Friday, March 20, 2015

40 Days of Chant, Psalms 25 and 26

Either I am running out of ideas or pushing myself into new creative ideas.  For psalm 25 I tried to write a chant where the soprano line was all half step chromatic motion.  I think it sounds cool and even conveys the joy of the text.

1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
my God, I put my trust in you; *
    let me not be humiliated,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
    let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3Show me your ways, O LORD, *
    and teach me your paths.
4Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    in you have I trusted all the day long.
5Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, *
    for they are from everlasting.
6Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
    remember me according to your love
    and for the sake of your goodness, O L
ORD.
7Gracious and upright is the LORD; *
    therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8He guides the humble in doing right *
    and teaches his way to the lowly.
9All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness *
    to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10For your Name's sake, O LORD, *
    forgive my sin, for it is great.
11Who are they who fear the LORD? *
    he will teach them the way that they should choose.
12They shall dwell in prosperity, *
    and their offspring shall inherit the land.
13The LORD is a friend to those who fear him *
    and will show them his covenant.
14My eyes are ever looking to the LORD, *
    for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

15Turn to me and have pity on me, *
    for I am left alone and in misery.
16The sorrows of my heart have increased; *
    bring me out of my troubles.
17Look upon my adversity and misery *
    and forgive me all my sin.
18Look upon my enemies, for they are many, *
    and they bear a violent hatred against me.

19 Protect my life and deliver me; *
    let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
20 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, *
    for my hope has been in you.
21 Deliver Israel, O God, *
    out of all his troubles.

Psalm 26 is yet another psalm that goes from begging God to save the psalmist that transitions into assurance that God has already provided.  So, I start in Emin and then cadence on C Major.  I'm not sure that repeating this 12 times will not sound jarring.  What do you think?
1Give judgment for me, O LORD,
for I have lived with integrity; *
    I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

 
2Test me, O LORD, and try me; *
    examine my heart and my mind.
  
3For your love is before my eyes; *
    I have walked faithfully with you.
  
4I have not sat with the worthless, *
    nor do I consort with the deceitful.
  
5I have hated the company of evildoers; *
    I will not sit down with the wicked.
  
6I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, *
    that I may go in procession round your altar,
  
7Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *
    and recounting all your wonderful deeds.
  
8LORD, I love the house in which you dwell *
    and the place where your glory abides.
  
9Do not sweep me away with sinners, *
    nor my life with those who thirst for blood,
10Whose hands are full of evil plots, *
    and their right hand full of bribes.
  
11As for me, I will live with integrity; *
    redeem me, O L
ORD, and have pity on me.
  
12My foot stands on level ground; *
    in the full assembly I will bless the L
ORD.

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