Psalter

Psalms

Psalm Tunes

psalms

A selection of Psalms from the Scottish Psalter.

The Psalms Sung - Volume 7

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)

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

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
and he it is alone
Who reaches out to Israèl
to bring the exiles home.

3 He heals his people’s broken hearts,
restores the bruised and lame.
4 He sets the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and great in power;
his wisdom is profound.
6 The LORD sustains the meek, but casts
the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thankfulness;
with joy his praise proclaim;
And with the music of the harp
give glory to his name.

Psalm 147 v2-7 (Tune: Crediton)

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

Psalm 72 - Anglican chant

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 23, African Melody.MP3

From the Scottish psalter of 1650
Recording used by permission of the free Church of Scotland Psalmody committee

1  My heart is fixed, Lord; I will sing,
       and with my glory praise.
 2  Awake up psaltery and harp;
       myself I'll early raise.

 3  I'll praise thee 'mong the people, Lord;
       'mong nations sing will I:
 4  For above heav'n thy mercy's great,
       thy truth doth reach the sky.

 5  Be thou above the heavens, Lord,
       exalted gloriously;
    Thy glory all the earth above
       be lifted up on high.

 6  That those who thy beloved are
       deliver-ed may be,
    O do thou save with thy right hand,
       and answer give to me.


Psalm 108 (Tune: Warrick)

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)

2	Salvation, which is from the LORD,
		he has caused to be known.
		His righteousness has been revealed,
		to nations has been shown.

	3	He mindful of his grace and truth
		to Isr’el’s house has been,
		and the salvation of our God
		all ends of earth have seen.

	4	Let all the earth unto the LORD
		now make a joyful noise.
		Lift up your voice aloud to him;
		sing praises and rejoice.

	5	With harp, with harp and voice of praise
		unto the LORD now sing.
		With horn and trumpets gladly shout
		before the LORD, the king.

	6	Let sea and all that fills it roar,
		the world and dwellers there.
		Let rivers clap their hands; as one
		let mountains joy declare

	7	Before the LORD, because he comes
		judge of the earth to be.
		He’ll judge the world and peoples all
		with righteous equity.

Recordings from 'Psalms for Singing – A 21st Century Edition (2004)'
Produced by the Reformed Presbterian church of Ireland. Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms. Recorded @ Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church

Psalm 98 B (Tune: Desert / Lyngham)

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Recorded @ RP youth camp

7  Ye gates, lift up your heads on high;
         ye doors that last for aye,
      Be lifted up, that so the King
         of glory enter may.

   8  But who of glory is the King?
         The mighty Lord is this;
      Ev'n that same Lord, that great in might
         and strong in battle is.

   9  Ye gates, lift up your heads; ye doors,
         doors that do last for aye,
      Be lifted up, that so the King
         of glory enter may.

  10  But who is he that is the King
         of glory? who is this?
      The Lord of hosts, and none but he,
         the King of glory is.

Psalm 24 v7-10 (Tune: St. Georges Edinburgh)

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Text: Psalm 27 from 'Psalms for Singing – A 21st Century Edition (2004)'
© The Reformed Presbyterian church of Ireland.

Psalm 27 (Tune: Irish)

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)

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Psalm 43 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)

3  O send thy light forth and thy truth;
         let them be guides to me,
      And bring me to thine holy hill,
         ev'n where thy dwellings be.

   4  Then will I to God's altar go,
         to God my chiefest joy:
      Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise
         my harp I will employ.

 5  Why art thou then cast down, my soul?
         what should discourage thee?
      And why with vexing thoughts art thou
         disquieted in me?

      Still trust in God; for him to praise
         good cause I yet shall have:
      He of my count'nance is the health,
         my God that doth me save.

Psalm 43 Tune - Invocation by Bon Accord choir

Psalm 43 (Tune: Invocation)

1  Hear, Isr'el's Shepherd! like a flock
         thou that dost Joseph guide;
      Shine forth, O thou that dost between
         the cherubims abide.

   2  In Ephraim's, and Benjamin's
         and in Manasseh's sight,
      O come for our salvation;
         stir up thy strength and might.

   3  Turn us again, O Lord our God,
         and upon us vouchsafe
      To make thy countenance to shine,
         and so we shall be safe.

   4  O Lord of hosts, almighty God,
         how long shall kindled be
      Thy wrath against the prayer made
         by thine own folk to thee? 

   7  Turn us again, O God of hosts,
         and upon us vouchsafe
      To make thy countenance to shine,
         and so we shall be safe.

Psalm 80 v1-7 (Tune: Evan)

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5  His testimony and his law
         in Isr'el he did place,
      And charged our fathers it to show
         to their succeeding race;

   6  That so the race which was to come
         might well them learn and know;
      And sons unborn, who should arise,
         might to their sons them show:

   7  That they might set their hope in God,
         and suffer not to fall
      His mighty works out of their mind,
         but keep his precepts all:

   8  And might not, like their fathers, be
         a stiff rebellious race;
      A race not right in heart; with God
         whose sp'rit not steadfast was.

From the Scottish Psalter of 1650

Psalm 78 v5-8 (Tune: Argyle)

The name of God I with a song
         most cheerfully will praise;
      And I, in giving thanks to him,
         his name shall highly raise.

  33  For God the poor hears, and will not
         his prisoners contemn.
  34  Let heav'n, and earth, and seas, him praise,
         and all that move in them.

  35  For God will Judah's cities build,
         and he will Zion save,
      That they may dwell therein, and it
         in sure possession have.

  36  And they that are his servants' seed
         inherit shall the same;
      So shall they have their dwelling there
         that love his blessèd name.

Psalm 69 (Tune: St Leonard)

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1O Lord, thy judgments give the king,
his son thy righteousness.
2With right he shall thy people judge,
thy poor with uprightness.
3The lofty mountains shall bring forth
unto the people peace;
Likewise the little hills the same
shall do by righteousness.
 
4The people's poor ones he shall judge,
the needy's children save;
And those shall he in pieces break
who them oppressed have.
5They shall thee fear, while sun and moon
do last, through ages all.
6Like rain on mown grass he shall drop,
or show'rs on earth that fall.

Psalm 72 v1-6 (Tune: Petersham)

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)

1  O Lord, thou art my God and King;
        Thee will I magnify and praise:
     I will thee bless, and gladly sing
        Unto thy holy name always.

  2  Each day I rise I will thee bless,
        And praise thy name time without end.
  3  Much to be praised, and great God is;
        His greatness none can comprehend.

   7  They utter shall abundantly
        The mem'ry of thy goodness great;
     And shall sing praises cheerfully,
        Whilst they thy righteousness relate.

  8  The Lord our God is gracious,
        Compassionate is he also;
     In mercy he is plenteous,
        But unto wrath and anger slow.

Psalm 145 v1-8 (Tune: Warrington)

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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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Text from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650.

1  The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want.
   2     He makes me down to lie
      In pastures green: he leadeth me
         the quiet waters by.

   3  My soul he doth restore again;
         and me to walk doth make
      Within the paths of righteousness,
         ev'n for his own name's sake.

   4  Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
         yet will I fear none ill:
      For thou art with me; and thy rod
         and staff me comfort still.

   5  My table thou hast furnished
         in presence of my foes;
      My head thou dost with oil anoint,
         and my cup overflows.

   6  Goodness and mercy all my life
         shall surely follow me:
      And in God's house for evermore
         my dwelling-place shall be.

Psalm 23 (Tune: Crimond)

This tune is usually sung to Psalm 80, Psalm 35, Psalm 119 Part 3.

Evan Bass (CM)

Argyle Bass (CM)

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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)

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

1 O God, you are my God alone;
I seek your face with eagerness.
My soul and body thirst for you
In this dry, weary wilderness.

2 I’ve seen you in your holy place;
Your power and glory held my gaze.
3 Far better is your love than life,
And so my lips will sing your praise.

4 I’ll bless you, Lord, throughout my life
And raise my hands to you in prayer.
5 My joyful lips will sing your praise;
My soul is fed with richest fare.

6 Upon my bed I lie awake
And in my thoughts remember you;
I meditate throughout the night
And keep your constant love in view.

7 Because you are my help alone,
In shadow of your wings I’ll sing.
8 You hold me up with your right hand;
To you, O God, my soul will cling

Psalm 63 (Tune: Crasselius)

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Psalm 43 (Tune: Invocation)

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