Who Did You See?

New contemporary music for throughout the year
Who better than Christopher Willcock to provide new music for World Youth Day 2008 and beyond? First, his native Australia hosted the event. Second, he and his fellow Jesuits led the popular pre-event MAGiS program. Who Did You See? offers 13 contemporary songs for these special occasions as well as youth ministry and parish celebrations throughout the year.

Song selected for papal Mass at World Youth Day 2008
The collection generated considerable buzz long before its release. In summer 2007 WYD organizers got wind of Christophers new work. Eventually, they selected Spirit-Power to be the gathering song in one of the papal liturgies.

International version with verses and refrain in four languages
Begging grace to preach and follow Christ boldly, Spirit-Power perfectly captures the events official theme: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8). The CD and sheet music/octavo both feature two versions, one entirely in English and an international version with refrain in English and verses in Spanish, French and Italian.

Contemporary songs suitable for use at WYD and in youth ministry
Other songs geared for WYD include En Todo Amar, with steel drums, mariachi-style trumpets and lyrics in multiple languages, and Gifts of the Spirit and O Veni Sancte Spiritus, both of which echo the events Holy Spirit theme.

Music in support of the MAGiS program
The collections other prominent motif, social justice, is especially evident in the songs written for MAGiS. This program helps young pilgrims prepare for WYD through service projects, prayer and reflection. An initiative of the Jesuits and several womens religious orders, MAGiS (Latin for more) also provided Ignatian pre-WYD programs in Paris, Rome, Toronto and Cologne.

Title song invites us to see Christ in the poor
The title song is a great example. Featuring vocals by spiritandsong.com artists Julie Hoy and Jenny Pixler, Who Did You See? invites MAGiS participants -- and all of us -- to discover Christ in the poor (encountered in their service projects) and in one another. Andrew Hamiltons reality-gripping text leaves no wiggle room: we all stand in need of Gods healing.

Thought-provoking texts by Andrew Hamilton and Didier Rimaud
Four other songs -- including Spirit-Power -- feature texts by Hamilton, an Australian Jesuit active with Jesuit Refuge Service (JRS) in Asia. Christopher originally wrote and dedicated two of these for the recent 25th anniversary of JRS. Two other songs feature his translations of poems by Didier Rimaud, a French Jesuit priest.

Newly arranged versions of songs from God Here Among Us
Other highlights include three songs from Christophers 1995 OCP release God Here Among Us, each rearranged for youth ministry settings. Set in 7/8 time with strong syncopation, Whence Comes This Fire? is an upbeat song inviting us to locate the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There Is Nothing Told is a gentle, ambulatory song recounting the things told of Mary throughout the Scriptures.

At WYD 2008, almost a million young Catholics took up the words of Spirit-Power and other songs from Who Did You See? But thats only the beginning for Christopher Willcocks seventh collection. Catholics of all ages will enjoy its provocative texts and contemporary melodies for years to come.