Our Songs Gave Praise
Archive Recordings
This CD has some of the music that began Watermead music - from the first ‘raw’ recording of the hymn "Our Song Gives Praise"
(live in the church) to the studio recording of "Vivan los Ninos"
for the charity Let the Children Live. The CD was originally prepared as a gift to the singers on those early recordings but has now become a valuable archive collection of our original recordings.
Background to CD
In 2004 Alison was asked to return to St Theresa's Church
to lead the music for the Requiem Mass of Cliff, a long-time friend and fellow musician. The parish was her birth parish and before moving to St Joseph's she had been looking after the music at St Theresa's for many years, beginning with playing the organ from when she was 12 years old. The parish has always had a good reputation for its music and over the years there has been several choirs and music groups under various leaderships and for all ages. The "Cello Band", named after Cliff and his cello, was led by Susan, and had been the foundation the built the St Theresa's Choir who first recorded our Watermead Music. Many of those early singers and musicians joined with Alison to sing and play at Cliff's funeral.
In appreciation of this support Cliff's widow, Betty, give Alison a donation to "do something musical for the community" and the digital transfer of archive recordings to CD is the result. Although it was only originally intended as an archive gift for those singers and musicians involved, it was requested by others and so it has been produced commercially and is available through our shops.
Our Song Gives Praise (from 'Our Songs Give Praise')
The song that began Watermead Music.
Christ’s Farewell (from 'Our Songs Give Praise')
Our second hymn - a hymn for funerals.
Mass of St Andrew : Sanctus (from 'Our Songs Give Praise')
From the first mass setting composed.
Song of Peace (from 'Our Songs Give Praise')
First in the hymn-writing partnership of Alison and Fr John.
Mary Our Mother
(from 'Mary Our Mother')
The third lyricist to join us - the "other" Alison.
Mary’s Lullaby
(from 'Mary Our Mother')
Susan leads the Watermead Ladies' Choir.
The Angelus
(from 'Mary Our Mother')
The first hymn to be recorded by our children.
The Pietà (from 'Mary Our Mother')
The last hymn Tom heard his daughter compose.
Walsingham Evening
(from 'Mary Our Mother')
An instrumental to end our Walsingham pilgrimage.
I Have a Dream
(from 'LIFE - A Journey Shared')
The only track from this cassette. The whole recording is now a CD.
Christ is a Friend
(from 'A Little Child Shall Lead')
From the children's own recording of hymns and songs.
The Lost Sheep
(from 'A Little Child Shall Lead')
A fun hymn which was to become the first of the 'Parables'
collection.
Let All Creation
(from 'A Little Child Shall Lead')
A song regularly sung at our children's mass.
¡Vivan los niños!
(from '¡Vivan los niños!')
The last recording at StTheresa’s was for "Let the Children Live".
