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Psalms
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
Why Psalms?
In the continual search for repertoire appropriate to a large male chorus, our attention turned toward the multi-faceted texts of the Psalms. Over the past 3,000 years, much has been written about the historical significance of these incredible texts. Theological and literary scholars have studied them through the ages.
According to the Harvard Dictionary of Music, "The Book of Psalms has been, no doubt, the most influential single source of text in all musical history." It is the oldest prayer book, hymn book collection of religious poetry in Western civilization and is still used today by both Jews and Christians. Though piously described as "The Psalms of David," we can doubt personal Davidic authorship without questioning that many Psalms date back to the early years of the Israelite monarch, over nine hundred years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. In the opinion of several writers, they comprise a condensed version of the entire Old Testament, for they recount the early history of the Hebrew people, their victories, hopes and sorrows, but above all, their beliefs and faith. They capture the full spectrum of Israel's speech to God, from joyful praise to unspeakable anger and doubt. In turning to the Psalms, we are at one with those who have worshiped Yahweh for almost three thousand years.
From the beginning, the Psalms were probably composed for choral use with instrumental accompaniment. The Greek word psalmoi means "songs accompanied by string instruments an vestigial choral an orchestral directions are still to be found in the Psalter telling the choirmaster which tune to use, or which instruments.
Those seemed good enough reasons to focus our sights on this rich source of texts. The Psalms describe our lives as poignantly and perfectly as they describe the lives of those persecuted peoples three thousand years ago. They describe the longing of the soul to find meaning in a world that seems bent on eliminating an entire people. As we began to read and search, the texts paralleled our lives and painted pictures of our own struggles and our victories over them. In this age of persecution of gay and lesbian people and in this age of AIDS that could be described as an Old Testament plague, we connected immediately with what we were singing. We have walked together through the "valley of the shadow of death" and we are emerging with a new hope and a new vision, just as the people did 3,000 years ago. So we began to look for Psalms set for male chorus. Therein was the challenge.
We searched through the annals of music history and discovered a rather thin portfolio of Psalm settings for male chorus. Because we were so moved by the contemporary message of the texts, we turned to living composers. The contemporary settings of these texts seemed to fit our lives and our music-making at this time and in this place.
- Timothy Seelig, D.M.A.
REPERTOIRE
1. Make A Joyful Noise
Buryl Red, Text by Reagan Courtney
Buryl Red, as composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator and producer, has participated in thousands of projects, many of them award-winners, for television, film, recording and publishing. From his first public performance at age four as soloist in a tent revival in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, his musical life has been usually eclectic. After earning degrees in music from Baylor University and Yale University, he took up residence in New York City where he has one of the most advanced digital and computer music studios in the city. His works have been described by the Washington Post as "uncommonly creative."
Praise Him! Hosanna!
Make a Joyful noise unto God!
Sing the glory of his name!
Let all people sing for joy,
Let them sing from happy hearts.
Praise Him! Hosanna! Amen.
2. Psalm I: Truth Is God's Gift
Danny Ray, Text by Rev. Mel White
Danny Ray began a career in music when, at the age of four, a cousin guided his fingers through the C, F and G major chords. He received further education at Texas Christian University, held positions in a variety of denominations, arranged for show bands and gospel groups, entertained on the theatre pipe organ circuit, and has performed in scores of recording sessions. Since 1980, Ray has composed or arranged hundreds of pieces, and he continues as a prolific composer, keyboard artist and music directory. He joined the TCC as a singing member in January 1993. He is Staff Arranger for the TCC and serves as Musical Directory for the quartet "2x2". His first CD of original music, Reflections: Songs Without Words, was released by the TCC in August, 1997.
Freedom comes to those who love the Truth,
Not to those who follow half-truth, distortion and lies.
Truth is God's gift.
Somewhere in your heart, you know what is right and good and true.
Seek it. Find it. Act upon it. Let it set you free.
And you will be like a tree planted in good, rich soil by the river of life.
The hungry will be fed by your fruit.
The weak will sit in your shade and grow strong again.
And no storm will bend your trunk, and no gale will break your branches.
But if you follow Untruth, if you live your life on lies,
You will be like sand in a desert storm;
You will be like leaves in an autumn wind.
And when that moment comes,
When you see yourself through the loving eyes of God,
You will not stand proudly, but fall,
Gasping to your knees, ashamed.
Your creator will walk beside you on your journey after Truth.
But if you follow Untruth, you will walk alone.
3. The Majesty And Glory Of Your Name
Based on Psalm 8
Tom Fettke,Text by Linda Lee Johnson
Tom Fettke has been a composer, editor, arranger and producer of music for the church for over three decades, and has served as Senior Editor of the highly regarded "Hymnal for Worship & Celebration."
When I gaze into the night skies and see the work of your fingers,
The moon and stars suspended in space,
Oh, what is man that you are mindful of him?
You have given man a crown of glory and honor
And hove mode him a little lower than the angels.
You hove put him in charge of all creation:
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea.
0 Lord our God, the majesty and glory of Your name
Transcends the earth and fills the heavens.
0 Lord our God, little children praise You perfectly,
And so would we. Alleluia.
4. Psalm 23: The Lord's My Shepherd
Brother James' Air from the Scotthish Psalter, ARR, Kurt Kaiser
Kurt Kaiser received undergraduate and graduate degrees in music from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. He has served as composer, arranger and pianist as well as Vice President of Music at Word, Inc. for many years. He has numerous compositions and arrangements in print. Baylor University bestowed on him the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not wont.
He makes me down to lie in postures green.
He leadeth me the quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again
And me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness
e'en for his own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale, yet will I fear no ill
For Thou art with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still.
Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me,
And in God's house forever more my dwelling place shall be.
5. Psalm 47: Clap Your Hands
Nancy Roberts
Nancy Roberts is a retired librarian living in Corsicana, Texas. A Grandmother, she enjoys collecting old movies, playing the piano, writing music and working on local playhouse productions. She and Anne Albritton have collaborated on several Corsicana musicals.
Clap your hands, ye people, clap your hands,
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
Clap your hands! Shout for joy! Hallelujah!
Sing praises to our God, lift your voice and sing.
Sing praises to our God, He is our King.
6. Psalm 91: The Secret Place
Danny Ray, Text by Rev. Mel White - Dedicated to Matthew Shepard
When you dwell in the secret place,
in the secret place of the Most High,
you live safely under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of my Creator, "You are my hiding place,
My God in Whom I trust."
Surely He will release me from traps that would enslave me;
Surely He will defend me from violence in the streets.
He will save me, he will redeem me,
He will rescue me, he will deliver me.
My Creator will cover me with her feathers
and under her wings I will be safe.
She will guide me safely past the hands that reach out death to me.
She will protect me from the plague that threatens all I love;
She will hold me in her arms, she will hold me through the night,
She will hold me through the lonely, restless night in her arms.
God's truth will guard me from the lies of my enemy.
I will take my stand against them unafraid,
Because I have found a safe place, a sanctuary,
a refuge in my Creator, the most high God.
My creator knows my name and calls out to me,
"I love you."
7. Psalm 93: The Lord Reigneth
Michael Cox, Text adapted by MC
Michael Cox is Chairman of the Music Theory and Composition Department and Director of The Men's Chorus at Southwestern Baptist Theology Seminary's School of Church Music. Prior to joining the faculty at Southwestern in the fall of 1990, Dr. Cox taught conducting and music theory at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma for 17 years. As a composer. Dr. Cox has more than 150 works in publication and has received the Standard Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) every year since 1987.
The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty.
The Lord is clothed with strength,
And has established the world that it cannot be moved.
Thy throne is established of old; Thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up their voice, 0 Lord, their pounding waves.
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,
Even the mighty waves of the sea.
Thy testimonies are very sure;
Holiness becometh thine house, 0 Lord,
Forever and ever more. Alleluiah.
8. Organ Improvisation
Christopher Berry
9. Psalm 92: It Is A Good Thing TO Give Thanks
Anne Albritton
The early years of Anne Albritton's professional career were spent in the fields of church music, musical theatre and piano teaching. In 1990 she became Principal Accompanist and resident Composer/Arranger for The Women's Chorus of Dallas, and shortly thereafter joined the staff of the TCC in the same capacities. Her choral compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and performed by choruses throughout the country.
It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, 0 Most High,
To tell of your loving kindness early in the morning,
And of your faithfulness in the night season.
On the psaltry and on the lyre I give thanks to you,
And to the melody of the harp.
The works of your mighty hand make me glad, 0 Lord, and I sing for joy.
10. Psalm 100: A Festive Psalm
Joseph Martin, Orch. by Danny Ray
Composer/pianist Joseph Martin is well known for his many choral and piano compositions. As a pianist and recording artist, he has performed throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. He holds degrees from Furman University and the University of Texas in Austin, where he lives with his wife Pamela and their two children. His composition, "The Awakening," has been recorded by the TCC on the CD Let Music Live.
Come before God with a shout!
Come raise a joyful noise to the Lord all ye people,
Rejoice with jubilant song to the Lord!
Know that the Lord is God, and it is He who has made us.
God is our Shepherd and we are the sheep of his posture.
Praise ye the Lord and bring glad thanksgiving.
Enter his courts with a song.
God is good and God's great mercy lasts forever.
God's promise endures to all generations.
Praise ye the Lord with glorias, praise him with joyful noise!
Praise ye the Lord with loud hosannas,
Praise the Lord with soul and voice, Allelujah!
Come before God with a shout and make a joyful noise to the Lord,
Rejoice with jubilant song, sing and shout for joy, Allelujah!
Enter his courts with praise, come before God with a shout!
11. Psalm 103: Bless The Lord, My Soul
James Quitman Mulholland
James Mulholland was born in Laurel, Mississippi, the home town of the author James Street and soprano Leontyne Price. He studied at Louisiana State University and Indiana University. In 1995 he was selected as Louisiana State University's School of Music Alumni of the Year. At present, European-American, National Music Publishers, Plymouth Music and Alliance Publications list his compositions as best sellers. Many of his compositions have become standard repertoire for collegiate and professional ensembles.
Bless the Lord, my soul, bless His holy name!
All that is in me. Bless his holy name!
Who forgives our faults, crowns us with His love,
For He shows no anger, yet abounds in steadfast love.
For He knows our frame, knows that we are dust-
Man is as the grass, and must fade away.
But the steadfast love of the Lord our God,
Shall be everlasting for the ones who love the Lord.
Bless the Lord, my soul.
12. Psalm 121: I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes
Charles F. Brown
Charles Brown, a native Texan, has been involved in the religious music publishing and recording industry since the early 1970s. His compositions and arrangements appear in a dozen catalogs and he has been responsible for the arranging and/or production of over 200 albums. He lives with his wife, Robin, and their two sons in Cedar Hill, Texas.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
Unto the hills whence comes my help.
My help comes from the Lord who mode heav'n,
The Lord who mode heav'n and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved,
He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper, thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil, he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
From this time forth and even forever more.
13. Psalm 85: A Psalm of Peace
Jane Marshall
Jane Marshall, a native Dallasite, is a composer, teacher and hymnist. For many years she taught at Meadows School of the Arts at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and still teaches in the summer continuing education church music program at the seminary there. She is active as a choral clinician-conductor across the country, and her choral works and hymns appear in countless choir libraries and church hymnals. Some of her works have been recorded on earlier CDs by the TCC.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
For He will speak peace to his people,
To his saints, to those who turn to Him in their hearts.
Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet,
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground
And Righteousness will look down from the sky.
14. Psalm 150: Praise The Lord
Mark Hayes, Orch. by Danny Ray
Mark Hayes is an award winning, internationally known composer, arranger and concert pianist. His personal catalog contains over 500 published original compositions and arrangements for choruses, orchestra and piano, which are distributed by several sacred and educational music publishers. Mr. Hayes graduated from Baylor University with a major in piano performance and resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in the sanctuary,
Praise God in the mighty firmaments.
Praise God for his mighty deeds,
Praise God according to his excellent greatness.
Praise God with trumpet sound,
Praise God with lute and harp.
Praise God with strings, 0 my soul,
Praise God with stringed instruments.
Praise God with the tambourine and with dancing.
Praise God with the dance.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord and dance!
Praise God with strings and pipe,
Praise God with the clashing of the cymbals,
Praise God with high resounding cymbals!
PRODUCTION NOTES
Christopher Berry, Organist
Christopher Berry is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While in high school, he served as assistant organist of St. Joseph Cathedral. In 1997, Mr. Berry graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Texas, where he was a student of Dr. Jesse Eschbach. While at North Texas, he held the prestigious Helen Hewitt Organ Scholarship, and was recognized in his senior year as Outstanding Undergraduate Student in organ. Mr. Berry was the first organ scholar of the Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe in Dallas. In 1996, he had the privilege of studying in Paris with eminent French organists Marie-Claire Alain and Marie-Madeleine Durufle. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Music degree in organ performance at the University of Kansas, where he is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and a student of Dr. James Higdon.
Musicians:
Harp: Ellen Ritscher
Trumpets: Tim Anderson, Gary Dobbins
French Horns: Erin Brewer, Tammy Brown
Trombones: Bob Burnham, John War-ton, Jon Bohis
Tuba: Alex Cauthen
Percussion: Mike McNicholas, Rolland Musquiz, Nate Buonviri
Recorded: October 26-27, 1998 at Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas TX
Producer: J. Tamblyn Henderson, Jr.
Recording Engineer: Keith 0. Johnson
CD Mastering: Paul Stubblebine, JTH
Graphics: Bill Roarty, JTH
