Performed in Heaven is a compact disc of metrical psalms recorded at the Psalmody Recitals, held each winter since 1971 (except 1977) at St Vincent Street Free Church in Glasgow, where sizeable congregations gathered from a variety of churches and denominations. The psalms on the compact disc are all sung by the entire congregation and, as such, reflect the unaffectedness of congregational praise. The recordings are an authentic reflection of the type of singing that has been heard in the Reformed churches of Scotland since the Reformation. In order to produce this unique compilation of congregational psalm-singing, it was necessary to re-master recordings made with the technology of an earlier era. Thus, the recordings themselves span a period of twenty-five years, with the majority being from the seventies or eighties.

Performed in Heaven: Congregational Psalm Singing from Scotland

Psalm 146:1-6 Hamilton

Text: Scottish Psalter (1650) Recorded Arbroath FCC Youth Weekend
(Meter: CM)

31  If they my laws break, and do not
         keep my commandements;
  32  I'll visit then their faults with rods,
         their sins with chastisements.

  33  Yet I'll not take my love from him,
         nor false my promise make.
  34  My cov'nant I'll not break, nor change
         what with my mouth I spake.

  35  Once by my holiness I sware,
         to David I'll not lie;
  36  His seed and throne shall, as the sun,
         before me last for aye.

  37  It, like the moon, shall ever be
         established stedfastly;
      And like to that which in the heav'n
         doth witness faithfully.

  38  But thou, displeased, hast cast off,
         thou didst abhor and loathe;
      With him that thine anointed is
         thou hast been very wroth.

Psalm 89 v31-38 (Tune: Winchester)

Psalm 103 sung a capella from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)

2  Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God,
        and not forgetful be
     Of all his gracious benefits
        he hath bestowed on thee.

  8  The Lord our God is merciful,
        and he is gracious,
     Long-suffering, and slow to wrath,
        in mercy plenteous.

9  He will not chide continually,
        nor keep his anger still.
 10  With us he dealt not as we sinned,
        nor did requite our ill.

11  For as the heaven in its height
        the earth surmounteth far;
     So great to those that do him fear
         his tender mercies are:

 12  As far as east is distant from
        the west, so far hath he
     From us removed, in his love,
        all our iniquity.

Psalm 103 v2,8-12 (Tune: Kilmarnock)

Psalm 102 vs 13-16 (Bulawayo)

Psalm 118 v20-29 (Sawley)

Psalm 142 (Coleshill)

Psalm 25 v4-10 (Malan)

Psalm 145: 1-7 (Tune: Herongate)



1. Messe Royale de Versailles – D’après les Manuscrits de la Maison de Bourbon
(Royal Mass of Versailles – From the Manuscripts of the House of Bourbon)

2. Messe Solennelle pour la Chapelle Royale – Inspirée des Archives de la Maison d’Orléans
(Solemn Mass for the Royal Chapel – Inspired by the Archives of the House of Orléans)

Messes Royales de Versailles – Héritage des Manuscrits Secrets des Maisons de Bourbon et d’Orléans réunit deux messes baroques majestueuses, réinventées et complétées par Akiva David à partir de manuscrits historiques jalousement conservés par les lignées princières françaises. Découverts lors d’une rencontre familiale avec des cousins éloignés des Maisons de Bourbon et d’Orléans, ces trésors musicaux proviennent de la Chapelle Royale de Versailles et témoignent de l’éclat liturgique de l’Ancien Régime.

Sous la direction d’Akiva David, et interprétées par la Choral Society of Fête Saint-Hubert Hounds, ces messes recréent la grandeur sonore de Lully, Rameau et Delalande, avec instruments d’époque à diapason historique (A=415) et chœur en latin. Du murmure d’un hautbois solitaire à l’éclat triomphal des trompettes naturelles et des timbales, l’enregistrement, capté dans l’acoustique majestueuse d’une chapelle royale, restitue la dévotion, la pompe et la splendeur artistique d’un monde disparu.

Track 12 Messe Solennelle de la Maison d’Orléans – Pour le Salut et la Grâce Agnus Dei – Majestas Misericordiae

A big thank you to Rev Calum I Macleod for letting us share this track from the album 'Sounds from Loch a Tuath', recorded at Back Free Church. (Released December 2013) www.backfreechurch.co.uk/
PSALM 34  From the Scottish Psalter of 1650. Meter: CM

7  The angel of the Lord encamps,
         and round encompasseth
      All those about that do him fear,
         and them delivereth.

   8  O taste and see that God is good:
         who trusts in him is blessed.
   9  Fear God his saints: none that him fear
         shall be with want oppressed.

  10  The lions young may hungry be,
         and they may lack their food:
      But they that truly seek the Lord
         shall not lack any good.

  11  O children, hither do ye come,
         and unto me give ear;
      I shall you teach to understand
         how ye the Lord should fear.

ThePsalmsSung.org

Psalm 34 v7-11(Tune: Land of Rest)

Psalm 91 sung Acapella from the Scottish Psalter of 1650. Recorded at Free Church 25rd Glasgow Recital 1996. (Meter: CM) Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms

1  He that doth in the secret place
         of the most High reside,
      Under the shade of him that is
         th' Almighty shall abide.

   2  I of the Lord my God will say,
         He is my refuge still,
      He is my fortress, and my God,
         and in him trust I will.

   3  Assuredly he shall thee save,
         and give deliverance
      From subtle fowler's snare, and from
         the noisome pestilence.

   4  His feathers shall thee hide; thy trust
         under his wings shall be:
      His faithfulness shall be a shield
         and buckler unto thee.

Psalm 91 v1-4 (Tune: St Stephen aka Abridge)

700 Free Recordings of Congregational & Choral Psalm Singing.
Different Versions, Different Tunes, Different Styles. All the recordings are free!!

I LOVE doing it and I love hearing how others appreciate it, but it does cost money. So if you can help me cover the overheads (https://www.patreon.com/psalms), I will keep uploading the beautiful recordings! 

Buy Scottish Psalter (1650) with sheet music: https://amzn.to/4cJHFPY