Singing the Psalms

[synger]

Okay, so I've gotten used to my new Lutheran Service Book as far as the Lectionary and Hymns in my personal devotions. We've used the different Divine Services in church, and I've looked through the Daily Office.

But I really want to learn how to sing the Psalms, which are marked for singing in the new hymnal. I see that there are various tones, and from my online research I've found that there are 8 traditional tones, one for each mode. And we've sung responses in church often enough that I think I get the basic idea. But in church, the music and the words are printed together in the bulletin, and it's easy for my musical eye to follow.

I guess I need help with the following:

How do I choose which tone should go with which Psalm?
Once I do, how do I determine which syllables should go on the mediant (the change in notes between phrases) and how it should be stressed?
Any help would be appreciated.

[Confess]

Oh Gosh!!! I have downloaded on MP3 a bunch of them. They are on a website but I lost the address. PM me with your email address and I will email you some of the MP3s. If you like them, I will send you more. Hopefully I will be able to find the site before then.

[DaRev]

Okay, so I've gotten used to my new Lutheran Service Book as far as the Lectionary and Hymns in my personal devotions. We've used the different Divine Services in church, and I've looked through the Daily Office.

But I really want to learn how to sing the Psalms, which are marked for singing in the new hymnal. I see that there are various tones, and from my online research I've found that there are 8 traditional tones, one for each mode. And we've sung responses in church often enough that I think I get the basic idea. But in church, the music and the words are printed together in the bulletin, and it's easy for my musical eye to follow.

I guess I need help with the following:

How do I choose which tone should go with which Psalm?
Once I do, how do I determine which syllables should go on the mediant (the change in notes between phrases) and how it should be stressed?Any help would be appreciated.

Any tune can be sung to any Psalm. It might depend on the season or the mood of the pastor or organist as to which tune they choose to use.

In the tunes, there is what's called the "reciting tone". That's the whole note with verticle lines on either side. This is followed by two eighth notes and a quarter note. In most of the chant tunes there are two sets of these seperated by a measure bar (verticle line across the staff) and marked by an asterisk above the line.

Now, in the Psalms there are a couple marks that correspond to the chant tunes. On each line of the Psalm there is a red verticle line seperating the last two or three syllables. At the end of the first line is an asterisk. To sing the Psalm, begin by chanting the words of the Psalm to the reciting tone until you get to the red verticle line. The last two or three syllables are sung to the eighth and quarter notes (for two syllable words, the first syllable is slurred between the eighth notes). At the asterisk, chant the Psalm again to the second reciting tone until you get to the red verticle line and sing the last two or three syllables to the second eighth and quarter notes.
The tune simply repeats throught the Psalm, normally verse by verse. Because its the same tune sung throughout, the music does not need to be printed with each Psalm.

I hope I didn't confuse you even more.

[synger]

Any tune can be sung to any Psalm. It might depend on the season or the mood of the pastor or organist as to which tune they choose to use.

In the tunes, there is what's called the "reciting tone". That's the whole note with verticle lines on either side. This is followed by two eighth notes and a quarter note. In most of the chant tunes there are two sets of these seperated by a measure bar (verticle line across the staff) and marked by an asterisk above the line.

Now, in the Psalms there are a couple marks that correspond to the chant tunes. On each line of the Psalm there is a red verticle line seperating the last two or three syllables. At the end of the first line is an asterisk. To sing the Psalm, begin by chanting the words of the Psalm to the reciting tone until you get to the red verticle line. The last two or three syllables are sung to the eighth and quarter notes (for two syllable words, the first syllable is slurred between the eighth notes). At the asterisk, chant the Psalm again to the second reciting tone until you get to the red verticle line and sing the last two or three syllables to the second eighth and quarter notes.
The tune simply repeats throught the Psalm, normally verse by verse. Because its the same tune sung throughout, the music does not need to be printed with each Psalm.

I hope I didn't confuse you even more.
No, you didn't. That made perfect sense as I sit here with the book open in front of me. Thank you so much!!

[Studeclunker]

I used to have a friend that loved Gregorian Chants. Most of these are the psalms. It's really beautiful to hear what a professional choir can do with these. Truely inspiring, though I don't think I'd want to listen to it all day the way Tom used to...:yawn: :sleep:

[C.F.W. Walther]

Chanting is rediculoous because you have to concentrate on the tune and the accent points and turning the page at the right time. You can't concentrate on the words which are the most important part. Seems pretentious to me.

Just read the words and speak them out loud and notice the differance.

[Confess]

Chanting is rediculoous because you have to concentrate on the tune and the accent points and turning the page at the right time. You can't concentrate on the words which are the most important part. Seems pretentious to me.

Just read the words and speak them out loud and notice the differance.
Not once you get used to it.

Chanting is no different then getting used to singing. Take "We All Believe In One True God". Most people will not sing the second tune because they feel it is too difficult.

It certainly was for our family. It took months for us to get used to it.

But now ...
My 15 year old, 12 yr old, 9, and 7 year old can sing the whole thing with ease. Even my 5 year old can sing the tune.

[Edial]

Any tune can be sung to any Psalm. It might depend on the season or the mood of the pastor or organist as to which tune they choose to use.

In the tunes, there is what's called the "reciting tone". That's the whole note with verticle lines on either side. This is followed by two eighth notes and a quarter note. In most of the chant tunes there are two sets of these seperated by a measure bar (verticle line across the staff) and marked by an asterisk above the line.

Now, in the Psalms there are a couple marks that correspond to the chant tunes. On each line of the Psalm there is a red verticle line seperating the last two or three syllables. At the end of the first line is an asterisk. To sing the Psalm, begin by chanting the words of the Psalm to the reciting tone until you get to the red verticle line. The last two or three syllables are sung to the eighth and quarter notes (for two syllable words, the first syllable is slurred between the eighth notes). At the asterisk, chant the Psalm again to the second reciting tone until you get to the red verticle line and sing the last two or three syllables to the second eighth and quarter notes.
The tune simply repeats throught the Psalm, normally verse by verse. Because its the same tune sung throughout, the music does not need to be printed with each Psalm.

I hope I didn't confuse you even more.
I'm impressed. :D :) .

[Jim47]

We chant our Psalms and its one of my favorite parts of the worshp service.

[dinkime]

i follow the markings in CW to sing the psalms and have no issues if the organist is playing it correctly