Janèt Sullivan Whitaker

Drawing upon musical styles from around the world, Janèt Sullivan Whitaker has created an Advent collection that's as colorful and eclectic as the Church itself.

Music that reaches beyond Advent into Ordinary Time
Born out of her work helping pastoral musicians prepare for this busy and spiritually significant season, the music has universal application and appeal, reaching beyond Advent into Ordinary Time. As Janèt explains, "Remaining attentive to the demands of our faith means being Advent people all year long. We wait and watch for the coming of the Lord, the Christ child who is born in our hearts, every single day. The work of making peace and "being ready" is ongoing."

Songs for liturgies, prayer, retreats and concerts
Most of the songs are perfectly suited for the liturgy, while others make excellent pieces for prayer services, retreats and concerts. No two of them sound alike. Renaissance-style instrumentals and bluegrass-Celtic hymns follow Gregorian chants and full-choir, full-throttle gospel numbers, surprising and delighting the listener at every turn. There's even an other-worldly setting of the Magnificat ("Sing Out, My Soul") that blends Native American and Middle Eastern drumming and chant.

O Antiphon settings, poetic song texts
Inviting us to "rise to meet the Long-desired One," "The Returning" is a charming bluegrass tune arranged for guitar, fiddle, mandolin and bodhran (drum). "Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus" is a captivating setting of the "O" Antiphons employing Jewish modes and melodic elements. "You Humbly Followed" is a touching tribute to Mary and proof that Janèt's talent for singing and composing is matched by her gift for poetic song texts.

Anchored by "Day of Peace," a powerful ballad
The collection's anchor, though, is "Day of Peace," an emotionally powerful ballad and one of her best songs to date. Arranged for piano, voice and recorder, it doesn't allow the listener -- or singer -- to remain passive in their longing for peace but encourages all to be peace-makers, to "work and pray" for the peace and justice our world so desperately needs.

Adds much-needed color to the Advent repertoire
Adding much-needed musical color to the Advent repertoire, Tryin' to Get Ready firmly establishes Janèt as one of the most gifted liturgical composers in the world today.

A refreshingly joyful approach to Lent and Passiontide
Preparing for Easter -- and heaven -- our hearts should sing for joy, knowing that Lenten prayers and practices only speed us along. With These Forty Days, Janèt Sullivan Whitaker gives the Church a refreshingly joyful, major-key approach to this holy season.

14 songs, including five psalms, for throughout the year
The 14 new songs include five psalm settings with verbatim Lectionary texts, a Lenten Gospel acclamation and two songs with children's choir accompaniment. Though intended primarily for Lent and Holy Week, many titles are perfectly suited for celebrations throughout Ordinary Time, weddings, funerals and more.

Traditional hymns, R&B and gospel-style songs, spirituals
Known for her ability to compose in a wide range of styles, Janèt has put together yet another eclectic mix of music. She recorded five new, traditional-style hymns in a church with a pipe organ and fabulous acoustics. Two songs feature an authentic R&B band accompanied by a gospel choir. Her setting of "Calvary," the traditional spiritual, has parts for guitar, mandolin and blues harmonica.

Music for RCIA and communal reconciliation services
"Wash Me Clean" is an uplifting, gospel-style song for communal reconciliation services and the RCIA scrutinies. In her generous performance notes, Janèt suggests that the verses of "The Lord Is My Light (Psalm 27)" be sung with "freedom, energy, and relaxed animation." Adding tambourine or shakers will give it a warm, Latin flavor.

A stirring new anthem for veneration of the cross
She wrote "Greater Love" for a parish with a Good Friday tradition of venerating an enormous, wormwood cross by passing it over the upraised hands of the assembly. A stirring rock anthem, it features an easily memorized refrain (freeing hands to hold the cross) and verses that match the emotional weight of the ritual.

Music that builds on ancient Hebrew songs of supplication
The refrain of "Immortal One" is an expansion of the "Trisagion," a traditional Eastern Orthodox hymn. She drew the verses from Psalms 25, 31, 130 and 142 -- ancient Hebrew songs of supplication in times of adversity.

Meditative Communion processionals for Lent
An ostinato refrain, as in Taizé-style chant, serves as the foundation for "Líbera Nos" (Latin for "free us"). A meditative Lenten Communion processional, it could also accompany the RCIA scrutinizes or veneration of the cross. Janèt suggests that a dramatic soprano, tenor or "reedy-voiced older child," sing the descant. Verses and refrains are in Latin and English.

A bold new setting for the Magnificat based on FINLANDIA
Her "Magnificat" uses Jean Sibelius" FINLANDIA, one of the most beloved hymn tunes of all time. It makes an ideal vehicle for Mary's song of praise for God's liberating covenant. Janèt added an original introduction, text, clarinet obbligato and soprano descant. A versatile piece for evening prayer, it's adaptable for use in both intimate chapels and grand cathedrals.

The work of one of the Church"s most innovative liturgical composers
Blessed with a rich, powerful voice, Janèt Sullivan Whitaker is also one of the more innovative liturgical composers in the Church today. Her third collection celebrates Lent and Passiontide with a joy that is proper to this time of preparation and conversion.

Janèt's first recording with OCP showcases her gift for composition as well as her remarkable voice. This 14-song collection speaks the universal language of the Church with a variety of styles.

Beginning with the joyous, reggae-spiced title track, the collection moves to a dark gospel ballad, a duet for weddings, a jazz-influenced tune and an Afro-Brazilian gospel processional in the street-samba tradition of Carnaval.

Land of the Living has music that will appeal to choirs, as well as a selection of psalm and canticle settings for cantor and assembly. Music directors will find songs for a variety of liturgical moments and celebrations for use throughout the year.

Are you ready for this? For 94 minutes of electrifying music packed onto two CDs? For songs that set hearts on fire and challenge you to really live the good news of the Gospel? Get ready to Live It!

This compilation draws together 23 tracks from the biggest names in contemporary Catholic music, including Steve Angrisano, Tom Booth, Sarah Hart, Matt Maher, Jesse Manibusan, Ken Canedo and many others. It also introduces fresh music from 12 talented new artists who capture today's spirit and song.

More than any other album on the market, Live It! captures the wide range of musical styles rooted in Catholic spirituality -- which you can experience continuously online via spiritandsong.com. Featuring sweet ballads, edgy rock, folky pop and everything in between, Live It! doesn't compromise substance for style. These songwriters have drawn from Scripture, and the poetry in their own souls, to express the longing, devotion, struggle and joy we all go through on this wild journey called "faith." Highlights include the Daughters of God in a great cover of Carey Landry's "Hail Mary: Gentle Woman" and Val Limar Jansen in a gospel-style rendition of Jaime Cortez's classic "Rain Down."

Don't just stand there. Hear it! Sing it! Live It!

This songbook features choral parts including guitar and keyboard parts for the album Tryin' to Get Ready by Janèt Sullivan Whitaker.