Alternative Music Resources for People of Faith
Justice-centered, global, and multicultural music for worship (Compiled by Tom Witt, Bread for the Journey)
Note: Many of the resources listed below can be purchased from St. Martin's Table bookstore, 2001 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454 612/339-3920.
Agape: Songs of Hope and Reconciliation. A new collection of 111 songs, hymns and chants from across the globe, all used at the 2003 Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Tenth Assembly gathering in Winnipeg . Many songs include piano accompaniment. Book includes liturgical and biblical indexes. Published by Oxford University Press in association with the LWF. ISBN: 0-19-100013-2.
Come All You People: Shorter Songs for Worship. A collection of brief chants, choruses, and responses from Wild Goose Worship Group that can be used in liturgies where printed music isn’t used.
There is One Among Us is the sequel – a second collection of shorter songs for worship that help us to strengthen our prayer by allowing everyone in an assembly or crowd to sing short, easy-to-learn pieces in harmony, without accompaniment. Accompanying each song in the music collection is an indication of how it may be used in creative liturgy. Also, the book concludes with a number of prayers that may be used in conjunction with the songs. Both songbooks and CDs are available from GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason Ave. , Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358
Common Ground. A truly unique ecumenical song book released in 1998 by all of the major Christian traditions in Scotland . Includes a lot of new material reflecting diverse traditions and the shared desire for songs which speak to and for God's worshipping people today. Over a third of the texts and tunes are Scottish in origin, representing over 26 differerent authors and 15 different composers. 20% of the song book is material from nations in the southern hemisphere. In the U.S. , try ordering from St. Martin 's Table (see page 1), or directly from Saint Andrew Press, 121 George Street , Edinburgh Scotland EH2 4YN .
Dancing at the Harvest. The newest (1997) and most comprehensive collection of Ray Makeever’s songs, hymns, and liturgies, including those from his previous songbooks. Written in a variety of popular musical styles, the collection is arranged according to the seasons of the church and themes of Christian life. A compact disc includes 19 songs from the collection. Available from Augsburg Fortress Publishing 1-800-328-4648
El Salvador : A songbook and cassette/CD from singer/songwriter Donna Peña. In addition to four new tunes by Peña, the collection also contains the “Salvadoran Popular Mass” written by Guillermo Cuellar at the request of Archbishop Oscar Romero. This setting for Eucharist is true folk music at its best. The collection is rounded off by “Juntos creamos espiritu” by Bret Hesla and others. Available from GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason Ave. , Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358
Freedom is Coming. Songs of protest and praise from South Africa . Tape and music book for mixed choir. Available from Lutheran Human Relations, 2703 N. Sherman Blvd. Milwaukee , WI 53210 .
Gather - Comprehensive. The latest great collection of contemporary worship music, folk style hymns, songs and psalms that is truly comprehensive. Includes the best of contemporary Roman Catholic music. Pew, choir, keyboard, and guitar editions available from GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason Ave. , Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358
Global Praise - 1. A 1996 collection of 68 hymns and songs from the global Methodist connection and the ecumenical community -- a mixture of contemporary and traditional texts and music. A companion CD or cassette has 14 songs recorded, and a Program and Resource Book helps provide background and useful suggestions for use. A production of the General Board of Global Ministries, GBGMusik, The United Methodist Church. Order from Cokesbury, 1-800-672-1789.
Global Praise – 2. Sequel to Global Praise 1. Also has a companion CD or cassette with 16 of the 127 songs in the songbook. A production of the General Board of Global Ministries, GBGMusik, The United Methodist Church. Order from Cokesbury, 1-800-672-1789.
Global Songs/Local Voices. Bread for the Journey's first song book, a companion to the compact disc. 17 songs and hymns from the church in Africa , Latin America , Asia , Europe , and North America . Includes all the songs on the recording, including keyboard accompaniments, background and performance notes for each song. Global Songs 2 - Bread for the Journey. Bread for the Journey's second song book collection, and companion to a compact disc of the same title. 21 more songs from the church around the world. The song book, published by Augsburg Fortress, includes keyboard accompaniments, background and performance notes for each song. Also, Pave the Wave: Global Songs 3 is available in CD; after January 1, 2004 it will be available as a song book. Available from Augsburg Fortress Publishing. 1-800-328-4648.
Halle , Halle : We Sing the World Round. C. Michael Hawn has complied this 1999 collection of 36 songs from the world church for children, youth, and congregation. Available is a singers edition songbook, teacher’s edition songbook, and cassette recording. ISBN #1-929187-16-5. Published by the Choristers Guild, and distributed by The Lorenz Corporation, 501 E. Third St., Box 802 , Dayton , OH 45401 .
Hymns from the Four Winds. A collection of Asian-American hymns. Available from Abingdon Press, Nashville , TN 37202 .
In Spirit and In Truth. A worship book from the World Council of Churches Seventh Assembly in 1991. Includes order for daily worship, hymns and liturgical responses coming from a variety of countries, written in many languages. Available from World Council of Churches, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland .
Libro de Liturgia y Cantico Developed by and recommended for use in the ELCA, a 1998 collection of Spanish language hymns, liturgical music and songs. Includes music from all over Mexico , Central and South America . An appendix in the back helps you identify styles, suggested rhythms and use of specific percussion instruments. Published by and available from Augsburg Fortress Publishing. 1-800-328-4648.
Many and Great: Songs of the World Church . Volume One. 25 songs of the world church, from Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, Czechoslovakia, China, Hungary, India, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, USA, USSR and Zimbabwe. All have withstood the test of time in their own communities, and all include performance notes, English translations, and guitar chords where appropriate. Available from GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason Ave. , Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358 Volume Two - Sent By the Lord: Songs of the World Church . 25 more songs from all over the world. Songs range from Argentina to South Africa to Russia to Korea . All have withstood the test of time in their own communities, and all include performance notes, English translations, and guitar chords where appropriate. Available from GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason Ave. , Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358.
New Century Hymnal Published in 1995 by The Pilgrim Press, this hymnal of the United Church of Christ has an impressive collection of new and old hymns from near and far. Of particular note (not without controversy!) is the effort to consciously change language to be more inclusive. There are also some gems, including many global pieces, hidden in the Service Music section at the back of the book (unfortunately, they're not indexed!). Order from Pilgrim Press, 700 Prospect Avenue , Cleveland , OH 44115 .
Psalms of Patience, Protest, and Praise. 24 metrical psalm settings, paraphrased and arranged by John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland , continuing the tradition of powerful, singable music that speaks to real people. Themes cover the range of the human condition, from exuberance, delight, and unbridled joy to questioning, curiosity, and impatience, to agony, loneliness, and despair. Available from GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason Ave. , Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358
Sing With Creation: Spiritual Songs and Hymns of Creation, Stewardship, and Justice, by Bret Hesla and Larry Dittberner. 1991. 40pp,. A songbook for congregations, including both original melodies and new words to familiar tunes. $7.00 book only; $10.00 includes teaching tape. Write to: Bret Hesla, Rt. 1, Box 121 , Rushford , MN 55971 .
A Singing Faith. New words written by Jane Parker Huber for 73 familiar hymn tunes; includes a section on "the Church in Mission - Peacemaking and Justice," Also, see her 1996 compilation entitled
Singing in Celebration: Hymns for Special Occasions. Available from Westminster Press, 925 Chestnut St. , Philadelphia , PA 19107 .
Songs of Zion . A comprehensive collective of hymns, spirituals, and other music from the African American church tradition. Available from Abingdon Press, Nashville , TN 37202 .
Sound the Bamboo - 2000. The most comprehensive collection of hymns and songs from the churches in Asia . Updated in 2000 by the Christian Conference of Asia . Available from the Christian Conference of Asia , email: cca@pacific.net.hk; web address: www.cca.org.hk
Taize I and II. A collection of responses, litanies, acclamations and canons in basic Latin text, written by Jacques Berthier for use in the Taize ecumenical community in France . Three editions, including peoples', vocal, instrumental. Available from GIA Publications, Inc, 7404 S. Mason Ave. Chicago , IL 60638 . 1/800-442-1358. Also Cantos de Taizé Vol I (GIA, G-2974) and Songs and Prayers from Taize. Available from GIA (G-3719).
This Far By Faith: An African American Resource for Worship. A good, diverse collection, published in 1999, of resources from and for African American worship. 300 hymns and psalms, plus several liturgies. Includes a good introduction on Worship and Culture, and on Leading African American Song. Published by and available from Augsburg Fortress Publishing. 1-800-328-4648.
Thuma Mina: International Ecumenical Hymnbook. A hymnbook published in 1995 intended as an aid for “Singing with our Partner Churches” -- building upon the worldwide ecumenical movement which has flourished over the past two decades between Christians in South and North. The book contains 294 hymns from more than 70 countries around the world; all of them have the texts printed in multiple languages. Only two disadvantages with this resource: 1) most times they’ve provided only melody lines and chords, not full scores; and 2) there are no accompanying background notes or annotations about any of the songs, so if you’ve never heard it before, you’re going to have to do a lot of guessing. However, it’s still probably the best collection of global church music to date. Write to: Strube Verlag, Pettenkoferstrasse 24, 80336 Munchen , Germany . Tel. (089)544 266 11; Fax 53 51 81.
With One Voice. A supplement to the Lutheran Book of Worship published in 1995, that incorporates a wide diversity of musical styles and sources, and includes hymns and themes that are under-represented in the LBW. Available from Augsburg Fortress Publishing, PO Box 1209 , Minneapolis , MN 55440 . 1-800-328-4648.
Worshipping Ecumenically. A 1995 release from the World Council of Churches that includes orders of service from WCC and other global meetings with suggestions for local use. Per Harling’s introduction to the book “The Liturgy of the World: Ecumenical Worship with All Senses” is worth the price alone. But in addition to the many services, including the Lima Liturgy, there are more than 100 pieces of liturgical music from all over the world printed within the services. Available from: World Council of Churches, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland ISBN 2-8254-1141-8.