Six New Songs

In spite of the general busyness of life a few of us have written more songs for worship at Wascana Fellowship.

Put On the Armour of God – This song by Gail Leippi is based on Ephesians 5:10-18.

Jesus Christ Has Provided – This song’s melody originated in a well-known commercial jingle that Wanda Valade slightly reworked and John Valade lyricised.

The following four songs are based on tunes written by much better musicians than I (John Valade) am, as well as I remembered them. For the most part they were melodies I heard in the background on our cable music service, so I do not usually know the origins. All I did was rewrite lyrics and sometimes change the timing a bit.

A Feast of Trumpets – This is the most original of the four songs, but could be characterized as “written in the style of Dwight Armstrong.” It is probably a mix of melodic lines I picked up from the old Worldwide Church of God hymnal, but with original lyrics suggested by Psalm 81.

A Stream of Living Waters Flows – The melody and flowing nature of this piece as I heard it haunted me and suggested the phrase “stream of living water flows from my God.”

O My Shepherd – The piece of Celtic music this originally comes from had a slower tempo than this reworking. The melody line inspired the first phrase.

Who Can Compare – This melody line may be the most famous one I have borrowed. The instrumental version of “On the Boat to the Isle of Skye” that I heard is such a hauntingly beautiful piece that it cried out to be turned into a hymn.