Psalter

psalms

Psalms

Favourite Scottish Psalter singing

Text: Scottish Psalter (1650) (Meter: CM)

1  O give ye praise unto the Lord,
       all nations that be;
    Likewise, ye people all, accord
       his name to magnify.

 2  For great to us-ward ever are
       his loving-kindnesses:
    His truth endures for evermore.
       The Lord O do ye bless.

Psalm 117 (Tune: Saxony)

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Psalm 115 sung a capella from Sing Psalm (2003)(Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). Meter: (CM) Recorded at the wedding of David Murray and Margaret Stewart in Glasgow RPCS on the 1st of August 2013. 

12 The LORD remembers Israel
and he will bless us all—
The house of Aaron and all those
13 who fear him, great and small.

14 May God the LORD make you increase—
both you and all your line.
15 May you be blessed by God, who makes
all things by his design.

Psalm 115 (Tune: Land of Rest)

Psalm 67 sung Acapella from the Scottish Psalter of 1650.  Recorded at Glasgow RP church.(Meter: SM) Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

1     Lord, bless and pity us,
         shine on us with thy face:
   2  That th' earth thy way, and nations all
         may know thy saving grace.

   3     Let people praise thee, Lord;
         let people all thee praise.
   4  O let the nations be glad,
         in songs their voices raise:

         Thou'lt justly people judge,
         on earth rule nations all.
   5  Let people praise thee, Lord; let them
         praise thee, both great and small.

   6     The earth her fruit shall yield,
         our God shall blessing send.
   7  God shall us bless; men shall him fear
         unto earth's utmost end.

Psalm 67 (Tune: Golden Hill)

The Choir of the Church of the Advent sings Psalm 72 to a chant by E. G. Monk (1819-2000)

Psalm 72 - Anglican chant

Text: Scottish Psalter (1650)  From the 'Worthy to be Praised' series of Psalmody CDs: sing-the-psalms.webs.com/ (Meter: CM)

8  His loving-kindness yet the Lord
         command will in the day,
      is song's with me by night; to God,
         by whom I live, I'll pray:

   9  And I will say to God my rock,
         Why me forgett'st thou so?
      Why, for my foes' oppression,
         thus mourning do I go?

  10  'Tis as a sword within my bones,
         when my foes me upbraid;
      Ev'n when by them, Where is thy God?
         'tis daily to me said.

  11  O why art thou cast down, my soul?
         why, thus with grief oppresed,
      Art thou disquieted in me?
         in God still hope and rest:

      For yet I know I shall him praise,
         who graciously to me
      The health is of my countenance,
         yea, mine own God is he.

Psalm 42 v8-11 (Tune: Notting Hill)

I suppose the title should read 'found recordings' huh

Psalm 68 - Ericstane

Solemn Evensong, Procession, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, February 1, 2015

Sung by the combined choirs of the Parish of All Saints, Ashmont, and All Saints Church, Worcester

Directed by Andrew Sheranian and Graeme McCullough
Frederick Jodry, assisting guest organist

Ps 84 - O how amiable are thy dwellings (Anglican chant: CHH Parry)

Psalm 42 from the Scottish Psalter of 1650. Recorded at 'Arbroath' youth weekend.

5  O why art thou cast down, my soul?
         why in me so dismayed?
      Trust God, for I shall praise him yet,
         his count'nance is mine aid.

      7  At the noise of thy water-spouts
         deep unto deep doth call;
      Thy breaking waves pass over me,
         yea, and thy billows all.

   8  His loving-kindness yet the Lord
         command will in the day,
      is song's with me by night; to God,
         by whom I live, I'll pray:

   9  And I will say to God my rock,
         Why me forgett'st thou so?
      Why, for my foes' oppression,
         thus mourning do I go?

Psalm 42 (Tune: Seek Ye First)

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Audio taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXoofHX-6jA
From the Scottish Psalter of 1650

Lyrics:
Praise ye the Lord; for it is good praise to our God to sing: 
for it is pleasant, and to praise it is a comely thing. 
God doth build up Jerusalem; and he it is a alone 
that the dispers'd of Isreal doth gather into one. 

Those that are broken in their heart, and grieved in their mind, 
He healeth, and their painful wounds he tenderly upbinds. 
He counts the number of the stars; he names them every one. 
Great is our Lord, and of great power; his wisdom search can none. 

The Lord lifts up the meek and casts the wicked to the ground. 
Sing to the Lord, and give him thanks; on harp his praises sound; 
Who covereth the heav'n with clouds who for the earth below 
prepareth rain, who maketh grass upon the mountains grow.

Psalm 147 v1-8 (Tune: Thanksgiving)

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Psalm 21 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)
  1  The king in thy great strength, O Lord,
         shall very joyful be:
      In thy salvation rejoice
         how veh'mently shall he!

   2  Thou hast bestowed upon him
         all that his heart would have;
      And thou from him didst not withhold
         whate'er his lips did crave.

   3  For thou with blessings him prevent'st
         of goodness manifold;
      And thou hast set upon his head
         a crown of purest gold.

   4  When he desired life of thee,
         thou life to him didst give;
      Ev'n such a length of days, that he
         for evermore should live.

5  In that salvation wrought by thee
         his glory is made great;
      Honor and comely majesty
         thou hast upon him set.

Psalm 21 (Tune: Arnold)

Psalm 23, African Melody.MP3

Singing from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650

“I’ll of salvation take the cup,
On God’s Name will I call,
I’ll pay my vows, now, to The LORD,
Before His people all.
Dear in God’s sight,
Is His saint’s death,
Thy servant, LORD,
Am I,
Thy servant sure,
Thine handmaid’s son,
My bands thou didst untie.
Thank off’rings I to thee will give,
And on God’s name will call,
I’ll pay my vows now to The LORD,
Before His people all.
Within the courts,
Of God’s own house,
Within the midst
Of Thee,
Oh city of,
Jerusalem,
Praise to The LORD, give ye.

Psalm 116 v13-19 (Tune: Ostend)

Psalm 44 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)

1  O God, we with our ears have heard,
         our fathers have us told,
      What works thou in their days hadst done,
         ev'n in the days of old.

   2  Thy hand did drive the heathen out,
         and plant them in their place;
      Thou didst afflict the nations,
         but them thou didst increase.

   3  For neither got their sword the land,
         nor did their arm them save;
      But thy right hand, arm, countenance;
         for thou them favor gave.

   4  Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord,
         deliv'rances command.
   5  Through thee we shall push down our foes,
         that do against us stand:

      We, through thy name, shall tread down those
         that ris'n against us have.
   6  For in my bow I shall not trust,
         nor shall my sword me save.

   7  But from our foes thou hast us saved,
         our haters put to shame.
   8  In God we all the day do boast,
         and ever praise thy name.

Psalm 44 (Tune: Old 44th)

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Psalm 1b sung a capella from Sing Psalm (2003)(Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). Meter: 88.88.88

1 How blessed the one who does not walk
Where wicked men would guide his feet,
Who does not stand in sinners’ paths
Or sit upon the scorners’ seat.
2 The law of God is his delight,
His meditation day and night.

3 He prospers like a tree, which has
Been planted by a flowing stream,
And in its season yields its fruit;
Its leaves are always fresh and green.
In every act and every word
He knows the blessing of the LORD.

4 Not so the wicked: they are like
The chaff the wind will blow away.
5 They will not in the judgment stand,
Nor sinners with the righteous stay.
6 God knows the way the righteous go;
The wicked’s way he’ll overthrow.

Psalm 1 b (Tune: St Petersburg)

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Sung acapella from: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). Sung at Dowanvale Free Church. Meter: (CM)

1 O LORD, you have examined me,
you know me through and through.
2 My sitting, rising—all my thoughts
afar are known to you.

5 You hem me in—behind, before;
you lay on me your hand.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful,
too high to understand.

7 Where can I from your Spirit flee
or from your presence go?
8 If to the heavens, you are there,
or in the depths below.

9 If I should take the wings of dawn
and dwell beyond the sea,
10 There also you would be my guide,
your right hand holding me.

Psalm 139 v1-10 (Tune: St Andrew)

Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). 
Sung by Dowanvale Free Church Of Scotland

1 The world and all in it are God’s,
all peoples of the earth,
2 For it was founded by the LORD
upon the seas beneath.
3 Who may ascend the hill of God,
or in his temple stand?
4 The one who shuns false gods and lies,
who’s pure in heart and hand.
5 He will find favour from the LORD,
and from his Saviour grace.
6 Thus are they blessed, O Jacob’s God,
who truly seek your face.
7 You ancient gates, lift up your heads;
you doors, be opened wide—
So may the King of glory come
for ever to abide.
8 But who is this exalted King?
What glorious King is he?
It is the LORD of strength and might,
the LORD of victory.
9 You ancient gates, lift up your heads;
you doors, be opened wide—
So may the King of glory come
for ever to abide.
10 But who is this exalted King?
Who can this sovereign be?
The LORD Almighty, he is King
of glory, none but he.

Psalm 24 (Tune: Winchester)

from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650

14  But I with expectation
         will hope continually;
      And yet with praises more and more
         I will thee magnify.

  15  Thy justice and salvation
         my mouth abroad shall show,
      Ev'n all the day; for I thereof
         the numbers do not know.

  16  And I will constantly go on
         in strength of God the Lord;
      And thine own righteousness, ev'n thine
         alone, I will record.

  17  For even from my youth, O God,
         by thee I have been taught;
      And hitherto I have declared
         the wonders thou hast wrought.

Psalm 71 v14-17 (Tune: St Leonard)

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Sung acapella from: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). Sung a capella by Dowanvale Free Church Of Scotland. Meter: CM

1 How excellent a thing it is,
how pleasant and how good,
When brothers dwell in unity
and live as brothers should!

2 For it is like the precious oil,
poured out on Aaron’s head,
That, running over, down his beard,
upon his collar spread.

3 Like Hermon’s dew, upon the hill
of Zion it descends.
The LORD bestows his blessing there—
the life that never ends.

Psalm 133 (Tune: Bishopthorpe)

This setting of Psalm 121 uses a genre peculiar to the Anglican musical tradition, rather like fauxbourdon: the text is chanted to a chord progression. The effect is curiously calming and meditative. This is the only one of these chants that I have ever composed, and may well be the last, but it was an interesting experiment. I added dynamic indications to each verse of the psalm, which is not common. This is performed by the Choir of All Saints' Church, Beverly Hills, with Craig Phillips, organ, and conducted by Dale Adelmann. I took the photograph that accompanies this piece in Northern Ireland.

Psalm 121: Anglican Chant

Sung by Blackburn People's Choir Air on February 2014
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6R_FvWApBw)

Psalm 23 (Tune: Brother James' Air)

Fraught with error, but a worthwhile endeavour.


Ps 43 Martyrs

Psalm 40 sung Acapella from the Scottish Psalter of 1650. Recorded at an Arbroath youth weekend. (Meter: CM) Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

1  I waited for the Lord my God,
         and patiently did bear;
      At length to me he did incline
         my voice and cry to hear.

   2  He took me from a fearful pit,
         and from the miry clay,
      And on a rock he set my feet,
         establishing my way.

   3  He put a new song in my mouth,
         our God to magnify:
      Many shall see it, and shall fear,
         and on the Lord rely.

   4  O blessed is the man whose trust
         upon the Lord relies;
      Respecting not the proud, nor such
         as turn aside to lies.

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Psalm 40 (Tune: Ballerma)

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

  12  What man is he that life desires,
         to see good would live long?
  13  Thy lips refrain from speaking guile,
         and from ill words thy tongue.

  14  Depart from ill, do good, seek peace,
         pursue it earnestly.
  15  God's eyes are on the just; his ears
         are open to their cry.

  16  The face of God is set against
         those that do wickedly,
      That he may quite out from the earth
         cut off their memory.

  17  The righteous cry unto the Lord,
         he unto them gives ear;
      And they out of their troubles all
         by him delivered are.

  19  The troubles that afflict the just
         in number many be;
      But yet at length out of them all
         the Lord doth set him free.

Psalm 34 v11-19 (Tune: Stracathro)

Psalm 23
Anglican Chant (Hylton Stewart)
"A Capella from St. James"
The St. James' Choir, St. James' Church, Long Branch, NJ
James Douglas, conductor

Psalm 23 (Anglican Chant)

Psalm 27 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)(Meter: CM)

7  O Lord, give ear unto my voice,
         when I do cry to thee;
      Upon me also mercy have,
         and do thou answer me.

   8  When thou didst say, seek ye my face,
         then unto thee reply
      Thus did my heart, above all things
         thy face, Lord, seek will I.

   9  Far from me hide not thou thy face;
         put not away from thee
      Thy servant in thy wrath: thou hast
         an helper been to me.

      O God of my salvation,
         leave me not, nor forsake:
  10  Though me my parents both should leave,
         the Lord will me up take.

Psalm 27 (Tune: St Botolph)

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Used with permission of the Reformed Presbyterian Northern Presbytery Choir.

1  In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
         shamed let me never be;
      According to thy righteousness
         do thou deliver me.

   2  Bow down thine ear to me, with speed
         send me deliverance:
      To save me, my strong rock be thou,
         and my house of defense.

   3  Because thou art my rock, and thee
         I for my fortress take;
      Therefore do thou me lead and guide,
         ev'n for thine own name's sake.

   4  And since thou art my strength, therefore
         pull me out of the net,
      Which they in subtlety for me
         so privily have set.

   5  Into thine hands I do commit
         my sp'rit: for thou art he,
      O thou, Jehovah, God of truth,
         that hast redeemèd me.

Psalm 31 v1-5 (Tune: Consolation)

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Psalm 42 sung a capella from the scottish psalter of 1650. Meter: (CM). Recording used with permission of the RP Northern Presbytery Choir.

1  Like as the hart for water-brooks
         in thirst doth pant and bray;
      So pants my longing soul, O God,
         that come to thee I may.

   2  My soul for God, the living God,
         doth thirst: when shall I near
      Unto thy countenance approach,
         and in God's sight appear?

   3  My tears have unto me been meat,
         both in the night and day,
      While unto me continually,
         Where is thy God? they say.

   5  O why art thou cast down, my soul?
         why in me so dismayed?
      Trust God, for I shall praise him yet,
         his count'nance is mine aid.

Psalm 42 v1-5 (Tune: Kedron)

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from Sing Psalms (2003)

	6	Your righteousness is very great,
			like mountains high and steep;
		Your justice is like ocean depths.
			Both man and beast you keep.

	7	How precious is your steadfast love!
			What confidence it brings!
		Both high and low find shelter in
			the shadow of your wings.

	8	They feast within your house, and drink
			from streams of your delight.
	9	For with you is the source of life;
			in your light we see light.

	10	To those who know you as their God,
			your steadfast love impart;
		Maintain your righteousness to those
			of pure and upright heart.

Psalm 36 v6-10 (Tune: Land of Rest)

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Psalm 34 sung acapella from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650.
Singing by Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland.

19  The troubles that afflict the just
         in number many be;
      But yet at length out of them all
         the Lord doth set him free.

  20  He carefully his bones doth keep,
         whatever can befall;
      That not so much as one of them
         can broken be at all.

  21  Ill shall the wicked slay; laid waste
         shall be who hate the just.
  22  The Lord redeems his servants' souls;
         none perish that him trust.

Psalm 34 v19-22 (Tune: Wiltshire)

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! 

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Psalm 42 v8-11 (Tune: Notting Hill)

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