On this page you’ll find some liturgical music that I have written for services in Holy Trinity. Most of it is free to download. Feel free to use it in your own church.
If you want to know a bit about the history of music for Holy Communion, see my blog on Musical ettings of the Latin Mass.
HOLY COMMUNION
THE WILLIAM TYNDALE COMMUNION SERVICE
The Tyndale Service is in memory of the Bible translator and martyr William Tyndale, who was put to death by strangulation and burning at Vilvoorde, near Brussels, on 6 October, 1536. It is a short polyphonic communion service for SATB voices based on the 16th-century melody, ‘The Western Wynde’. The text is an early form of the Anglican communion liturgy found in Merbecke’s setting. Performance time: 7’15.
THE SAINT PATRICK SERVICE
The Saint Patrick Service is based on the Irish tune ST PATRICK. I wrote it in 2016 for Trinity Season (or Ordinary Time), which is green, like all things Saint Patrick. But you can sing it any time. It is mostly monophonic, a single melodic line with organ or piano accompaniment. It is in seven sections (no creed): Lord, have mercy; Glory to God; Holy, holy, holy; Acclamation (Christ has died); Acclamation (Blessing and honour); Blessed is he; Lamb of God.
MISSA NKOSI SIKELELA
Enoch Sontonga wrote his great hymn of prayer for Africa, Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika (Lord, bless Africa) in 1897. In 1925, it became the anthem of the African National Congress. Later it became the national anthem of Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
This communion setting, based on Sontonga’s hymn, was written as liturgical music for Holy Trinity’s afternoon congregation in 2003. It is in five sections (no Gloria or Creed): Lord, have mercy; Holy, holy, holy; Blessed is he; Acclamations (Christ has died; Blessing and honour); Lamb of God. Performance time: 6’00. “It gives me shivers!” JW
