I Received - Instrumental Accompaniment

In my first year as a music director I was struggling to find a song for children to sing after receiving Jesus at their First Holy Communion.  As so often happens, if I can’t find exactly what I’m looking for I write something original so that it will be perfectly suited to the purpose for which it is intended.  My qualifications in writing “I Received” were that it be beautiful, appropriate for the liturgy, and so simple that a child would have no problem learning and singing it. 
 
As with all materials found on my website, I try to create as many options as possible to suit the individual needs of each parish.  In its simplest form, “I Received” may be sung completely a cappella, or if you are blessed with instrumentalists you may layer each part as you see fit.
 
Note that the part intended for “glockenspiel” is actually an inexpensive children’s version of the instrument.  I love the sound of bells in a liturgy for children, but as my own parish could never afford the expense of handbells, this has always functioned for me as a creative alternative.  Placed near a microphone and used sparingly, it adds a beautiful simplicity to any children’s liturgy.
 
An instructional video with accompanying movements for the children to follow may be found on the JWP Liturgical Music YouTube Channel.