Songs of Advent: "This is Your Justice"

Matt Reichert, Craig Colson, and Zack Stachowski at the 2018 NPM Convention in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Happy Advent! As we journey through this sacred season toward the celebration of Christ’s birth we are spending time revisiting some of our favorite Advent music. Today we feature a conversation with Craig Colson about his piece “This is Your Justice,” filled with references to texts from the prophet Isaiah. In addition to excerpts from our interview with Craig you’ll hear an extended playlist, journeying through new and familiar music for the season. Make sure to visit our social media pages for more Advent music, and make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss our upcoming Christmas special features, including the 2020 edition of our annual OYH Lessons and Carols.

So, please open your hymnals to “This is Your Justice” and the music of Advent!

Episode links

For more information about Craig Colson and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at GIA Publications and OCP.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording for "This is Your Justice” from GIA Publications. You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in this episode: Instrumental arrangement of “People Look East” (arr. Sondra Tucker), “Why Don’t You Tear Apart the Heavens” (John L. Bell), “Maranatha, Lord Messiah” (Kathy Powell), “Preparen el Camino” (Fernando Rodriguez), “Cantaré Eternamente/Forever I Will Sing” (Mary Frances Reza), “Prepare the Way for the Coming of the Lord” (Jalonda Robertson), “Gaudete” (Albert Coppo), “Magnificat” (Janèt Sullivan Whitaker), “Your Light Will Come Jerusalem” (Bob Hurd), “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” (Kenneth Louis), and the instrumental arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” for organ and brass (arr. Sondra Tucker).

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OYH Selects: "Creator of the Stars of Night"

Zack Stachowski, Carol Browning, and Matt Reichert (February, 2018)

We are proud to bring you this interview replay! This episode was originally posted in late December, 2018.

Happy New Liturgical Year! Advent has just begun, and to kick things off, we’re bringing you one of our favorite seasonal episodes from the past four years. Join Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they speak with composer Carol Browning about “Creator of the Stars of Night.” Bob Moore stops by to talk about Carol’s music, and Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, gives some historical background to the 1,000-year-old chant hymn at the core of this piece. Plus, you’ll hear a bunch of great music in the OYH Playlist.

So, please open your hymnal to "Creator of the Stars of Night."

Episode links

For more information about Carol Browning and her other compositions, visit her composer pages at GIA Publications, MorningStar Music, and Liturgical Press.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording for "Creator of the Stars of Night” from GIA Publications. You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in this episode: Instrumental arrangement of “People Look East” (arr. Sondra Tucker), “Silent Night" (arr. Steve Petrunak), organ recording of “Creator of the Stars of Night” (arr. John Keys), "Conditor Alma Siderum" (traditional), "Ubi Caritas" (Carol Browning), "O God, Behold Your Family Here" (Bob Moore), “Christ, Circle Round Us" (Dan Schutte), “Peace be With Those” (Carol Browning), “Carol of the Dawn” (Janet Sullivan Whitacre), “Ave Generosa” (Ola Gjielo), and “People Look East” (arr. Marty Haugen). 

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"In Every Age"

Zack Stachowski, Janet Sullivan Whitaker, and Matt Reichert on the first OYH Zoom interview!

We’ve been featuring the music of Janèt Sullivan Whitaker in our episodes for several seasons. If you’re a long-time listener of the podcast, you’ve heard her compositions in many “OYH Playlist” segments and special themed episodes. We’re excited to finally feature an interview with Janèt, and we discuss all of the usual topics: setting text, crafting melody, and more. We’ll also hear one of our favorite cringe-worthy cantor moments, and you don’t want to miss it.

So, please open your hymnals to “In Every Age.”

NOTE: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we aren’t traveling. We normally capture our interviews in-person while attending conferences or conventions. This interview was conducted and recorded via a Zoom videoconference. While it might sound different, we look forward to broadening the range of guests we are able to feature in our upcoming episodes.

Episode links

For more information about Janèt Sullivan Whitaker and her other compositions, visit her composer pages at OCP and GIA Publications.

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording for "In Every Age” from OCP.

You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in this episode: Piano instrumental of “In Every Age” (arr. Teresa Tedder), “God in the Barren Spaces” (Basi), “Taste and See” (Moore), and “Day of Peace” (Whitaker).

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Season 4 Kick-Off!

It’s finally here! After an extended summer “break,” we’re happy to be back with an all new episode! Today we’re kicking-off Season 4 of Open Your Hymnal with a special preview episode. You’ll hear a run-down of the songs and composers we’ll be featuring in our upcoming season. You’ll also hear a little more about some of our new approach to programming and interviewing. Our first full interview episode will be out in just a few weeks.

Of course, we have more plans in the works for Season 4 than we were able to talk about in today’s episode. We’ve got additional interviews, some surprise guests, lots of themed episodes, and more. If you haven’t already done so, follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter). Subscribe so you’ll never miss an episode! You can subscribe to OYH on Apple Music, Spotify, and Google Play.

We’re glad to have you with us for another season of the show. So, please open your hymnals to Season 4!

Episode links

You can purchase the song recordings you heard in this episode: “In Every Age” (Janèt Sullian Whitaker), “Jesus Comes” (Sally Ann Morris, text by Mel Bringle), “Not By Bread Alone” (M. Roger Holland, II), “I Say Yes, Lord/Digo Si, Señor” (Donna Peña), “Have Mercy On Us For We Have Sinned” (W. Clifford Petty), “Behold the Lamb” (Martin Willett), “I Am the Bread of Life” (Suzanne Toolan, arr. Rory Cooney), “Table of Plenty” (Dan Schutte), “Shepherd of My Heart” (Francis Patrick O’Brien), “Holy, Holy, Holy” from Mass of Joy & Peace (Tony Alonso), “Santo, Santo, Santo” from Misa Luna (Peter Kolar), “Ang Katawan ni Kristo/Behold, the Body of Christ” (Fr. Ricky Manalo, Pia de Leon), “You, the Christ” (Ian Callanan, text by Shirley Erena Murray), “This is Your Justice” (Craig Colson), and “With Great Love” (Chris de Silva).

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.

Songs for This Time of Pain and Darkness

Artwork by Bro. Mickey McGrath (used with permission)

As with all of you, things at Open Your Hymnal have been different the last several weeks. So, we’re behind with our new episodes. We promise we’ll get back to them very soon. 

In the meantime, though, we can’t ignore the things that are happening in our communities. We’re feeling the pile up of grief, sadness, anger, and hopelessness. So, we offer these songs to you, hoping they meet you wherever you are, that they accompany you, speak to you. At a time when, on the one hand we’ve lost our ability to sing together and, on the other hand, we’re made speechless by so much pain and injustice, we hope that we can still be fed, lead, and joined together by a power that can only come through music. 

There won’t be any conversation in this episode, just the music. Thank you for spending this time with us in prayer and reflection. May we be healed, but never the same. May we all respond to the call, accept the commission, for real work, real action, real justice. 

Episode links

You can purchase the song recordings you heard in this episode: piano instrumental of “The Cloud’s Veil” (arr. Paul Tate), “The Cloud’s Veil” (Liam Lawton), “Christ Be Our Light” (Bernadette Farrell), “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” (Tony Alonso), “How Long, O Lord” (John L. Bell), “There is a Longing” (Anne Quigley), “Have Mercy on Us for We Have Sinned” (W. Clifford Petty), “What You Have Done” (Ed Eicker), “Hold on To Love” (Jesse Manibusan), “Day of Peace” (Janet Sullivan Whitaker), “Love Burn Bright” (Chris de Silva), “Koinonia” (arr. James Abbington), “When One Among Us” (Lori True), and “We Shall Overcome” (arr. Robert T. Gibson).

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OYH Prayer Series: Stations of the Cross

(photo credit: Saint John’s Abbey)

At this time of year, communities gather together to pray the Stations of the Cross. However, due to the spread of COVID-19, this is not possible for many parishes around the world. In order to provide a way for us to still walk the way of the Cross together, we are presenting a special podcast version of Stations of the Cross with original reflections and prayers as well as a newly composed music setting by Zack Stachowski. You’ll also hear several selections from several composers you know..

So, please pray with us!

Notes and resources

You can find the music you heard via the following links: “Way of the Cross” (Francisco), “Restless is the Heart” (Farrell), “Sing Out, My Soul” (Whitaker), “When One Among Us” (True), “The Cross of Jesus” (O’Brien), “Psalm 22: My God, My God” (Montgomery), and “Ave Verum Corpus” (Moore).

Download the guide for use in your home or parish by following the links below!

The Way of the Cross: A Prayer of Hope and Healing Amidst a Global Pandemic

PARISH USE version

INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY USE version

PURCHASE MUSIC for the sung introductions

Guided Video Prayer

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OYH Selects: "Covenant Hymn"

Today's guests along with other OYH alumni! From left to right: Gary DaIgle, Tom Kendzia, Jaime Cortez, Diana Macalintal, and Rory Cooney.

To conclude our Lenten series, we are bringing you our Easter Vigil episode, originally released in March, 2018..

Join hosts Matt Reichert and Zack Stachowski as they return to composers Gary Daigle and Rory Cooney, this time in conversation together about one of their best-known and best-loved collaborations. You'll hear about "homiletic" texts, the song's intended use for rites of initiation, and the latest OYH liturgical music "bombshell". Our conversation is also joined by Diana Macalintal who shares more information about the RCIA and the concept of "covenant" in the ritual action of the Easter Vigil. 

So, please open your hymnal to "Covenant Hymn."

Episode links

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

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".

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from GIA Publications. You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in the episode: the instrumental guitar recording of "Covenant Hymn" (arr. Steve Petrunak), the instrumental piano recording of "Covenant Hymn" (arr. Paul Tate),  "I Am For You" (Rory Cooney), “Come to the Waters” (Lori True), “Litany of the Saints” (John Becker), “Exodus 15: To God be Praise and Glory” (Janet Sullivan Whitaker), and “Sicut Cervus” (Palestrina, ed. Maynard Klein).

You can learn more about Diana Macalintal and her work at her website: www.TeamRCIA.com 

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Celebrating the Music of Women Composers

Sarah Hart

We’re focusing on music written by women composers, and we’re blessed to be joined by five guests: Sarah Hart, Lori True, Carol Browning, Lorraine Hess, and Kate Williams. You’ll hear our guests discuss the experience of composing, publishing, and ministry as women. You’ll also hear several additional composers featured in this episode’s OYH Playlist.

Carol Browning

So, please open your hymnals!

Lori True

Episode links

You can find out more about the work of our guests by visiting their artist pages:

1. Sarah Hart: OCP page, personal page

2. Lori True: GIA page

3. Carol Browning: GIA page, MorningStar page, Liturgical Press page

4. Lorraine Hess: WLP page, personal page

5. Kate Williams: GIA page

Lorraine Hess

You can purchase the song recordings you heard in this episode: “Be With Me, Lord” (Sarah Hart/Curtis Stephan), “Who is the Alien?” (Lori True), “Ubi Caritas” (Carol Browning), “Glorify Him by Your Life” (Lorraine Hess), “Hymn of St. Patrick” (Diana Macalintal), “All That is Hidden” (Bernadette Farrell), “In Every Age” (Janet Sullivan Whitacre), “Enter In” (Kathleen Basi), “Dame Tu Paz” (Anna Betancourt), “Bienaventurados” (Lourdes Montgomery"), “In the Morning, In the Evening” (Bex Gaunt), “I Am the Bread of Life” (Suzanne Toolan).

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Kate Williams

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.