Copying is illegal. Review copy only. Preface

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1 Preface Our search for richer inner lives has led to a renewed interest in meditation as a means of opening the heart to receive a deeper sense of God within Music can be a gateway to meditation The songs in this volume, which set simple statements of faith, are designed to be used in this manner The twelve songs in this collection may be used in corporate worship from the smallest-sized assembly to the largest All worshipers are encouraged to participate at a level that is comfortable to each The basic part is the unison melody for the assembly/congregation The melody can then be ornamented to a small or elaborate degree by the use of vocal descants, by singing harmony (generally the choir), and/or by playing instrumental descants in any combination Capable vocalists and instrumentalists are encouraged even urged to improvise descanting parts Songs for Contemplative Worship was born out of the composer s experience with the music of the Taize Community in France, a community that has brought the form of simple song to a high stage of development since their founding in 1940 The songs are simple in structure, text, and length, and are designed to be quickly accessible and easy to memorize They are not meant to be intellectual exercises, but in the most basic sense, are songs of the heart to be sung over and over again, as ostinati, until a sense of completion by the gathered assembly/congregation brings them to a natural close Skilled musicians can, however, through the art of improvisation or the use of the descants provided, develop the performance of these simple songs to a higher degree These songs are intended to be used in a variety of ways from a separate service of music with prayer and meditation, to replacing sung items of the Ordinary in liturgical churches, to being especially useful as sung meditations during Holy Communion As St Paul says in I Corinthians 14:15b, I will SING WITH THE SPIRIT and I will sing with the mind also Sing them in good health of mind and body Also available Full Score and Instrumental Parts, MSM The full score contains melody and keyboard accompaniment with chords that may be used by guitar, reproducible optional descants, and reproducible songsheets for participants Purchase gives permission to reproduce any elements so marked Instrumental parts vary from piece to piece and include parts for instruments I IV in treble clef, bass instrument, descants I IV, and handbells (2 octaves, 4 8 bells)

2 Contents Come, Redeemer 10 Create in Me 8 Dona nobis pacem 6 God Is Love 4 Jesus Christ Is Born 15 Miserere mei 5 O Lord, My Shepherd 7 Out of the Deep 12 Sing to the Lord 11 Ubi caritas 13 Veni Sancte Spiritus 9 Wash Me Thoroughly 14

3 4 God Is Love Unison/Solo Voice(s) and Keyboard with Optional Descants and Instruments j =69 Copyright 1998 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

4 Miserere mei SATB with Optional Keyboard, Descants, and Instruments 5 Reflectively, slowly (J = 60) E~ Fm s A (Keyboard ad lib) E~ E~ r us Copyright 1998 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

5 6 Voice(s) Keyboard 2 2? Dona nobis pacem *Unison/Solo Voice(s) and Keyboard with Optional Handbells, Descants, and Instruments 1 1? p 4 Do - na no - bis pa - cem, Gm Cm 4 p 4 (Ped) do - na no - bis pa - cem, Gm q = ca 50 Cm do - na no - bis pa - cem, F B b do - na no - bis pa - cem F B b *May be sung as a two-part canon Copyright 1998 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)