You either hated it (see The Fire Is Out by Jeffrey Tucker) or you loved it (see Susan Bailey’s review), but the Folk Mass Revolution is an integral part of every Roman Catholic Baby Boomer’s formation and heritage.
I’m not going to review the book, here, other than to agree with Susan Bailey:
I had expected a wonderful, nostalgic read but Keep the Fire Burning proved to be so much more. Ken Canedo lay the ground work for what was to become the folk mass by reviewing the history of reform (and how it affected music) in the Roman liturgy. Canedo takes this history and weaves it through the lives of people who were the movers and shakers in the reform movement, some of whom eventually became key players in the folk mass revolution.
So, let it be resolved that this book is much more than a walk down memory lane. I devoured it in one, rather long, sitting. It took me extra time to read because, as the names of the different composers, artists and songs came up, I could not resist singing the songs to myself. I could not keep reading without constantly putting the book down and pausing to reflect on the places and the faces – not just of the singing artists, but – of the storyline of my young life in the Spirit. ♫♪ We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord. ♪♬ (See what I mean!)
Let me just share with you a copy of the book cover, which I optimized to fit this blog space. Below that, I will list a sampling of some of the artists and songs which are not only discussed in the book but made available via podcasts at Ken Canedo’s website. That’ll be enough to set the hook for friends, family and acquaintances who walked right to that Glory Land with me!
“The Witness Song” composed by Robert Blue, performed by the Dameans on their 1969 FEL recording Tell the World
“Here We Are,” “Of My Hands,” “Hear, O Lord,” “And I Will Follow,” “Clap Your Hands,” “Hear, O Lord,” “Come Away,” and “Shout from the Highest Mountain,” by Ray Repp from the 1966 FEL recording, Mass for Young Americans
“The Spirit Is a-Movin’” by Carey Landry
from the 1973 NALR recording, Hi, God
“The New Creation” by Gary Ault
from the 1970 FEL recording, Songs of the New Creation by the Dameans
“Sons of God” by James Theim, OSB from the 1966 FEL recording, Mass for Young Americans
“Allelu” by Ray Repp from the 1968 FEL recording, Sing Praise!
“They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Peter Scholtes from the 1966 FEL recording, Missa Bossa Nova
“All of My Life,” “You Are My People,” “Fear Not,” “Jerusalem,” and “Love One Another” by Sister Germaine Habjan from the 1966 FEL recording, Songs of Salvation
“Take My Hands,” “Sing, People of God, Sing,” “The Living God,” “We Are One,” and “The Blessed Sacrament” by Sebastian Temple from the 1967 Franciscan Communications recording, Sing! People of God, Sing!
“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis)” by Sebastian Temple from the 1967 Franciscan Communications recording, Happy the Man
“Let All the Earth” by Gary Ault from the 1969 FEL recording, Tell the World by the Dameans
- Unique Post
