Crystal ball, by J Waterhouse. Image Wikimedia commons

Note: Another bulletin for South Woden members. Scroll down for weekly posts.

• Psalm leaders are needed for this whole period.
• Assuming leaders follow the Revised Common Lectionary and want to sing a psalm, here are weekly suggestions for April and May. 
• Copies of PFAS in the Library, Helen has NCH, TEP available for download from churchpublishing.com. And anyway, you can always make up your own verse tone and refrain!

9 Apr. Liturgies are:

1. Palms: Psalm 118, for which The Building Block by Paul Stookey is suitable.
2. Passion: Psalm 31. PFAS 31C is a favourite that we have sung many times.

16Apr. Depending on the chosen liturgy, Psalm 118 and that building block come up again. A handy alternative is Together in Song 74.

23 Apr. Psalm 16. At this point three years ago, PFAS 16D was sung; it would be a fine choice again. (An enthusiastic quartet could also turn their attention to the Lassus motet, Benedicam Domino, three pages of nice SATB. All quite moderate and not too demanding … until the alto has a moment:

30 Apr. (John S in the lead.) In Dropbox sit two settings of Psalm 116: one is the PFAS version 116D, sung at Yarralumla as a small group three years ago. (Available but not published here for copyright reasons.) The second is for male voices in Eastern Orthodox style with chanted verses, enjoying the experimentation of harmonies changing under a lead voice on a monotone. PDF file here: Ps116 Orth.)

Initial decorated capital and text of verse 1, PSalm 23 in the Rutland Bible, c 1260. British Library MS 62965

7 May. Psalm 23 arises again. Recommend a reprise of Paul Kelly’s Meet me in the middle of the air. If the team are available from singing El señor es mi pastor, PFAS 23I, a month ago, why not enjoy that again? If not, there are ten other settings in PFAS and dozens elsewhere.

14 May. Over the last few years for Psalm 31 we have used an excellent refrain from Psalms for All Seasons, 31C. Written by AnnaMae Meyer Bush, its four short phrases capture much of the wisdom of the Psalter: “My times are in your hands. You strengthen me in strife. My hope is in your word. Your love preserves my life.” Additionally, it’s worth a little rehearsal to learn the second (lower) echo part which adds to the musical delight.

21 May. PFAS again offers a good choice for Psalm 66, Cry out to God in joy, PFAS 66A. In our ‘red book’ TiS 36, All you nations sing out by Lucien Deiss, is a neglected but good alternative if you have a few singers who can read or learn the verses.

28 May. Psalm 68, which is akin to the previous week’s 66 in asking nations to sing with joy, concludes this two-month period of the web-master’s absence, posts having been scheduled long ago.

• The setting in TiS 38 requires a sight-reader for the verses and some rehearsal,
• PFAS has a possible responsorial setting in 68B.
• Perhaps easier is a home-grown refrain that can be sung as a round (second entry, if only two parts, is at bar 3; or every bar if bravely designating more parts), the verses being chanted to a tone of choice (there are bunches of them in NCH and PFAS). We have sung this with the children:

Crystal ball, by J Waterhouse. Image Wikimedia commons

Notes: (this will be a sticky post until next CB mid-March)

• This series of Crystal Ball posts offers planning information for members of South Woden. Other followers around the world may skip this post — or think of us prayerfully.
• Thanks to enthusiastic director Helen S and all singers who contributed so willingly and tunefully to music for the 50th Anniversary of South Woden UC, 12 February 2017.
• South Woden warmly welcomes Gary and Mary-Anne Holdsworth who take up residence and ministry this week.

On 12 Feb we sang the first section Aleph of that longest psalm, no 119. Here are some suggestions for the weeks ahead (noting of course that Rev. Gary and other worship leaders may well choose different approaches to the psalm):

17 Feb. Induction service at Weston Creek for Rev. Gary Holdsworth. Brian, Bette and Brendan lead Psalm 118 with Paul Stookey’s The Building Block.

19 Feb. For Psalm 119e, we reprise the home-grown refrain for 119a sung so beautifully at the 50th Anniversary, refitting the tune with text from verse 33: Teach me the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.

26 Feb. I lean towards The New Century Hymnal and a short refrain for Psalm 2 by Carolyn Jennings (1994): “Happy are all who take refuge in God.”  Alternatives will be published in a post early that week. Male voices may convene for the last Sunday?

5 Mar. Gwenda leads us in a service that each year is proximate to and therefore celebrates International Women’s Day. In the past, we have recognised the day with women and girls singing songs by composers from Hildegard of Bingen to Sinead. On this occasion in 2017, instead of the psalm, Helen presents a Shaker song, Simple Gifts.

12 Mar. And now for something different: can you handle some Beatles? Psalm 121 says: I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (v.1) So why not sing Help by Lennon and McCartney? An excellent alternative is PFAS 121D with sumptuous chord changes.

19 Mar. Two lively options for Psalm 95 are available in ‘the red book’ (Webmaster is absent this week):

• TiS 52 is “Let us sing to the God of salvation”
• TiS 53 is the Calypso Carol.

26 Mar. Psalm 23 without CRIMOND? Continue the tradition of male voices convening for the last Sunday and present the lilting Spanish song El señor es  mi pastor (My shepherd is the Lord), PFAS 23I.

2 Apr. Sinead’s chorus Out of the depths, with paraphrased verses to fit the song, will serve us well for Psalm 130. A volunteer cantor has kindly offered.

And then …

LEADERS are required for the months of April and May 2017 while the author is far from Canberra. Please consider acting as convener for a month at a time.

A full list of suggested songs will be published shortly on a forthcoming Crystal Ball. Resources can be provided on request.

Crystal ball, by J Waterhouse. Image Wikimedia commons

Thanks to the Two Joans and other participants for a great Taizé gathering today. Some lovely singing by all present.

Here’s the … I was going to say “plan”, but to be honest it’s more guesswork than prediction. Thing is, while we have so many different wonderful people leading us in such interesting and inspiring ways, approaches and wishes are diverse to the point of inspired randomisation. Not a bad thing, of course, as the ideas flow freely.

So take the listing below as an invitation to participate (it won’t happen otherwise) in the unfolding drama each week. Singers needed.

• 26 July. Psalm 14 is a little on the dark side, but is still a good reminder of life without divine love. We use the refrain in two parts from The Emergent Psalter — yum! Psalm 53’s refrain is tossed in on top! Our own Dr Roger, consummate thinker, commentator, speaker and author of some of our favourite songs, takes the bully pulpit; yours truly on the goanna again.
• 

  Orland di Lassus. Wikicommons

  2 Aug. This week, the great Psalm 51, which attracted great composers like ants to the Vegemite. There are more settings than you can poke a stick at: I know of 70 or so in the public domain — including some of my favourite composers like Victoria, Josquin and Lassus (on the last of whom see my effusive ramblings in a previous post here> and also here>) competing for the best version of this Penitential Psalm. There are plenty of others still under copyright, like a baker’s dozen in Psalms for all seasons. I make no predictions whatever as to what our visiting leader Rev. R might choose, but you would have to say it’s the classic Grand Opportunity for Sight-Readers-in-the-South. I await your enthusiastic calls!

• 9 Aug. Ah, now here’s a day not to sleep in, cold though it may be. A musical extravaganza with the flimsy excuse of the annual visit of The Gospel Folk under Brian’s baton. The set psalm is 130 but in addition your regular musicians will lead a reflection on music in worship. The psalm segment, led by both mixed and male voice groups, will dip into a showcase of styles from Renaissance through multi-cultural (Orthodox and Latino) to modern folk (Sinead, Paul Kelly) and, of course, gospel. Can’t wait!
• 16, 23 and 30 Aug. I’m exhausted already. Suffice to say that these three weeks bring us Psalms 111, 84 and 45, with such diverse ideas as ‘How lovely is your dwelling place’, ‘The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom’, and (wait for it … ) ‘All your garments are fragrant.’ We see in the glass darkly, but the suggested options are posted up on Dropbox as usual for those few who look at it.
• September. Your web-master and Psalms-in-the-south Cantor is again away visiting families. Some choices are on Dropbox and will be accessed, as in May-June, via a ‘sticky post’ on this site.

Crystal ball, by J Waterhouse. Image Wikimedia commons

No, I have not been flooded by your clamouring voices reminding me that the last prediction by the haruspex fails to extend its comforting knowledge of the musical delights we may anticipate after O frondens virga.

Clearly this means everyone is reading the psalm selection plan on Dropbox, or else lurking in the wings to accost me on Sunday to gain such essential intelligence. However, persistent and insensitive as I am, I’m going to tell you anyway.

Lent is already well under way. So Easter, that very significant point in the church calendar, is almost upon us. A fine sprinkling of psalms awaits, ranging from 4 to 133.

Psalm 1, Beatus vir, in the Bedford psalter c. 1420. Add MS 42131 British Library (click to enlarge)

Psalm 1 does not come up till May but it’s generally quite a favourite; so I take the liberty of sneaking in an illuminated manuscript to whet the appetite. I’m tempted to pop in a calendar page for April from one of these old books of hours but it would be pure indulgence; Luther therefore would not have approved.

Meanwhile, back to reality where this is the real snapshot until the end of April when, to your relief, your Hon. Webmaster flees the country:

• 22 Mar, Psalm 51. A reprise of Miserere mei Domine à4 by Lassus; a quartet sings again.
• 29 Mar, Psalm 31. Palms and a procession, PFAS 31C as sung last year – all voices
• 5 Apr, Psalm 118 and a reprise of The building block – all voices.
• 12 Apr, Psalm 133, female voices sing PFAS 133D, Miren qué buono. Fun!
• 19 Apr, Psalm 4. Probably PFAS 4B, In the night I take my rest
• 26 Apr, Psalm 23. Male voice group sings a nice and familiar Spanish version, El Senor es mi pastor, PFAS 23I

Crystal ball, by J Waterhouse. Image Wikimedia commons

Here’s an updated snapshot, still incomplete, for the coming months. Singers, please note the dates.

• 25 Jan, Ps 62 TiS 33 men‘s group
• 1 Feb, Ps 111 TiS 68 all singers
• 8 Feb, Ps 147 Emergent psalter (music>) all singers
• 15 Feb, Ps 50 PFAS 50C, men
• 22 Feb, Ps 25 Emergent Psalter women
• 1 March, Ps 22 mixed voices. Music TBA
• 8 Mar, Ps 19 TiS 7 TBC, women (IWD)

New singers always welcomed.

Flexibility.

The cantor plot for tomorrow (18 Jan) is demonstrating its flexibility:

• one beloved cantor, to whom our warmest love and congratulations, has just given birth to a beautiful son, Charlie Thomas
• a second has been called upon to attend a funeral.

Blessings on all.