Though we are Many - Sexton

This hymn about the Eucharist was commissioned by IEC2012 Limited, as the theme hymn / anthem for the Eucharistic Congress, held in Dublin Ireland in 2012.

It was written in 2010 by Irish Roman Catholic composer and liturgical musician, Bernard Sexton. Copyright was assigned to IEC2012 Ltd for the duration of the congress, and subsequently reverted Sexton.

The congress website (http://www.iec2012.ie) provided the following files for free download, however they are no longer available, and no alternative source of MP3 / backing tracks has been found:

An MP3 of the full song
An MP3 of the backing track
A full musical score in PDF format, including organ accompaniment, very complex guitar chords, an instrumental piece and a congregational melody line.

Translations to Irish, French, and Italian were made available, either at the International Eucharistic Convention 2012, or afterwards, however the translator names and copyright information was not available - these have been removed from this website as the request of the composer

Subsequent publications include:

Sing the Mass, an Anthology of music for the Irish ChurchSing the Mass, an Anthology of music for the Irish Church, Veritas Publications, Dublin 2011
Australian Catholic Worship Book II (Morningstar Publications, 2016 - now out of print)
Sheet music sold by the composer through SheetMusicPlus.

Downloads

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Downloadable SATB choir arrangement by Sexton

Examples

Lead singer and congregation, keyboard accompaniment, recorded live in a church service:

Boys choir with piano accompaniment:

Professional choir, orchestra accompaniment:

Original release - singer with light orchestral backing:

Instrumental - piano:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright, but are given here with the permission of the author/composer. Please make sure you are covered by an appropriate copyright license before using them elsewhere.

Chorus:
Though we are many, we are one body,
we who come to share this living bread;
Cup of salvation, shared among all nations,
nourishing us now and evermore.

1. We gather in this place
round the table of the Lord.
Christ’s presence is revealed
in our communion and his Living Word.

2. Now our communion recalls
Christ’s death and resurrection.
This living sacrifice
is our salvation now and evermore.

3. And through this shared Eucharist
we are the living Church.
We witness to Christ’s love
His living body active in our world.

4. This bread unites the baptised
who are called to this great feast.
The feast, a sign of God's love,
a great communion with the saints above.

5. And when we leave here today
with hearts renewed in joy,
So nourished, we will embrace
the challenge now to live the Christian call.

6. As Patrick prophet of old
trod the path we tread today,
so we proclaim the Good News
and share the living message with joy