For SWUC: volunteer psalm singers please contact the webmaster with your song choice. 7 Jun 20. Psalm 8. In the cosmology of Psalm 8, humankind is a jewel of creation, somewhat less than perfect, yet ‘adorned with glory and honour’ (v.5). Significantly, the creation is placed under our care (v. 6), a responsibility that is … Continue reading Crystal Ball, June 2020.
Category: Notices
Crystal Ball; May 2020.
The Crystal Ball drafted a month or so ago was not much use to people who are now so 'distanced'. Like so many of our best-laid plans, it's in the bin. Several beautiful poems and songs are coming up for the set psalms. Regrettably, singing together is largely out of reach at present. Selections have … Continue reading Crystal Ball; May 2020.
Sing on
No crystal ball could foresee the rapid and ubiquitous onset of COVID-19. The Lenten wilderness experience becomes closer to reality than we ever could have imagined. Following guidelines and with some specific risks in mind, at South Woden our regular singing group has been suspended. Psalms in the South singers are sending our love, prayers … Continue reading Sing on
Crystal Ball: Lent and Easter, 2020
At SWUC, our reflective music during Lent will include a flute solo of 'Peace', a classic song by Horace Silver from 1959. The unusual and wonderfully evocative harmony in the background (eg. C7 BΔ Cø BbΔ) are merely suggested. Originally from the jazz world, this song can yet invite peace in hearts and communities in … Continue reading Crystal Ball: Lent and Easter, 2020
150 Psalms
Regular readers of this blog will ask: "So what? We know there are 150." This is more than accounting. It is the title of an ambitious program called '150 Psalms', performances by top vocal ensembles of song settings of these ancient poems. The program has already been to Brussels, New York and Utrecht. From one … Continue reading 150 Psalms
Crystal Ball: Advent and into 2020
As Year C closes, this post looks at the opening of Year A, Advent and through Epiphany to the start of Lent. At South Woden, since we draw on limited resources, our musical attention for the set psalm each Sunday will have to pass over many tempting settings to focus on the options suggested below: … Continue reading Crystal Ball: Advent and into 2020
Crystal Ball Sep-Nov 2018
Here are some ideas for leaders and musicians during the webmaster's absence mid-September to November 2018. Notes: This ‘sticky’ post is intended for South Woden readers If an elaborating post for the coming Sunday does not appear below, go to the Index pages in the menu for previous commentary Music availability leads us towards settings in … Continue reading Crystal Ball Sep-Nov 2018
Psalm 100; singing a new song
There are thousands of musical settings of the 150 poems in the Psalter. Some of them are just a simple refrain of a few notes or an antiphon using the simplest chant without harmony, ranging up to grand elaborate works that stand alone as pinnacles of musical invention. In the latter category, the Psalmi Davidis poenitentiales … Continue reading Psalm 100; singing a new song
Crystal Ball, Apr-Jun 2018
This ‘sticky’ post is intended for South Woden readers. Scroll down for weekly blog posts. Subject to the choices of worship leaders, here are ideas for the Easter season and following months of 2018. 1 Apr. Ps 114. First up is a challenge. Nothing in my fairly extensive online Dropbox library, nothing in TiS, NCH asks … Continue reading Crystal Ball, Apr-Jun 2018
Crystal ball, Feb-March 2018
This 'sticky' post is intended for South Woden readers. Scroll down for weekly blog posts. Subject to the choices of worship leaders, here are ideas for the opening months of 2018. 21 Jan, Ps 62. As explained in the recent post for this week, TiS 33 offers a nice refrain "Rest in God alone", with … Continue reading Crystal ball, Feb-March 2018
