Contents
Foreward to book by Anglican
Archbishop of Melbourne
Introduction to book by Peter Mangold
Church Activists' Press (Roman Catholic)
Churches to 'Sing A New Song' Anglican
(Episcopalian)
Free Press (Secular newspaper)
See Magazine (Anglican (Episcopalian))
Christian Book Newsletter (non
demoninational)
Foreward
in the book by The Most Reverend Dr. K. Rayner, A.I.,Ph D., Th.D. Archbishop of MelbourneMany churches now use the three-year cycle of readings in their worship, and this systematic pattern of reading the Scriptures in church has been a great enrichment to worship.
Every act of corporate worship needs to be seen as a whole. It is not simply a matter of lumping together a random selection of readings, prayers, hymns and songs and hoping that it will add up to a coherent and satisfying act of worship. Careful thought needs to be given to the theme of the day and to the way in which every individual component of the service can relate to and strengthen that theme.
The provision of music within this total pattern of worship is a critical element. It needs to be related to the themes of the worship and also needs to be available in a variety of styles which can suit different occasions.
In the 59 songs for worship in the book "Sing A New Song", Peter Mangold has made a valuable contribution to the range of Scripture songs available to complement the biblical themes from the cycle of readings in the Lectionary.
The book contains songs to accompany the Year A readings. I look forward to Peter Mangold's later work to cover the remaining two years of the three year cycle.
These songs link personal faith to the Scriptures. The texts are simple, and are often directly taken from the Scripture. Like the Psalms, the songs cover a wide range of emotions and could be sung by a soloist or small group and accompanied by a variety of instruments.
This is a valuable supplement to the musical resources which the church needs for good liturgical worship. I am happy to commend it.
The Most Reverend Dr K.Rayner, A.O., Ph.D., Th.D.
Archbishop of Melbourne
Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia
Introduction
in the book by Peter MangoldMany churches have long been aware of the usefulness in linking Scriptural themes with the music being used during services and worship meetings.
The book Sing A New Song is designed to complement the Sunday themes of the Ecumenical Lectionary. Being based on these Scripture passages, it is therefore suitable for use not only in churches and Christian groups following the Lectionary, but in any situation requiring worship music with biblical content.
A Bible Reference Index may be found at the back of the book linking Scripture passages with the songs.
The lectionary is a three -year cycle of readings shared by many mainstream denominations. This book journeys through Year A of the cycle. Each Lectionary year begins in December with the First Sunday of Advent. It is worth noting that the lectionary calendar varies from year to year depending on the number of Sundays and the position of Easter. The First Sunday in Ordinary Time is always the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. These Sundays in Ordinary Time continue until the Lenten and Easter period. Either two or three of these Sundays are omitted each year before their continuation after Trinity Sunday. The simplest way to avoid confusion is to consult current church calenders, or make use of the Bible Reference Index.
Biblical text, where it has been quoted directly, has been based on The Jerusalem Bible translation, although at times I have used a combination of translations in order to find phrases that fit within the structure of the songs.
Peter Mangold.
CHURCH ARCHIVISTS' PRESS
(Roman Catholic)SING A NEW SONG - AN INVITATION NOT AN ORDER.
The title of Australian songwriter, Peter Mangold's recent publication is Sing a New Song. With so much new 'religious' music coming on the market, an invitation to sing a new song could be quite ambitious. However, all of Peter's songs are original and all are scripturally based. The 59 songs are composed for the Year A readings from the commonly used three year cycle of Scripture readings in the Lectionary.
.......... To be provided with 59 new songs inspired by faith and based on Scripture for each of the weeks of the year is both valuable and inspiring. The songs range in style and can be sung by soloist or small groups and because each is Scripturally based, they can also be used for prayer services or personal meditation.
........... The song book also provides a Bible Reference Index. Associated with the book is the availability of overhead transparency masters and backing track cassettes.
Providing a coherency between the readings of the day and the song is a valuable contribution to the personal faith of the worshipper. The titles are a clear indication of the message each song conveys and the theme of the readings. ....
The production is both timely and welcome and will be a great help to the liturgy groups in the Parishes. It is also refreshing to have worship music based on Scripture and relevant to the liturgy of the day.
I recommend the book to those preparing parish liturgies, those in schools preparing prayer sessions or retreats and to those who would like inspiration in their reading of Scripture and personal meditation.
(Reviewed by Bro. Tim Scott. c.f.c.)
CHURCHES TO 'SING A NEW SONG
'(Anglican (Episcopalian))
A new worship publication is arousing interest in churches seeking new thematic music in their worship.
....The book is distinctive in that it follows the Sunday to Sunday themes of the lectionary calendar used by many churches.
Peter was initially encouraged to write such a book after struggling himself to link church music with the biblical themes being used in worship.
"I felt it would be a great encouragement if I knew that there was a book that contained at least one song each week that drew its inspiration from the relevant scripture readings. When I couldn't find such a book I decided that the next step was to write one."
However, as Peter points out, this book is only a beginning. He has begun writing the second and third books in this series, to cover the remaining two years of the three year Lectionary cycle.
Complete with a Bible Reference index, Sing a New Song is fast being regarded as a valuable resource for all churches seeking new worship music with its basis in scripture.
WEEKLY SONG OF PRAISE FOR ALL
by Christine McTighe((FREE PRESS( secular newspaper))
Peter Mangold is much more than a music teacher. Raised as a classical musician, with expertise on both the mandolin and guitar, the 27 year old Belgrave man writes children's music and rock music.
But it is his most recent creation that proves the Mt Evelyn Christian School music teacher is versatile indeed. Mr Mangold has just published a book of Christian worship songs which he hopes will go worldwide.
.... He said he was encouraged to write the song book after struggling to link church music with biblical themes used in worship.
"I felt it would be a great encouragement if I knew there was a book that contained at least one song each week that drew its inspiration from the relevant scripture readings." he said.
"I couldn't find such a book so I took up the challenge to write one." ......
"It's unrealistic to expect a church to sing a new song every week but my aim was to let worship leaders know there was a song available for them," he said.
Mr Mangold said he hoped the songbook's appeal would be widespread because the lectionary calender was used in many churches including Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Uniting and Church of Christ.
"I'm dreaming big dreams from small beginnings," he admitted. ........
"The ultimate pleasure for anyone creating something in any form of the arts is to see their work being used to its value. And to hear my music being used in worship would be that ultimate."
Christine McTighe
SING A NEW SONG James Minchin (See Magazine, Books)
(Anglican (Episcopalian))
Peter Mangold currently worships and makes music with a Churches of Christ congregation. It is a sign of the times that this brand-new songbook of his provides an intriguing resource for those churches that rely on the three-year Eucharist lectionary.
Each of the 59 songs which he has composed (and Paul Copeland has arranged) highlights a major theme or passage from the Year A readings of the day. He hopes in due course to compose songs for Years B and C.
Why 'intriguing'? Not only because most Churches of Christ congregations would portray themselves as free in worship style rather than liturgical. There are, in fact other elements which demonstrate the freshness of Peter's efforts to marry the enthusiasm of Australians like himself for 'pop' with the apparent stolidity of a fixed lectionary and traditional eucharistic music.
His lyrics are unashamedly personal and pietistic. His music encompasses a whole range of styles, including the Negro spiritual, the evangelical-cum-music-hall ballad and an amalgam off jazz, boogie, rock and Latin influences. Some of it is better suited to solo or small group performance; a number of the songs could be sung fairly readily by the whole congregation.
I would envisage the material in Sing a New Song being used variously: during Communion, as response to readings or sermon, or at other key points before, during and after the liturgy. Since there is only one song based on each day's lections the book is intended to offer a complement to other resources rather than be a mainstay.
The arrangements require a fair degree of competence by the keyboard player, but relying on chords and melody alone will allow other instrumentalists, even relative beginners, to join in accompanying the songs.
Given our calling to build upon the diversity of musical taste in church and society, with the presumption of both a respect for all God's children and a desire to see them come to faith or grow beyond where they are, I am glad to commend Peter Mangold's work, as our Archbishop has already done in his foreword.........
James Minchin
NEW SONG BOOK A WINNER
It is always pleasing when Australian Christians write, produce and publish a book of use to the church. It is even more the case when they do it well. I am delighted to recommend the recently published collection of songs by Peter Mangold, "Sing a New Song" Bible Society, 1992, ISBN 0646095803, with a foreword by Archbishop Keith Rayner.
This collection has a number of distinctive features. First, the 59 songs are based on the Three-Year Lectionary, Year A (the 1992-3 year, based on Matthew's Gospel). Each Sunday and major feast-day is represented by a song derived from the scripture readings. These would thus make an ideal choice for a song associated with the readings (for example as a gradual). Secondly, there is an excellent scripture index, noting not only the directly but indirectly used passages (10 OT, notably the Psalms, and 16 NT books are cited, which is very wide for 59 songs).
The words of the songs are largely objective, but have a strong effective element where appropriate: there is no bathing in slush here, as so common in most modern compositions, but nor is there rigid rationalism. Care has clearly been taken to ensure that doctrine is taught properly, but not at the expression of feelings. "Worship" is understood to be the response we make in the whole of life, not limited to a particular time on Sunday (let alone a particular time within that time!). There is also an avoidance of the "us/them" mentality which plagues many modern songs. where the scripture passage is challenging, the challenge is heard first as a challenge to those singing, not those outside the assembly.
Songs I particularly liked include 6 ("Clothe Us Lord with compassion"), 17 ("In Your arms, Lord, I take refuge"), 18 ("Mary, you run and run as you think...", for Easter) and 42 ("Heaven's like a treasure"). These choices may be influenced by the music, which in these cases has a distinctly blues sound. An excellent setting of the Beautitudes comes as song 29 followed up by four more working their way through the Sermon on The Mount (Matthew 5-7).
For any one person to write 59 tunes inevetably means some similarity of style, but the tunes come up well. The chief influences seem to be Scott Joplin and contemporary Afro-American spirituals, but this is my perception. A wide range of rhythms and metres is used, and the occasional echo of a familiar tune can be heart (eg 44 which evokes "Stand up for Jesus'' to me).
Rev. Charles Sherlock
Kingdom Music
paulcopeland@iprimus.com.au
http://www.pastornet.net.au/kmusic Last updated on 19 July 1996