For a light question:

Do any Catholic Church's still use Ray Repp's music?

I remember some songs from the early vernacular masses ( mid 1960's) and really liked them. At least I think he wrote them.

I played for the first guitar mass in my parish with my cousin and still remember it with great happiness. But I do miss the Latin Mass with its beautifully sung High Mass, especially the Kyrie, which I still hum frequently. I was an altar boy in those days having learned the mass in Latin, which I have sadly forgotten.

I hope this brings a smile to all the Catholics herein. God bless the Ursulines for sharing their love for music with me and my mother for her faith and her love of music.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), May 07, 2003

Answers

Hi Karl- I haven't heard any Ray Repp for many years. But I share your memory of those tunes. I too used to play guitar at the folk masses at the grammar school I attended. "Sons of God" "And They'll Know We are Christians" were my favorites at the time. I'd say 66' to 69' were big years for Ray.

-- Jim Furst (furst@flash.net), May 07, 2003.

Thank you , Jim.

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), May 08, 2003.

Jmj

Guys, here is a list of hymns by Ray Repp. I used to enjoy singing some of these when I was in high school. My absolute favorite -- without even a close second -- was "Hear, O Lord."
Some of these may seem a bit irreverent or secular to us now:

All You Peoples (clap your hands and shout for joy)
Allelu!
And I Will Follow
Angelic Song
Come Away
Come, My Brothers
Dona Nobis Pacem [Grant Us Peace]
Easter Song
Easy Like Mountains
Forevermore
Glory To God On High
God The Father Hear Our Prayer
Gonna Build Us A Land
Hear, O Lord (the sound of my call)
Here We Are (all together as we sing our song joyfully)
Hope It's Not Too Late
How Long, O Lord?
Hymn of Praise
I Am the Resurrection
I Lift My Eyes
Into Your Hands
It's A Sign Of Love
Look Out Your Window
Love Is Colored Like A Rainbow
Of My Hands (I give to you, O Lord)
Our Father
Part of a Circle
Peace, My Friends
Praise The Lord, For He Is Good
Prayer for Mercy
Shout From The Highest Mountain (the glory of the Lord)
Sing Hosanna, Halleluia
Song to the Lamb of God
The Lord Is My True Shepherd
The Love Of Christ
This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made
Till All My People Are One
To Be Alive
Tomorrow's Sunshine
Wake Up, My People
We Are Grateful
We Need Time
What A Great Thing It Is
I Am The Resurrection
Don't Go In The Street
I Can See It From My Window

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), May 08, 2003.

I loved those songs (first song I learned on guitar was "And They'll Know We are Christians"). I especially miss all the Missa Bossa Nova stuff. All I hear is "And They'll Know We are Christians" these days and that is about the only one featured in Breaking Bread. "Into Your Hands" I loved also, and "My People", which was always sung on Good Friday.

I am not happy with Breaking Bread--"All Glory Laud and Honor" has been changed to a verse and refrain song, instead of the hymn it used to be. A lot of old music has been given new lyrics (anything to make a buck, I guess). "Come Holy Ghost" has also had a set of lyrics (with some new music) added to it which don't connect with the original piece at all. The early books used to have the guitar chords in the congregation books, but not any more (have to make the money selling the music editions....grr).

I'm not saying all new music is bad, but I don't think it is right to be ruining perfectly good music to make a buck (because it is now in the public domain) or to be "politically correct". I'm not a fan of "Amazing Grace" (heard too many baaaaad renditions of it), but "saved and set me free" is not as powerful as "saved a wretch like me" and I'm sure the composer wanted to convey a certain image using the word "wretch".

I wonder how you can get CDs of the Ray Repp stuff these days-- certainly not at any typical Christian bookstore. There were other regular composers of that time as well, as there seems to be a "stable" of regulars for Breaking Bread. Maybe someone who has been a church musician for years would know where to get that stuff. I would love to have a Ray Repp "omnibus".

How do they decide what to use as far as music books? I think the military has the right idea--they have a hardbound book in the pews (with general guidelines for the different major religions) with a decent amount of music in the back (mostly public domain music, although I think some composers would probably give the military special permission to use music in any case).

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 08, 2003.

I am the Senior Pastor of a nondenominational church in Arizona. I attended a Catholic camp every summer as a kid back in the 60's and I never forgot the Ray Repp songs. I've been trying to hunt them down as well. We used to have Mass every morning before breakfast. The camp was run by the Benedictan Monks of St. Paul's Abbey in Newton, New Jersey. I remember singing those songs, waving banners and even a Mass in English! We are a charismatic church but I still enjoy the quiet moments. I hope someday I can get copies of the wonderful music or Ray. God bless you all.. Andy

-- Andy White (pastorandy_az@yahoo.com), May 18, 2003.

This may help:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tbegonja/rayrepp.html

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 18, 2003.

Reply to G.F.Gecik in re: to the list of Ray Repp Songs My, you do remember a lot of them! ..... you've listened to and remembered a great deal of the whole anthology of what Ray has written...they must have really impressed you....Thanks for sharing.....I don't think you've heard his last album, although Part of a Circle was included therein (wonder where you heard that one). Now some important ones that you missed....hope you can hear them: All of the EVER BLESS album (Ray's most recent one): Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow (great for celebrations...weddings, funerals, anniversaries, etc.) Part of a Circle Ever Bless Song of Micah (Ray's favorite of this album) Just Like a Mustard Seed Walk With Us, Lord With These Hands Open Your Eyes Rich in Compassion Your Name Shall Be Called We Now Renew FOLLOW ME the favorite in our town I AM THE LIGHT great song JUST LIKE A MUSTARD SEED CANON OF THE SEED COME LET'S BUILD (a Holy City) ..related to Pachelbel's Canon in D WE ARE THE FAMILY ...used at Westminster Cathderal as the Entrance Song for the 100th Celebration ALPHA & OMEGA TILL YOU ... tune for the Phantom of the Opera theme song HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE and even more than these...... So there's still a lot to be enjoyed that's new..... All of Ray's albums have recently been refined, "re- mastered", and digitized for CD's -- Great News!!! For more information contact: Ray Repp % Otter Creek Music P.O. Box 107 Ferrisburgh, Vermont 05456

-- Tressie Sever Parsons (tparsons@wyoming.com), June 06, 2003.

Oh my goodness....I was so thrilled to finally find this! For years now I have been singing so many of those wonderful guitar mass songs in my head, in my car, in the shower. I have tried before to find the music on the web but somehow never did. I did not know the name of the composer, but as I read down the list of Ray Repp songs listed found almost all of them...Sons of God, Allelu, Take Our Bread, are some of my favorites! I had stopped playing guitar after those early guitar mass days and recently purchased a guitar to begin again. I longed to find the music to play some of those wonderful songs we played at mass so long ago. Does anyone remember a song that goes.. "Is there a song to ease our sorrow, to lead us along into tomorrow, to show us how, to live in our now, Father thy will be done, Father thy will be done? Is this also by Ray Repp? I cannot wait to contact Otter Creek Music to recapture some of that beautiful music....thank you for reuniting me! lj

-- lisa johnson (mlinkjinoz@sbcglobal.net), June 06, 2003.

I am so glad to find this web site. I have been looking for the music I grew up in Catholic school such as Shout from the highest mountain, The King of Glory..etc. The music we sung in church was awesome..It has been hard to find. Thanks for the lists. Christina

-- Christina Oswalt (angelsite@uswest.net), June 20, 2003.

Thanks to everyone who responded to Karl's original question. My dad just passed away at the age of 92 and his all-time favorite hymn was Ray Repp's "Hear O Lord." It is one of mine, too. I've been looking for the sheet music for his memorial service and the answers given here are a big help.

Christy

-- Christy (christy045@aol.com), June 22, 2003.

It is very nice to hear the joy that this music has brought to others. I am glad to have mentioned it. Sometimes as I am walking, especially near St. Joseph's Church and pass the elementary school where the Ursulines, God bless them, exposed me to this music I find myself gently singing or humming these songs, particularly Hear O Lord. God bless Sr. Martin Marie, Sr. Edith, Mthr. Regina Maria, Sr. Claire, Mthr. Francis Regis, Mthr. Bernadette, Mthr. Alexis and all the nuns who taught me in my youth. I will never forget you. You too Mrs. Cartman God rest your soul.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), June 23, 2003.

As a follow-up to my search for the music to 'Hear O Lord':

I got in touch with Ray Repp via e-mail through one of these postings, and he was kind enough to send me the music.

Then this evening, I just thought I would look for an album at Amazon that Mom and Dad bought years ago in the Caribbean (that had Hear O Lord on it). It was an old LP, which Mom still has, but no record player. It sounds like Amazon has it on CD and I've ordered it.

The album is called "Sing Out My Soul," and was recorded mostly (I believe) by local children's choirs from Trinidad or somewhere like that. It has some lovely hymns on it, along with Hear O Lord.

Just wanted to thank you all again for the clues. A special thank you to John, who offered to send me the music. My dad's memorial service is tomorrow, and we will be singing out Hear O Lord with all our hearts.

-- Christy (christy045@aol.com), June 26, 2003.

As, I trust, will be your Father and the Nuns who exposed me to this wonderful music and who have gone on to peace in heaven and now sing among the choirs there. Thank you, Christy.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), June 27, 2003.

I'm looking for sheet music with guitar chords. Has anyone found any online???

-- Matthew (c84vulcan@yahoo.com), July 18, 2003.

Matthew, I suggest that you try writing to the address that Tressie Parsons gave above:
Ray Repp
c/o Otter Creek Music
P.O. Box 107
Ferrisburgh, Vermont 05456

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), July 19, 2003.

today at Mass, during the readings we were scheduled to hear Psalm 22; but the priest instead decided that we should sing "The Lord is my Shepherd", the Hymn that is based upon Psalm 22.

is this allowed?

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), July 20, 2003.

Yes, the Responsorial Psalm may be sung rather than spoken. It's very common indeed.

-- Sara (sara_catholic_forum@yahoo.co.uk), July 20, 2003.

Jmj

Sara, I don't think that Ian meant that the lectionary's text of the psalm was put to music, but rather that a hymn based on the psalm was used. There are many Catholic hymns based on psalms, most of them having been written in the last few decades. Typically, they do not mirror the "regulation" words found in the lectionary, since those often cannot be made to fit the notes of the melody. The composer or a lyricist then "takes some liberties" to make the words fit.

Ian, I am having a hard time remembering (from what I read long ago) whether or not the Church prohibits the singing of a hymn in place of the psalm. I think that it is permissible. However, one thing that makes me pause is that most hymns do not resemble liturgical psalms because they are not "responsorial" -- i.e., verses sung by a cantor and antiphons repeated by the congregation.

A second possible problem is that the words of psalm-based hymns can be significantly different from those of the psalms themselves. I know for sure that the Church doesn't like substitutions that contain changes of meaning. So, if this kind of substitution really is permitted by the Church, then the person making the decision (priest, choir director) must review the words to be sure that the alternate text carries the same meaning as the psalm.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), July 20, 2003.

We used to do that if the melody for the responsorial would be too difficult for the congregation to follow. When I would come early to prepare for singing, part of that would be going over any new music with the members of the congregation who arrived early. Most of the responsorials are pretty easy to pick up, but by no means all of them.

And, btw, I would rather sing a hymn, than just repeat a responsorial without music.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), July 20, 2003.

Re singing the Psalms: Here's a little excerpt from an Irish site regarding Sacred Liturgy, and this paragraph in particular came from the music section...

"...The latter three are all part of the Eucharistic Prayer. The Responsorial Psalm, by its nature, and because of its purpose in the Liturgy of the Word, needs to be sung. It is on the list of "must haves." It's allowed to replace one particular psalm with an alternative, ideally similar, biblical song if the prescribed psalm cannot be sung. A non-biblical song should never replace the psalm. What is going on here after all is the Liturgy of God's Word. An extract from the bible is proclaimed by a reader at the ambo - we believe God is present in his Word proclaimed. We respond to the reading in song using words inspired by God - typically from the psalms but always from the bible - and we get a chance to mull over the reading during what is unashamedly a musical delaying tactic! Normally the cantor sings the psalm at the ambo."

I had thought that it was actually encouraged that psalms should in fact be sung rather than spoken, but wasn't entirely sure about that, I hadn't time to check it out till now! I know that in my parish occasionally the psalm will be substituted by another psalm, and hymns such as The Lord's my Shepherd would also be used.

God bless

Sara

p.s. you can check out more about this on www.sacredliturgy.ie

(The ie in the URL is Ireland)

-- Sara (sara_catholic_forum@yahoo.co.uk), July 21, 2003.

Dear John and Sara, and Gail.. being in music ministry you'd appreciate this.. I was at a conference a few weeks ago.. on 'worshiping in the prophetic'.. and saw something I hadn't seen before.. in First Chronicles vs. 15 it talks about David appointing skillful chanters to make a loud sound of rejoicing. Among the brethren was the prophet Asaph. Verse 28 says 'they brought back the arc of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting to the sound of horns, trumpets and cymbals....". And remember David danced and Michal despised him for it.

And jumping to chapter 16 we see David appointing other music ministers, and the praises they sang, then David left Asaph. Now go to chapter 25 and we see again David setting apart Asaph's descendants for inspired song.

There was a high purpose for the praise and worship, many times it was ordered as part of spiritual warfare, as when on the seventh day the people marched around the walls of Jericho 7 times shouting for the Lord and blowing horns before it collapsed. Many of the psalms were prophetic utterances of Asaph, for the leader, as in psalms 75 to 83, look at 81:11. When we sing at liturgy we sing with a purpose, there are things happening in the Heavenlies as we worship. Too bad so often songs are barely eeked out, and sadly not appreciated and sung with purpose.

Jesus says true worhipers will worship in Spirit and Truth. We need to pray for true worshipers to lead us at our liturgies, not performers, or songfest leaders, but true worshipers who will lead the people into the Throne Room of God. As we enter the throne room, the enemy loses grip and people are healed and set free. We're getting there... but have still a long way to go. Praise God! Theresa

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), July 21, 2003.

Amen and Alleluia, Mrs. H!

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), July 21, 2003.

BTW, John, the conference was held at Immaculate Heart Cath. Church in Sacramento, by Fr. Peter Sanders, Orat, and team, you can check his new book out, "Healing in the Spirit of Jesus" at www.winepresspub.com .

-- Theresa (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), July 22, 2003.

oops, sorry, Immaculate Conception parish in Sac. Cal.

-- Theresa (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), July 22, 2003.

For Those who are seeking: HEAR O LORD CHORUS G Em C D7 Hear O Lord, the sound of my call,

G Em Am7 D7 Hear O Lord and have me-er-er-cy

G Em Am7 D7 My soul is longing for the glory of You

G Em Am7/D7 G O Hear O Lord, and aaa-an-swer me VS 1 Em C D7 G Ev ' ry night before I sleep

Em D7 G G7 I pray my soul to take

Am D7 G Em Or else, I pray, That Lone-li-i-ness

Am A D7 Is gone when I a-wake (CHORUS)

VS2 Why do I no Longer feel, as I've a place to stay, O take me where someone will care, So fear will go away (CHORUS)

VS3 In you, O Lord I place my cares, and all my troubles too, Just grant, Dear Lord, that some day soon, I'll live in peace with You (CHORUS)

**************************************************************

Does anyone have the words to Into Your Hands? I have only parts of the first and third verses (I Think!) and chorus

INTO YOUR HANDS

C Dm G C Into Your Hands, we commend our spirit O Lord.

C Dm G C C7 Into Your Hands, we commend our Hearts

F G7 C For we must die, to ourselves in Loving You,

Dm G7 C Into Your Hands, We commend Lives

VS Dm G C O God, My God, Why have you gone from me?

Dm G C Far from my prayers, far from my cry?

Dm G C In You I've trusted, will you deliver me?

Dm G C-F-C Stay near me My Lord, and be my friend (Chorus)

Hope someone has the right words,

In His Love, Terry

-- Terry Roy (optimumnana@aol.com), July 30, 2003.

Hi Terry.

If you ever need to show somebody how to play a particular chord using a special tablature in a forum format try somthing like this:

C Major

0-3-2-0-1-0

The lowest string is on the left and the highest is on the right.

The numbers represent the frets that are being used on that particular string. The zero means an open string, an x would signify a silent string.

I thought this might help.

rod..

..

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), July 31, 2003.

Uh, sorry. I forgot to mention that the above tablature is meant for guitar playing.

rod..

..

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), July 31, 2003.

Hey, Terry!

I think this was also a verse of INTO YOUR HANDS:

Our fathers trusted, and you delivered them To you they cried, and they escaped. In you they trusted when darkness came their way And in your goodness, you set [made] them free.

I was just singing this to myself in the car yesterday. There are great memories from this era of church music for me, too. I was about 7 and in Our Mother of Sorrows school in Tuscon, AZ while my dad was serving in Vietnam. We used this music all the way up to college, though our priest at the Newman Center banned the playing of "Sons of God" because he didn't like it. :-)

-- Elizabeth Haydon (elizabethhaydon@juno.com), August 06, 2003.

Ooops--here is the whole thing!

R- Into your hands we commend our spirits O Lord Into your hands we commend our hearts For we must die to ourselves in loving you Into your hands we commend our love

1- O God, My God, Why have you gone from me Far from my prayers, far from my cry To you I call, but you never answer me You send no comfort and I don't know why

2- Our fathers trusted and delivered them To you they cry, and they escaped In you they trusted when darkness came their way And in your goodness you made them free

3- You've been my guide since I was very young You showed the way when I needed someone's hand But now I'm lonely, nobody is at my side Stay near my Lord, and be my friend.

-- Elizabeth Haydon (elizabethhaydon@juno.com), August 09, 2003.

The song book we used in the 60's and 70's in Michigan had another verse in it for Into your hands:

I will proclaim, your name to all my friends God of our Fathers, and our God too Your praise shall sound, from every voice, Oh Lord Soon every heart, will worship you.

-- Mary (candacraig@valink.com), October 03, 2003.

I remember going to packed churches when I was young and really enjoying masses when Ray Repp songs were played. I tried to find web sites such as Whatever Happened To... and found very little on Mr. Repp. Does anyone have any information as to what Ray Repp has done since writing his most well known songs and why he fell out of favor with the Catholic church?

-- Mike (mj_colonna@hotmail.com), October 06, 2003.

Jmj

Hello, Mike C.
To get an answer to your questions, why not write to, or phone, Ray Repp yourself?
I found this contact information on the Internet:
Ray Repp
29 Diamond Island Lane
Ferrisburgh, Vermont 05456 USA
1.802.877.1066
rrepp@hotmail.com

I had not heard that he "fell out of favor with the Catholic Church". I found an article that he wrote for "Spirituality Today" in 1988. There are hints therein that he was still Catholic -- though very possibly a dissenter, as you may see if you read it here.
I hope that he has recovered from whatever was so out of whack in his mind that he wrote the following misguided words: "We should also go to church to be nourished and encouraged by the sacrament of the Eucharist -- and by the greatest sacrament of God's presence in the world, each other -- so that we can go out and do something to make the Gospel vision a reality."

Any orthodox Catholic knows that the Blessed Sacrament is the "greatest sacrament of God's presence in the world."

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 07, 2003.

Link.

...an admittedly secular but pertinent article to this thread.

-- jake (jake1REMOVE@pngusa.net), October 07, 2003.

I recall a very uplifting song called Sing Of My God. I believe it was in the 1960's possibly 1968 maybe 1969. It went something like, Sing of My God my brothers sing of my God. Day and night my brothers sing of my God. Does anyone know this song and was it a Ray Repp song?

Thanks! Vito

-- Vito (Valbano1@optonline.net), November 10, 2003.

So glad to find this info here! Our United Methodist Church sang a bunch of Ray Repp songs when I was in high school in the '80s. We'd start a good number of services with Allelu, Till All My People Are One, I Am the Resurrection, Wake Up, My People, To Be Alive, etc. and for at least a couple years, we ended every service by singing Peace, My Friends together by memory. I am now a pastor myself, and I'm looking for permission to reprint Of My Hands, so I'm so glad to see the contact info for Mr. Repp. I'll be sure to get in touch with him! Thank you!

-- Brian William (brian@kidbrothers.net), January 08, 2004.

Oh my gosh! I am so happy to find this site. My family knew Mr. Repp and i grew up on his music. I am 14 and really the only one of my friends to know his music. Ever Bless is my favorite followed closely by The Mountain of Life. Ever Bless was written for my older brother's baptism. I am happy to know people remember Ray. Thanks for all the help the contact information has given me.

-- maureen (babyblue584@juno.com), January 09, 2004.

Does anyone have chords for "I Am the Resurrection"? I want to do this for with my Praise Team, but can't find chord charts anywhere! Thanks! Rev Brian btice@kvcc.edu

-- Brian Tice (btice@kvcc.edu), January 20, 2004.

I have a pair of Chords in my closet somewhere that would be perfect for wearing while performing this number.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), January 20, 2004.

I have a pair of Chords in my closet somewhere that would be perfect for wearing while performing this number.

Well dust those bad boys off!

Where'd I leave my Carey Landrey records?

-- jake (j@k.e), January 20, 2004.

I can't believe I survived that. I mean the chords, not the chords.

There is a God.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), January 21, 2004.

Does anyone have chords for "I Am the Resurrection"?

I am the resurrection (1) I am the resurrection (2) I am the resurrection (3)

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 21, 2004.

Laurent!!! Congratulations! That was your first-ever good post at this forum. Now if you can only return to believing in the words of the hymn at your second link, the whole world will change, and the angels will rejoice!

-- (Mr@Encouragment.com), January 21, 2004.

Ray Repp published this hymn in 1967. Brian, Laurent's second link shows the chords, the refrain, and three verses before and after which the refrain is sung.

-- (Mr@Encouragement.com), January 21, 2004.

Keep in mind the things that I have said.
Remember Me in the breaking of the bread.
If you believe then you shall live.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), January 21, 2004.

(Mr@Encouragment.com), JFG , I suppose ??

Well , I'm only try to help people (Maybe I'm helping you , is that wrong ??) !! __ Oh Yeah , never I will return to a religion , even you give me EVERYTHING to satisfy me !!!!!!!! __ I don't need any compliments from you ,'cause you really enjoy to "shoot people down" who don't believe or follow you , you can't even stand critic from people who has another opinion , especially about religion , you even despise them with all your guts !!!! __ Well , think about this , there is more in real life than religion & hate !!!!

Oh yeah , You have blocked my mailaddress (I don't care) , well , the mail should had to return , but it didn't !!!!

btw , This link , you don't call that help someone ????

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 21, 2004.

Yes, Laurent, you did "help someone" in that other thread. What I said above was this, however: "That was your first-ever good post at this forum." I thought you would realize that I meant that it was the first time that you provided someone with something spiritually nourishing.

"Keep in mind the things that I have said.
Remember Me in the breaking of the bread.
If you believe then you shall live."

Realizing that each of those lyrical lines is based on a Gospel statement, and realizing that the words of a hymn are necessarily brief and incomplete (rather a theological treatise), Pope St. Pius X would have had no objection to them.

To protest that verse is childish and "hot-doggie" -- apparenly just another wasted effort to cause an attention-starved tot's "handle" to appear in the klieglights, but without edifying a single soul.

-- (Mr@Encouragement.com), January 21, 2004.

something spiritually nourishing

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

You call something like that , spiritual ????????

That person was only searching for the chords of a song , I gave them , that's all , no further blabla !!!! __ If someone asks me chords or even lyrics from bands like Bathory , Iron Maiden , Black sabbath , Marilyn Manson , Madonna , DRI , Extreme Noise Terror , Napalm Death , Pavarotti , Destiny's child , back street boys , Kylie Minogue , .... I would do the same , even they would ask these things on this forum !!!!

But if the songs or whatever handles about n/facism , than I never will doing a search for chords , lyrics , tabs or whatever !!!!

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 21, 2004.

"Realizing that each of those lyrical lines is based on a Gospel statement, and realizing that the words of a hymn are necessarily brief and incomplete (rather a theological treatise), Pope St. Pius X would have had no objection to them."

Guess that link pretty much rules that out.

"To protest that verse is childish and "hot-doggie" -- apparenly just another wasted effort to cause an attention-starved tot's "handle" to appear in the klieglights, but without edifying a single soul."

Is that Ex Cathedra?

Here's my point: I grew up watching ugly hippies belt out that song next to the altar of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

I don't have to deal with it anymore; Pope St. Pius X would clearly side with my stance... introibo ad altare Dei.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), January 22, 2004.

I saw the list of Ray Repp songs that we used to do many years ago. It brought back many memories of me as a teenager, singing in Folk Group. I am looking for copies of any of Ray Repp's music, preferably on CD, but it is basically non-existent to locate. One song I am particularly interested in is "Shout From The Highest Mountain". If anyone has copies of any of Ray Repp's music and is willing to share it, please e-mail me ASAP and we can make arrangements. Thanks so much! Joe Pacholek www.computergeekofny.com

-- Joe Pacholek (jmpacholek@computergeekofny.com), February 01, 2004.

I am so blessed to have found this site! I am also someone that sang Ray Repp's songs in a folk group that I had in the late 70's. I have been searching for "Hear oh Lord the Sound of my Call"! I thought it was composed by Joe Wise but GIA publications redirected me(thankyou!) and to this site I ended up! It is so great hearing so many similar stories from folks like myself with similar experiences.

I even had a thought..wouldn't it be neat to get some folks together that used to sing and play all these wonderful pieces..and have a concert of the oldies!! We need to bring them alive again! What an era of christian folk music!

Next question..how do we get music from these songs?

Peace! Jean from Connecticut

-- Jean Carter (jeanbeancarter@aol.com), February 14, 2004.

Read the whole thread above, Jean. You will find several hints.

-- (@@@.@), February 19, 2004.

Hi John,

Last December, you sent me an E-mail with the chords to a song called Sing Of Our God. I love the song and the wave file you sent me. I formatted my system several weeks ago and lost your E-mail. I thought I had made a back-up as I usually do. I can't find it. Hope all is well and please send me an E-mail when you have a moment. I am going to share Sing of Our God with my Church and hope they add it to their songs list.

Vito

-- Vito (Valbano1@optonline.net), March 16, 2004.

vito,

you'll have to send an email to jfgecik@hotmail.com

john no longer posts here, at least not under his old name. If you do write to him, and he's still using the same email, tell him to come back.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), March 16, 2004.

Hi I was looking for lyrics to a Ray Repp song (migt help if I remembered the name, but my church, before I moved used to use a lot of his work So yeah out there, there are still churches that use his work even now... The songs used were also used by the youth choir of the church as well as the adult choir, so I hope that puts your heart at ease :)

-- Chrissy (garbo_17@hotmail.com), March 28, 2004.

Dear Friends,

I have been reading these posts about Ray Repp with great interest. Like many of you, I grew up with Ray's music. Indeed, I learned to play guitar and got hooked on liturgy because of Folk Masses and Ray's heartfelt songs. Yes, liturgical music has come a long way since the mid-1960s, but there's no denying the enthusiasm and spirit that these songs inspired in those of us who were teenagers at the time.

I've been involved in liturgy just about all of my life and am now blessed to be involved in the industry professionally. Please do not take this posting as a commercial ad but, rather, a sharing of GREAT NEWS for fans of Ray Repp's music.

I'm pleased to announce that Oregon Catholic Press will soon be releasing a 2-CD retrospective of Ray Repp's liturgical music! Yes, all the songs that we loved will now be available on CD for the very first time! This will be followed by a CD of NEW music by Ray! These CDs are projected to be released some time this summer. Check www.ocp.org around June for the official information.

Again, my apologies if I sound commercial, but I know you folks would want to know this fantastic news.

Blessings on your music ministry, Ken Canedo

-- Ken Canedo (kenc@ocp.org), April 02, 2004.

It was fun to see all the old Ray Repp fans come out of the woodwork. Some of those songs may have been a little "off" theologically (and some a little hokey) but I remember a tremendous sincere enthusiasm, that has long since faded. "They'll Know We Are Christians" is by Peter Scholtes, by the way.

P.S. Anybody remember Joe "Lord, teach us to pray" Wise?

-- Anonymous Choir Director (tiba@midmaine.com), April 24, 2004.

Hi Ken,

Thanks so much for the info on the Ray Repp CD coming up! I bookmarked the site!

Vito

-- Vito Albano (Valbano1@optonline.net), May 02, 2004.