and death, gives us new life. That painted image of Christ on the cross is powerful. Well done. I would like to hear the voice rise above the instrumentation a bit more.
Author: Benjamin Tanewan (not verified)
I am a Catholic and I love meditation music that keeps my Catholic faith alive and strong.
Author: Richard Schletty
Joan, I'll take a look through my old Catholic hymnals. Any idea what hymnal you were using? Or were you singing from an octavo?
Author: Guest Joan (not verified)
Looking for different melody with alto we used to sing in the 1960's in our choir:
Jesus, Jesus come to me
Oh how much I long for thee
Come, thou of all friends the best
Take possession of my breast.
Comfort my poor soul distressed
Come and dwell within my breast,
Oh, how oft I sigh for thee
Jesus, Jesus come to me
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks for the update, MTR. I hope your album gets a lot of earplay and sales. All for Jesus.
Author: MTR
This is just an Update to the original PDF of the Info & Lyrics to "A Cup of Cold Water". I have made some minor Editorial changes to the Info, and changed some of the Capitalizations to the words in the Lyrics for Aesthetic reasons. MTR
Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, that's exactly why I do this. We have minimal resources at St. Mary's and St. Matthew's where I cantor/play guitar. Sometimes I am asked to lead worship music solo without piano. So I need to keep improving my guitar playing. Thanks, Paul, for affirming the need. Many of the GIA practice recordings were recorded in a "big" way with multiple instruments and often with descant or SATB voices.
Author: Richard Schletty
This is a good prayer for the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit to be given to youth of the world. I might have some suggestions for improving the English phrases. Thank you for sharing.
Author: Paul (not verified)
It is such a good idea to be providing "authentic" recordings of these Psalms as opposed to studio recordings produced by publishers. Gives the weekend liturgical musician an honest example of how these pieces can be successfully performed with small resources.
Author: Richard Schletty
Others should do this, too! TCS is just a grand central station for Catholic-Christian music and song artists.
Author: Richard Schletty
That is an interesting visualization of your music. Looks like a colored water fountain. Nice.
Author: Richard Schletty
Good to know you are getting your excellent album published at iTunes. Thanks for letting us know.
Author: asiansa09
It takes a lot of effort to raise a generation in believe in higher education and pursue it. Therefore, I hope to recite the rosary for our generation to come to realization of higher education is helping the society.
Author: Richard Schletty
Ken, very nice rendition of O Sacred Head Surrounded. I wish I could play like that. Maybe in heaven...
Here is your SoundCloud post embedded. I hope that's OK. I want you to know that this is possible. You grab the embed code, switch to "Source" or "Plain Text Editor" and paste in the embed code.
Author: Ken Whisler
I put this arrangement together last Lent and am very much looking forward to playing it this Lenten season:
https://soundcloud.com/ken-whisler/o-sacred-head-now-wounded
Author: Richard Schletty
That is a very good prayer. Simple and earnest. We all need to pray in order to help us have a clear vision of God's kingdom and help us to avoid evil. I like to pray the Our Father. In our home, we say "Bless us, O Lord" before meals and personalize our meal prayer at the end by thanking God for particular good things that we have seen or experienced this day.
Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for your prayers. I will join you in prayer.
Author: Richard Schletty
Followup: Have people ever asked for your songs as lead sheets or as a complete scores with guitar chord names and piano arrangement? The reason I ask is because I have resources to help you prepare either. It sometimes helps to have sheet music to supplement and enhance distribution/sales.
Author: Guest (not verified)
Bernadette Farrell writes some very upbeat, socially-conscious songs. Thanks for laying down a bead on this one. Where can I get the chords for the song?
Author: Richard Schletty
Well written and well performed. I recommend that you post here the lyrics you posted in the Forum at https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/node/828
Author: Richard Schletty
I recommend you add your lyrics above to the story which has the audio file and YouTube video:
https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/lift-up-my-spirit-in-you
Good song! Who is the singer? Who plays guitar?
Author: Richard Schletty
MTR, do you have lead sheets with guitar chords for any of the songs from this album? I'd like to try out some with my no-name guitar.
Author: Paul F. Page (not verified)
Such a gentle, personal performance. Posting these to the web provides many others with solid performances to enjoy and to use for study/practice. Much enjoyed.
Author: Richard Schletty
It is good to have the links to your renditions of the Song of Our Lady of Guadalupe in French, Arabic and English. Thank you for your efforts to spread this song and for your vision of peace and joy in the world.
Author: Jeannette of Nazareth (not verified)
Greeting to all, First time I heard this soft beautiful song, it was during a PRO_LIFE Holy Mass in the region of the Capital of Canada. Right away, I simply fell in love with this song. Consequently, three years later, I decided to translate it and sing it in three languages Eng. Fr., & Arabic. Yes I dared in spite of my modest voice. My translation is to be modified and improved in time.
Please find the links of this song uploaded a few days on youtube. It is available now in three...
Author: Guest (not verified)
Little Bella was a bit of a distraction but you finished the psalm!
Author: Sister Julie Ann Sheahan OSF (not verified)
St. Francis felt this pull. The tension allowed God to live within him in the now in real ways. May our lives of prayer inspire us to action with great joy and peace! Thanks, Father Joseph! Bravo!
Author: CMM (not verified)
Paul, you really cover the gamut of music genres and stylings – from sacred traditional to contemporary worship to Pop. Very cool. Very generous of you to offer so much of your work for free.
Author: Lardo (not verified)
This is very well written music. Such beautiful harmonies and orchestral arrangements. The recorded performances are sublime. You are so right to encourage listening to Fr. Marco's works. This elevates the soul.
Author: Richard Schletty
MTR, I sent you an email regarding my modus operandi with FSCC. I sent them links to your Twitter account two days before sending them MP3 files. The MP3s are for their convenience if they wish to post 1 or 2 songs in a feature article. They will need properly "tagged" MP3 files with artist, song title and album title.
Author: MTR
Rather than sending mp3 files, why don't you give them the Bitlink to this Story: bit.ly/MTRsAlbum . Then they can listen all they want for free at the same quality as the mp3s you sent and if they like a Track or the Whole Album, they can either Download the Tracks or Album for Free, or Donate something to help me on my Mission. MTR
P.S. - If you insert the Bitlink in a Tweet, or insert it in an Email with HTML capabilities, you can take it easy on yourself by not troubling to send files.
Author: Cantor Cecil
So glad you have related your story about your connection with Marco Frisini's music. I have shared this article with others.
Author: Richard Schletty
I like your "care-free" mug shot. And knowing that you added those two songs to the original 11, I will send them to Mark K. and Sister J.A. at fscc-calledtobe.org. I had sent the original 11 to them yesterday.
Author: MTR
I decided to add the two Tracks from Ambient Seashore to A Cup of Cold Water. Then I added a Photo of me taken outside of the Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering in the Fall of 1977. I was a First Year Graduate Student in the PhD Program then. Not a Care in the World, working 70 hours a week to keep up with my Studies and my Research, funded by the National Science Foundation. MTR
Author: Richard Schletty
Well, no problem. In trying to sleuth out your problem, I actually discovered a problem with the home page not displaying correctly in Internet Explorer – more than 31 style sheets cannot be loaded in older. versions of IE. I told Drupal to optimize CSS and JavaScript. Now all is well.
Author: MTR
I just downloaded a new Audio CODEC for my Windows Pro (64 bit) build 1607. It has separate volume controls for Mozilla Firefox and for the system as a whole. I had the volume gain set to zero for Mozilla Firefox. That's why I couldn't hear anything. The 256 kbps mp3 I put in there earlier was just fine. I just wasn't familiar with my new CODEC's capabilities. MTR
P.S. - Thanks for trying to diagnose my "Problem"
Author: Richard Schletty
MTR: Your song plays fine on my Mac in Safari, Firefox and Chrome. Please tell me your platform and browser. The player is HTML 5 so relies on Flash only as a fallback method of playing. Is the volume on the player up? Click on the right speaker icon. I just checked the MP3 player in Windows 7. The song played in Windows Chrome. It did not play in Windows Explorer 8 until I updated to latest version of Flash. I will look into this further. I thought this was an MP3 player with wide...
Author: Richard Schletty
A quick method to make a hyperlink is to include www at the beginning of your URL. E.g. www.topcatholicsongs.com. If the URL does not have www, then use the http:// prefix. E.g. http://MichaelResch.Bandcamp.comNow on to the second method which gives you more control over hyperlink creation:It looks like my site maintenance a few days ago resulted in change of "Input Format" from "Full HTML" to "Filtered HTML". The screenshot below shows you the toolbar that you should be seeing. You can click...
Author: MTR
I added a Song to my Blog Post in mp3 format and no sound is coming out of the Music Player. What did I do wrong? MTR
Author: MTR
Richard,I would like to create hyperlinks of my own using the hyperlink tool in Rich Text mode. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue about where the Tool Bar is. Could you explain to me where the Tool Bar is? Thanks. MTR
Author: Cantor Cecil
You guys made this awesome without following the same old song formula.
Author: Cantor Cecil
I can hear lots of layers of voices and instruments building up this song...until...there isn'tany more shallow flow!
Author: Richard Schletty
Came from learning the old spiritual "Deep River."
Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, MTR, for making them available. I am sending them to Mark Kolter. He may be interested in featuring 2 or 3 songs on the www.fscc-calledtobe.org website.
Author: Richard Schletty
Well, I am not doing custom coding myself. I'm not that geek-smart. I use off-the-Drupal-shelf modules to hodge together the services I want. I did those hyperlinks for you manually using the hyperlink tool in Rich Text mode (it's in the tool bar). I did have a module acitivated for a couple hours which is supposed to automatically create hyperlinks from URLs but it messed up some Forum posts made last year by André van Haren. He did an extensive series of tutorials for Sibelius notation...