"All Are Welcome"

To say that some people have strong feelings about the song "All Are Welcome" may be an understatement. While it has detractors it is also beloved by many, and when it is used in parishes the congregation sings. In this episode, composer Marty Haugen speaks with Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert about "All Are Welcome" and, in doing so, shares his approach to composition, his philosophy of congregational singing, and his response to those who feel that liturgical songs are becoming too "political." Plus, listeners hear about Marty's original plans for the melody, and a unique congregation in San Francisco where the music ministry utilizes no instrumentation. 

So, please open your hymnal to "All Are Welcome."

Episode links

For more information about Marty Haugen and his other compositions, visit his composer page at GIA Publications. You can also learn more at his personal website, www.martyhaugen.com.

You can purchase a copy of the song score and a copy of the original song recording from GIA Publications. 

You can purchase a piano score and copy of the instrumental recording of "All Are Welcome" (arranged and performed by Paul Tate) and the instrumental recording of "Kingsfold" (arranged and performed by Bobby Fisher) from GIA Publications. 

You can purchase a copy of the song score and original recording of "What Is This Place?" (composed by Huub Oosterhuis) from OCP. 

You can learn more about music ministry at St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, California, by visiting their web page. There you can watch videos of their unique approach to inclusive congregational music ministry. 

You can read the article titled "The Beauty of Our Worship in the Liturgy" by Bishop Robert Morlino at the Catholic Herald website (Diocese of Madison). 

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All content of this podcast is property of Open Your Hymnal or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about this podcast and its use, please contact us.

Special Feature: "A Place Called Home" (Joncas)

During our interview, Fr. Michael Joncas shared one of his recent projects, a hymn text called "A Place Called Home". Listen to his description of the hymn, and then check it out using the links below. A powerful text matched with a familiar melody, this piece would make an easy and impactful addition to your congregation's repertoire. 

Feature links

You can purchase a copy of the song score and a copy of the audio recording from GIA Publications. The recording is featured on the album Songs of Mercy. 

You can watch a performance of the song by viewing the video recording of the "With Gratitude" concert, originally presented at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in February of 2017 (the presentation of the piece begins at the 1:03:50 mark).

You can request the resource Singing Welcome: Hymns and Songs of Hospitality for Refugees and Immigrants from The Hymn Society. 

All content of this podcast is property of Open Your Hymnal or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about this podcast and its use, please contact us.

"On Eagle's Wings"

The song "On Eagle's Wings" is everywhere: hymnals, YouTube, funerals and memorial services, and even PBS television specials. In this episode, Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert interview the song's composer, Fr. Michael Joncas, to learn more about the story of the song, the writing and publication process, and the song's legacy. There is even a surprise revelation about the connection between this beloved piece and Stephen Sondheim, and you don't want to miss it.

So, please open your hymnal to "On Eagle's Wings".

Episode links

For more information about Fr. Michael Joncas and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at World Library Publications, OCP, and GIA Publications.

You can purchase a copy of the song score and a copy of the original song recording from OCP.

You can purchase a copy of the live concert recording (performed in 1985) and a copy of the instrumental piano recording (arranged and performed by Paul Tate) from GIA Publications.

You can purchase a copy of the instrumental guitar recording (arranged and performed by Stephen Petrunak) from iTunes.

You can hear the United States Air Force Academy cadets sing "On Eagle's Wings" and watch Michael Crawford's live concert rendition on YouTube.

Don't forget to "subscribe" so you'll never miss an episode!

All content of this podcast is property of Open Your Hymnal or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

Welcome!

Welcome to "Open Your Hymnal," a new podcast from Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert. 

The repertoire of music used at liturgy is vast and ever-growing. Even so, each of us has our favorites. Maybe it's a song that captures a particular image, or a song that brings back a special memory like a wedding or a funeral. 

In this podcast, we examine the most beloved, enduring, and consequential songs we sing at liturgy. We break open each song through conversation with composers, text writers, and other artists. We look into the scriptural sources of the text, the song writing process, and more.

Join us for our first full episode on May 2 where we will explore the song "On Eagle's Wings" with composer Fr. Michael Joncas.

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