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There Is a River

Completely remastered, these classic songs—incorporating gospel, traditional hymnody a cappella and ballad styles—sound better than ever.
There Is a River [Guitar Accompaniment]
$11.00
5612
SHIP
There Is a River [CD]
$11.99
20449
SHIP
There Is a River [MP3 Album]
from There Is a River
$9.99
30110799
DIGITAL
There Is a River [Guitar Accompaniment]
$11.00
5612
SHIP
There Is a River [CD]
$11.99
20449
SHIP
There Is a River [MP3 Album]
from There Is a River
$9.99
30110799
DIGITAL
collections/dg/309

There Is a River is the debut solo collection of Tim Manion, one of the original St. Louis Jesuits. Completely remastered, these nine classic songs make a heartfelt prayer for peace and justice.

Originally released by North American Liturgy Resources (NALR) in 1985, the collection incorporates gospel, traditional hymnody, a cappella and ballad styles. Tim’s solid vocal and guitar skills as well as his gift for poetic song texts—all familiar from his days with the Jesuits—shine through in each of the nine songs. 

The album opens with “Pray Peace,” an a cappella work based on Psalm 122. Handclaps carry the song forward—and give it a processional rhythm—while an enthusiastic gospel choir closes each verse with “pray peace!”

A poignant dirge arranged for solo voice, “Rachel’s Lament (For the Innocents)” speaks not only to the Holy Innocents honored on December 28, but to all innocent life lost to war and other tragedies. It ends with a call to spend our lives “that the children may die no more.”

The collection also includes “How Can I Keep from Singing,” the traditional Quaker hymn in a lovely choral arrangement by Tim.

Besides producing the recording, fellow liturgical composer Tom Kendzia plays piano, Hammond organ, pipe organ and Fender Rhodes electric piano here.

Thanks to this CD and songbook, the ritual songs of There Is a River are available again for the first time in years. Considering the ongoing trouble in our world, today’s worshipers would do well to sing and pray these songs for peace.