#Catholic alert. Oh,the wonders of our online world!! This morning I was listening to Fr. James Martin, SJ who provides a daily scripture reflection. As the comments floated up the screen I saw a few lines asking for prayers for Ray Repp who passed away last night.
Aussie Catholics in my generation may not recognize the name Ray Repp but deep in your memory bank you will be carrying his religious music which was sung in Churches and Catholic schools when we were young and had our first guitars.
Long before inclusive language the parish and school gestetner machine was rolling out multiple copies of Sons of God and other tunes that ushered in the era of popular folk music to the pews of the faithful. We owe a debt of gratitude to the creative presence of musicians like Ray who broke new ground in Catholic hymn writing.
In Australia The Mass for Young Americans was the first taste of religious avant -garde music that usurped the Living Parish Hymnal which had an almost infallible status as the primary source for Catholic musicians downunder.
Ray has gone to that great choir loft above during the Eater season so it is appropriate to sing him home with his own Easter song:
Ray was a burst of popularity swamped by the more sophisticated sound of Western Priory Monks and of course the St Louis Jesuits who along with Ray have cameo roles in my collection, Singing My Way through Catholicism.
Farewell Ray and condolences to your husband and long term partner, Richard Alther,
As a tribute here are my selection of the Ray Repp material I used to belt out on my guitar at Masses in the late 60s and early 70s:
Aussie Catholics in my generation may not recognize the name Ray Repp but deep in your memory bank you will be carrying his religious music which was sung in Churches and Catholic schools when we were young and had our first guitars.
Long before inclusive language the parish and school gestetner machine was rolling out multiple copies of Sons of God and other tunes that ushered in the era of popular folk music to the pews of the faithful. We owe a debt of gratitude to the creative presence of musicians like Ray who broke new ground in Catholic hymn writing.
In Australia The Mass for Young Americans was the first taste of religious avant -garde music that usurped the Living Parish Hymnal which had an almost infallible status as the primary source for Catholic musicians downunder.
Ray has gone to that great choir loft above during the Eater season so it is appropriate to sing him home with his own Easter song:
Ray was a burst of popularity swamped by the more sophisticated sound of Western Priory Monks and of course the St Louis Jesuits who along with Ray have cameo roles in my collection, Singing My Way through Catholicism.
Farewell Ray and condolences to your husband and long term partner, Richard Alther,
As a tribute here are my selection of the Ray Repp material I used to belt out on my guitar at Masses in the late 60s and early 70s:
Comments