Many churches, sadly, no longer use psalms, scripture's very own songbook, as a regular, scheduled part of their worship.
Why might this be so? Often it is because the traditionally assumed musical styles and culture are at variance with those of today's churches. The article How long, O Lord? discusses this in more detail.
So these settings, in many styles, specifically try to bridge this gap, across churches large and small, traditional and modern. Unless otherwise indicated, these psalms employ a responsorial structure to make learning and teaching as unobtrusive as possible. And, of course, they are freely available for Internet download.
Words: Usually my own adaptation. Although reasonably close to biblical sources, the metrical nature of these settings inevitably imposes some paraphrasing. Many have a trinitarian doxology appended.
Music: Styles range widely from traditional organ-based to music-group. Unless otherwise indicated they can be adapted to whatever resources are locally available. A moderate pianist and solo singer should be able to lead most of them. Some include an optional descant.
Liturgy matters: The choice of settings largely reflects the major seasons for the Common Worship (RCL) Principal Service, particularly from Advent through to Easter.
| Psalm | Title | Score | Audio | OHP | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psalm 1 | The way of the sinful disappears to dust | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 4 | Answer me, hear my plea | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 8 | O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 14 | O that your salvation and your rescue | Tune based on the Advent plainchant Rorate Caeli and in gentle 5/8 time. Paraphrase touches on Romans 3:23 "...falling short of God's glory". | |||
| Psalm 15 | Who may live, O Lord, in your dwelling place? | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 17: 1-9 | Hear, Lord, my cry for justice |
MP3 MIDI |
A lament. Recording courtesy of Church of the Servant, Michigan. | ||
| Psalm 18: 18-26 | He reached down from on high | MIDI | Some jazz harmony | ||
| Psalm 18: 27-38 | For you, Lord, are the light above me | MIDI | See 18: 18-26 | ||
| Psalm 19: 1-6 | Throughout the universe, we see | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 19: 7-14 | May the words of my mouth |
MP3 MIDI |
Choral style. Recording (response and verse 1) courtesy of Church of the Servant, Michigan. | ||
| Psalm 22: 25-31 | In the midst of your great congregation |
MP3 MIDI |
Can be entirely congregational. Recording courtesy of Church of the Servant, Michigan. | ||
| Psalm 24 | Lift up your heads, O you gates | MIDI | Published: Worship Live, Stainer & Bell, Autumn 1998 | ||
| Psalm 25: 1-10 | To you, O Lord, I lift up my spirit | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 27: 1-9 | God is my light | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 30 | Mourning into dancing (I will extol your name, O Lord) | Detailed with music group songs | |||
| Psalm 31: 9-16 | Make your face to shine upon your servant | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 32 | You are my hiding-place | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 34: 11-20 | Come, my children, and listen to me | MIDI | Suitable for Mothering Sunday | ||
| Psalm 34 | O magnify the Lord with me (I will bless the Lord) | Detailed with congregational songs | |||
| Psalm 36: 5-10 | How precious is your unfailing love, O God | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 40: 1-11 | He has put a new song into my mouth | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 42: 1-7 | As a deer longs for the running streams | Unaccompanied (unison, chant-like). Words: ASB. | |||
| Psalm 47 | God has gone up | MIDI | Condensed text with N.T. ideas. Published: | ||
| Psalm 48 | Great is the Lord | Detailed with congregational songs | |||
| Psalm 50: 1-6 | The heavens proclaim his righteousness | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 57 | Be gracious to me, Lord | via email | MIDI | Words by Michael Perry, copyright Jubilate Hymns. | |
| Psalm 62 | My soul waits for God in the silence | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 63 | O God, you are my God | ||||
| Psalm 63 | O God, thou art my God | Detailed with music group songs | |||
| Psalm 66: 1-12 | Make a joyful noise to God | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 67 | Let the peoples praise you, O God | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 67 | Let the peoples praise thee (God of mercy) | Detailed with congregational songs | |||
| Psalm 70 | God, make speed to save us | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 | Give to your King your judgement, O God (So may he judge) | MIDI | Published: Worship Live, Stainer & Bell, Autumn 2001 | ||
| Psalm 72:1, 10-end | Give to your King your judgement, O God (Kings from the east) | MIDI | Epiphany emphasis in paraphrase | ||
| Psalm 80: 1-7 | Restore us again, O Lord God of hosts | MIDI | Blues. Ideal for Advent. | ||
| Psalm 84 | How lovely is your dwelling place | MIDI | Can be entirely congregational | ||
| Psalm 91: 1-12 | The Lord himself is your refuge | ||||
| Psalm 93 | God is King! The Lord is reigning | MIDI | In hymn style | ||
| Psalm 95 | Come let us sing for joy to the Lord | MIDI | Can be entirely congregational | ||
| Psalm 97 | You, O Lord, are most high above the earth | MIDI | Written for John Pritchard on his appointment as Archdeacon of Canterbury. | ||
| Psalm 104: 1-10 | Bless, the Lord, O my soul | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 104: 24-34 | When you send your Spirit | MIDI | Suitable for Pentecost | ||
| Psalm 111 | Rejoice in God, my heart | MIDI | In hymn style | ||
| Psalm 115: 1-7 | Not to us, Lord | MIDI | Verses in chant form | ||
| Psalm 116: 12-14, 17-19 | What shall I render to the Lord | MIDI | Through-composed choral song (Lutheran offertory). | ||
| Psalm 116: 12-19 | How shall I repay the Lord? | MIDI | For Maundy Thursday. | ||
| Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-29 | This is the day that the Lord has made | Congregation: ostinato chorus | |||
| Psalm 119: 33-38 | Teach me the ways of your statutes, O Lord | MIDI | Written for Margaret Thrush on her ordination. | ||
| Psalm 119: 169-176 | May my cry come before you, O Lord | Detailed with music group songs | |||
| Psalm 121 | Unto the hills will I lift up my eyes | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 122 | I was glad when they said to me | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 126 | Turn again our fortunes, O Lord | MIDI | N.T. allusions: "leavening the world" (Matt 13:33) with the "bread of life" (John 6:35). | ||
| Psalm 130 | If you should note what we do wrong (Out of the depths have I called to you) | MIDI | Published: Baseline, MWF Summer 2001 | ||
| Psalm 130 | Out of the depths I cry to you, O God | MIDI | Written to tune "Gresford" and reflecting its lament and solemnity in the aftermath of pit disasters. | ||
| Psalm 134 | Bless the Lord as day departs | MIDI | In hymn style | ||
| Psalm 134 | Come bless the Lord | Detailed with anthems | |||
| Psalm 135: 1-6 | Praise the Lord! Praise his name! | MIDI | Rock 'n' roll. Can be entirely congregational | ||
| Psalm 137 | By the turbid waters of Babylon | MIDI | This psalm of lament's original text is well-known for its 'awkward' verses. In this slightly paraphrased version, I have attempted to incorporate these with Christian justice. | ||
| Psalm 138 | I will give you thanks with all my heart | MIDI | |||
| Psalm 138 | I give you thanks | Detailed with congregational songs | |||
| Psalm 139: 1-9 | O Lord, thou hast searched me | Detailed with music group songs | |||
| Psalm 139: 1-18 | O Lord, you have searched me out | MIDI | Anglican chant style | ||
| Psalm 139: 1-18 | O Lord, you have searched me out | MIDI | Anglican chant style, based on the "Prélude Modal" by Jean Langlais | ||
| Psalm 143 | Listen, Lord, to my prayer | MIDI | |||
| Canticle | |||||
| Magnificat (Luke 1: 46-55) | My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord | MIDI | |||
| Magnificat | My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord | Detailed with music group songs | |||
| Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2: 29-35) | My eyes have witnessed your salvation | MIDI | |||
| Nunc Dimittis | Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace | Detailed with music group songs | |||
| Benedictus (Luke 1: 68-79) | Blessed be the Lord God of Israel | MIDI | |||
| Benedictus | Our God and Father bless | MIDI | In hymn style | ||
| Benedictus | Blessed be the Lord | Chant: detailed with anthems | |||
| Great and wonderful (Revelation 15: 3-4) | Detailed with congregational songs. Published: Spring Harvest 2004 songbook. | ||||
| You were in the form of God (Philippians 2: 5-11) | Detailed with congregational songs. Published: Worship Live, Stainer & Bell, Autumn 2003. | ||||
| Deus Misereatur (Psalm 67) | Detailed above | ||||
| Venite (Psalm 95) | Detailed above | ||||
| Easter exsultet | Rejoice, heavenly powers | Detailed with anthems | |||
| Bless the Lord (Song of the Three 29-34) | Blest are you (Worthy to be praised) | Lyrical, ostinato meditation | |||