This song comes to us from presenter Ana Hernandez, with text from Sufi poet Rumi.
Here is the Sheet music, and a video file is attached below.
A traditional Xhosa hymn which, roughly translated, means “Go with us, our saviour” from Pamela Warrick Smith. Paul Vasile brings it to Music that Makes Community. When you lead it, make sure that you keep a steady beat so the group can feel the syncopated rhythm of the tune. I teach the tune first and once that's set teach the bass line. If folks don't intuitively add harmony (almost every group I've taught this to has) then line out parts.
There are several English translations of this text and sadly not all are attributed.
1. You Are Holy, You Show Us the Way in Xhosa: Here is a link to a pdf of the sheet music for this version.
2. God With Us, Lord, and Set Us All Free... etc.
3. Come Walk With Us, the Journey Is Long - text by Anders Nyberg
I have improvised other verses, as well, and heard others do the same: i.e. Go with us, Lord, and give us your love/joy/peace, or Come walk with us and share in our bread. Lots of possibilities.
Additional Information:
Song form: Simple melody with SATB harmony
Composer(s) Name(s): Traditional South African melody
Place of Origin: South African
This South African traditional song from the singing of the Mooiplaas congregation comes from from the Iona Community publication We Walk His Way. A great strength of music from southeastern Africa is that it usually emerges from communal life, and in singing such songs we unite our sung prayers with those of the people who created them.
To lead it, sing through it once or twice. It's easy enough that folks will start singing with you quickly. Encourage harmony and add leader part once the song is set.
Additional Information:
Biblical Reference: Matthew 11:28
Copyright Holder Name: English trans. © 2008 WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)
Terms of Use: Must purchase OneLicense.net license to reprint in order of worship
Print Source: We Walk His Way, Iona Community, WGRG
Publisher Name: GIA Publications, Inc.
Year of Publication: 2008
Here is a link to a pdf of sheet music for this song.
Here's a recording of the song being sung (disclaimer: this is not an official MMC video):
This song is an example of teaching music for group singing without the use of books or projectors, recorded at the All Saints Company conference "Music that Makes Community," Los Angeles, October, 2008.
This song is originally from Ghana, and the version we've sung at many MMC events is from a setting by Marty Haugen and Marc Anderson. You can find the sheet music and a recording of the song at GIA Music.
To be faithful with what I've been given
To be faithful with who I am
To be faithful with how I am living
I (we) pray to be faithful
Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
© 2004 This Here Music/Worldmaking.net (ASCAP)
Licensed via CCLI, OneLicense.net and Worldmaking.net
Sheet music available in the "Worldmaking" collection at Worldmaking.net.
This song was composed by Amy McCreath. It has become an anthem of sorts for the Music that Makes Community network because of its simple but powerful lyrics and easily taught (and harmonized) melody.
Sheet music can be found in Singing In Community, our latest songbook published by Augsburg Fortress.
Here's a video of Paul Vasile leading What We Need Is Here at a Music That Makes Community workshop at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.
'Tar a Thighearna' was composed by Ruth Cunningham. The text in Gaelic is translated, "Come, Lord, come thou Being." Ruth and Ana Hernandez recorded it on Blessed By Light, one of their albums as the duo Harc.
Sheet music can be found in Singing In Community, our latest songbook published by Augsburg Fortress.
Here's a video of Rachel Kroh leading 'Tar A Thighearna' at Union Seminary in September 2015:
Here's a lovely recording of the song by Ana and Ruth.
Here's a link to a recording of Emily Scott singing the song and then making some suggestions for how to lead it paperlessly, from the resources Emily has been compiling for the song leaders at St. Lydia's in Brooklyn.
Composed by Ruth Cunningham, this is a popular song from Music By Heart (p. 58), the original collection of songs published as part of the Music that Makes Community project. It was composed by Ruth Cunningham and is both layered and works as a round.
Composed by John Bell, published in We Walk His Way from Wild Goose publications (available as a CD or songbook).
Here's a video of AnnaMarie Hoos leading Come O Lord and Set Us Free at Music that Makes Community at the Bishop's Ranch in January of 2015.