I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (v.1) Or so went this familiar line from Psalm 121 in the dusty old King James version, still beautiful but little used. This is the second of the songs of ascent (120 to 134). Originating perhaps as pilgrimage songs, the psalms of … Continue reading Psalm 121, 8 Mar 20
Tag: styles
How and why sung?
While enjoying the Song Company's '150 Psalms' concert the other night (see earlier blog) -- which included the impressive seven-part setting of Psalm 20 by Robert White, a fragment of which is shown here -- several singers from Psalms in the South speculated on how and why these poems came to be sung. Written music … Continue reading How and why sung?
Psalm 48, 5 Jul 15
There's something mysterious about high mountains. As Philip Marsden writes: Sacred mountains crop up in most traditional cosmologies... Olympus, Tabor, Sinai, Ararat, Fuji ... it's hard to think of a great mountain that is not linked with the gods or even a distinctive hill that has at some stage generated a local belief. (1) Marsden … Continue reading Psalm 48, 5 Jul 15
Psalms 130 and 23, 9 August 2015
Psalm 130 pops up again this Sunday, just 6 weeks after we listened to Sinead's Out of the depths. We are going to repeat that same song -- its beautiful simplicity sustains the message perfectly. The visit by The Gospel Folk brings not only their inspiring songs but also the excuse to focus the gathering on music. … Continue reading Psalms 130 and 23, 9 August 2015
Psalm 90, 26 October 2014
This Sunday we enjoy another visit by our good friends in The Gospel Folk ably led by stalwart friend, supporter and Psalm Team singer Brian. The energy and swing of Gospel singing will be most welcome. Hang on; for months I have been cooking up an arrangement of the set psalm, 90 (text here>), quite without reference … Continue reading Psalm 90, 26 October 2014
Psalm 105, 27 July 14
Psalm 105 is a song of praise, as indeed are 106 and 107 that follow. The opening lines sound familiar, as such phrases occur throughout the Bible: Confitemini Domino et invocate nomen ejus Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name The next verse narrows the focus to set the theme as historical narrative, evidence that has provided confidence for … Continue reading Psalm 105, 27 July 14
Pärt and Psalm 100, 17 April 14
For those interested in sacred songs that you will probably never hear at South Woden, The Oriana Chorale will sing music of some interest at Wesley Uniting Church on Thursday 17th April ('Maundy' or Holy Thursday) at 7:00 pm. Their notice says: The principal work will be Arvo Pärt’s 1990 Berlin Mass. The sections of the Mass … Continue reading Pärt and Psalm 100, 17 April 14
David and Da’ud
The singing of psalms, as mentioned at the home page, is a longstanding and wide-spread tradition. The psalms, like the Torah or Tawrat, are recognised in many major religions besides Christianity (1): As tehillim they appear, of course, in the Jewish scriptures. In Islamic writings frequent reference may be found to the zabur. The zabur are often referred to … Continue reading David and Da’ud
Update on style
For those interested, this is to advise there is some new material on the Styles page - click here> or at left. 1. It now includes a review of the pattern of activity in Year C, December 2012 to November 2013, based on about 40 weeks of singing the psalms (your cantor was away for a … Continue reading Update on style
Psalms in the South 