OYH Lessons & Carols, 2019

Ethiopian Creche, Saint John’s Abbey (Collegeville, MN)

We are closing out Advent with our second annual “OYH Lessons & Carols.” You’ll hear a range of great music from a variety of composers. You’ll also hear non-scriptural readings woven throughout, read by friends of the podcast: Meredith Augustin, Rory Cooney, Bex Gaunt, David Haas, Carol Browning, Jaime Cortez, Kate Williams, and Audrey and Clare Reichert.

For a scripture-based lessons and carols, visit our 2018 OYH Lessons & Carols episode.

Whether you listen while driving in the car, baking Christmas cookies, preparing for liturgy, or anyplace else, we hope that this celebration will serve as a moment of pause and reflection during this busy time of year.

So, please open your hymnals!

Episode links

You can purchase the song recordings you heard in this episode: Instrumental arrangement of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (arr. Petrunak), “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (arr. Schlenker), “Like a Whisper in the Heart” (Moore/Dunstan), “What Have We Done for the Poor Ones” (True), “Las Posadas” (arr. Rubalcava), “Sing Out My Soul” (Whitaker), “A Weary Couple” (Alonso/Tice), “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” (arr. Hart), “Jesus Comes” (Morris/Bringle), “Go, Tell It On the Mountain” (arr. Warren Brown), “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (arr. Ward), and “Worship the New Born King” (Holland).

You can find links to the original readings by following these links: “So, Are You Ready for Christmas?” (Nadia Bolz Weber, 2007), “Advent” (Rory Cooney, 1992), from “The Violence of Love” (St. Oscar Romero, December 8, 1978), “Nothing is Impossible with God” (David Haas), “Are You Being Persecuted?” (Rachel Held Evans, 2014), “The Implications of Christmas” (Joan Chittister, 2018), and “The Work of Christmas Begins” (Howard Thurman).

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"When You Come"

Matt Reichert, Zack Stachowski, and Tony Alonso (December, 2019)

OYH is shaking things up and turning our microphone around! Today, our co-host Zack Stachowski serves as our interview guest, speaking about his Advent piece, “When You Come.” Since the co-host is becoming the guest, it only makes sense to have one of our past guests serve as co-host. We’re glad to be joined by Tony Alonso, who serves as co-host and helped interview Zack. As a special surprise, you’ll also hear from a host of other guests from past episodes, all sharing their insights into Zack’s piece.

So, please open your hymnals to “When You Come.”

Episode links

For more information about Zack Stachowski and his other compositions, visit his composer page at GIA Publications.

Thanks to all of our guest co-hosts for today’s episode! For more information about the work of composers Tony Alonso, Dan Kantor, Lori True, Carol Browning, Michael Joncas, and David Haas, visit GIA Publications. For more information about the work of Jesse Manibusan and Paul Inwood, visit OCP. For more information about the work of Lorraine Hess, Craig Colson, and Alan Hommerding, visit World Library Publications. [NOTE: Composers are listed by primary publisher. Many composers have pieces published by more than one publishing company].

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording for "When You Come” from GIA Publications.

You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in this episode: “Glory to God” (David Haas), “Advent Suite” (arr. Paul Tate), “This is Your Justice” (Colson), “Within Our Hearts Be Born” (Joncas), “A Weary Couple” (arr. Alonso, text by Adam M. L. Tice), and “Panis Angelicus” (Stachowski).

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All content of this podcast is property of Look Up Here Productions 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.

"Fly Like a Bird"

Matt Reichert, Ken Canedo, and Zack Stachowski (July, 2019)

Our Lenten journey continues with powerful personal witness from composer Ken Canedo. Join OYH hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they speak with Ken about his own return to the Church and how it led to the composition of one of his most beloved songs. They’ll also speak about Ken’s work chronicling the history of contemporary Catholic liturgical music, and Ken shares his experience as a person with hearing impairment. You won’t want to miss it!

So, please open your hymnal to "Fly Like a Bird."

Episode links

For more information about Ken Canedo and his other compositions, visit his composer page at OCP. Here you can also order his books, “Keep the Fire Burning” and “From Mountains High.”

You can help support this podcast by supporting our sponsors. For more information about the sponsors of this episode - Patrick J. Murphy & Associates organ builders, the book “God’s Cheerleaders” by author Paul Storm, and the album “God Never Tires” from composers Zack Stachowski and David Haas - visit their links.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording for "Fly Like a Bird” from OCP.

You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in this episode: “Holy Holy” from “Mass of Glory” (Ken Canedo and Bob Hurd), piano instrumental of “Fly Like a Bird" (arr. The O’Neill Brothers), “Akwaaba! Welcome!" (ValLimar Jansen, Ken Canedo, Sarah Kroger, Ben Walther, Greg Walton), “Hear, O Lord” (Ray Repp), “You’ve Searched Me” (David Haas), “As the Eagle Soars and Circles” (Kathy Powell), “Gather Your People” (Bob Hurd), and “For the Sake of Christ” (Ken Canedo). 

You can listen to “God is Love” by Fr. Clarence Rivers on YouTube.

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All content of this podcast is property of Look Up Here Productions 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.

OYH Lessons & Carols, 2018

“The Nativity,” from The Saint John’s Bible

We are closing out Advent with our fourth release, our first ever “OYH Lessons & Carols.” You’ll hear a range of great music from a variety of composers. You’ll also hear readings woven throughout, read by friends of the podcast: David Haas, Jes Garceau, Audrey Reichert, Carol Browning, and Jesse Manibusan. Whether you listen while driving in the car, baking Christmas cookies, preparing for liturgy, or anyplace else, we hope that this celebration will serve as a moment of pause and reflection during this busy time of year.

So, please open your hymnals!

Episode links

You can purchase the song recordings you heard in this episode: Instrumental arrangement of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (arr. Petrunak), “Gaudete” (arr. Haas), piano instrumental “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (arr. Tate), “Great Joy” (Haas), “Where the Promise Shines” (Moore), piano instrumental “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (arr. Tate), “More Lovely Than the Rose” (Kreutz), “Christmas Love” (Ridge), “Ecce Novum” (Gjeilo), guitar instrumental “Silent Night” (arr. Petrunak), “Still, Still, Still” (arr. Eicker), “Nativity Carol” (O’Brien), “Infant Holy” (arr. Coman), guitar instrumental “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” (arr. Roth), “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (Angotti), “By Star and Candlelight” (Powell), “Wake from Your Sleep” (Schutte), guitar instrumental “I Wonder as I Wander” (arr. Roth), “Verbum Caro” (anon.), “We Do Not Know” (Bell, arr. Alonso), “Come Weal, Come Woe” (Foley), “For Unto Us a Child is Born” (Handel), organ arrangement of “Joy to the World” (arr. Newman).

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"Canticle of the Turning"

Group shot! Podcast guests Jaime Cortez, David Haas, Rory Cooney, and Gary Daigle.  

Rory Cooney is a not only a gifted composer, he is also a prophetic writer of texts. In this interview, Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert speak with Rory about the background of one of his best-loved pieces, "Canticle of the Turning," to learn more about his theological and catechetical treatment of the Magnificat text. They also discuss the use of secular Irish folk melody with special guest, Ian Callanan, who joins the conversation from Ireland. 

So, please open your hymnal to "Canticle of the Turning."

Episode links

For more information about Rory Cooney and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at GIA Publications, OCP, and WLP. Also, be sure to check out his blog, "Gentle Reign". The specific blog post about this song is from August, 2014.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from GIA Publications. Here you can also purchase the instrumental piano recording of "Canticle of the Turning" (by Paul Tate) as well as David Haas' setting of the Magnificat, "Holy is Your Name." You can purchase Fr. Michael Joncas' setting, "Mary's Song," and Carey Landry's song "Hail Mary: Gentle Woman" at OCP.

The recording of "Star of the County Down" by the Chieftains can be purchased on iTunes. You can find the recording of "For Christ the King (An Army of Youth)" on YouTube.

You can learn more about Ian Callanan's music by visiting his composer page at GIA publications.

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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 the podcast and its use, please contact us.

"Night of Silence"

Dan Kantor's song, "Night of Silence," has been sung and celebrated in churches and concert halls around the world. In this episode, Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert chat with Dan about writing vivid text, creating harmonic structure, and the importance of celebrating Advent. We also learn new words like "Quod Libet," and Matt gets Zack to both play his guitar and sing for our listeners. Special guest appearances made by Rob Strusinski and Rachel Held Evans.

So, please open your hymnal to "Night of Silence."

Episode links

For more information about Dan Kantor and his other compositions, visit his composer page at GIA Publications. You can find more information about his music and other projects at his personal website: www.danielkantor.com.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from GIA Publications. You can purchase the instrumental guitar recording of "Silent Night" (by Steve Petrunak) and the other version of "Night of Silence" (from David Haas' album "Star Child") at GIA Publications. The concert version of "Night of Silence" was performed by Yvonne Kenny and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and can be purchased from iTunes. You can also purchase the instrumental harp recording of "Silent Night" from iTunes.

Dan has produced an entire website dedicated to the song "Night of Silence" and the season of advent. You can find it at www.nightofsilence.com. 

The blog post by Rachel Held Evans can be found on her website: www.rachelheldevans.com/blog/unsentimental-advent

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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 the podcast and its use, please contact us.

"You Are All We Have"

Fr. Francis Patrick (Fran) O'Brien is the guest for our Thanksgiving episode, and everyone is invited! Fran shares with Matt Reichert and Zack Stachowski his approach to text and melody, his musical influences, and what it's like to be both a liturgical composer and a parish pastor. Plus, there are lots of cameo appearances from Lucien Deiss, Alexander Peloquin, Stephen Sondheim, the cast of Hamilton, and (if you wait for it) Doc Severinsen. We'll need to get a bigger table!

So, please open your hymnal to "You Are All We Have."

Episode links

For more information about Fr. Fran O'Brien and his other compositions, visit his composer page at GIA Publications.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from GIA Publications. Here you can also purchase the other Fr. Fran O'Brien song you heard in the episode: "How Deep the Riches," and "Nativity Carol." While at GIA, you can purchase "Gloria of the Bells" by Alexander Peloquin and "No Greater Love" by Fr. Michael Joncas. The song "Grant To Us" by Lucien Deiss can be purchased at World Library Publications. Finally, "City of God" by Dan Schutte can be purchased at OCP. 

The song "Alexander Hamilton" from the musical Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda), "Move On" from the musical Sunday in the Park with George (Stephen Sondheim), and "Johnny's Theme" (Doc Severinsen) can be purchased on iTunes. 

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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 the podcast and its use, please contact us.

"What You Have Done for Me"

Tony Alonso is one of the most prominent voices in contemporary liturgical music. In this conversation, Matt Reichert and Zack Stachowski discuss with him the beginnings of his career, how he has developed his own compositional voice, the lessons he's learned, and the critical role of mentorship. 

So, please open your hymnal to "What You Have Done for Me."

Episode links

For more information about Tony Alonso and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at GIA Publications and World Library Publications. You can also visit his website: www.tonyalonso.com. 

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from GIA Publications. Here you can also purchase the other Tony Alonso songs you heard in this episode: "Come to the Table," "In the Arms of God," "Litany of Mary," and "A House of Prayer."

You can purchase a copy of the instrumental piano recording of "What You have Done for Me" (arranged and performed by Paul Tate) from GIA Publications. 

You can find out more about the work of Music Ministry Alive! by visiting the program website.

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.