REVIEWS
MUSIC FOR CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE
Te following collection and octavos are published by GIA Publications.
Songs of Hope. Music collection by Fr. Rob Galea. Mixed voices and ensembles. G-9884, $29.95.
Acclaimed Catholic priest, composer, and performer Fr. Rob Galea shares
this collection of songs that he uses in his personal ministry. Te titles include some from his Coming Home collection, plus favorites from previous commercial recordings, including “Something About You,” “Reach Out,” “What a Day,” and “Divine Mercy Chaplet.” Some selections lend themselves to a strictly performative presentation, owing largely to soloistic range and style choices; others, however, are suitable for liturgical use. All pieces are prayerfully composed by Galea and, with the fine arranging skills of Chris de Silva and Paul Tate, the engraving is clean, with accompaniments that easily convey the intended style of each piece. Consider exploring this collection with teen ensembles seeking new repertoire to distinguish their ministry. Te thematic and liturgical applications vary significantly, but the book provides an in-depth index in the back to assist.
Topical usage: church, comfort, commitment, death, eternal life, faith, forgiveness, gathering, grace, guidance, hope, humility, Jesus Christ, love of God for us, mercy, mission, renewal, petition, praise, presence of God, redemption, sin, trust.
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Fr. Rob Galea
In the Love of Christ. Words and music by David Haas. SATB voices with cantor, assembly, keyboard and guitar. G-9473, $2.00.
Anchored richly in new testament passages, this piece speaks to sacramental renewal and unity with a prayerful emphasis on melody. While still holding a sense of the familiar, thoughtful shifts of musical texture and tempo distinguish this piece, helping it fill a gap in many repertoires (especially in the Easter season). Te verses provide opportunity for cantors to be true prayer leaders, dramatically hold the attention of the assembly, and lead all as one voice back into a beautiful unison refrain. Consider this piece for celebrations of Christian Initiation (Baptism, RCIA, Confirmation) and during Eastertide.
Acclamations for the Order of Celebrating Matrimony. Chris de Silva. Cantor, choir, assembly, keyboard and guitar with C instrument and cello. G-9494, $2.15.
Add joyful acclaim to the wedding liturgy with these contemporary musical responses from Chris de Silva. Leveraging the recently approved English translation of the Order of Celebrating Matrimony, these acclamations lean contemporary while allowing for a variety of stylistic executions (piano, organ, rhythm, etc.). Te octavo, brightly centered in F major and ¾, includes an “alleluia” gospel acclamation with stepwise two-part writing but also, perhaps more critically, a Lenten gospel acclamation befitting the joyous wedding occasion. Careful attention is given to crafting responses with a visiting assembly in mind, while the verses, economical in composition, offer variety to match
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