Justitiæ Domini (Psalm 19)
While in my previous post I lamented the fact that occasionally I cannot find a good source to serve as the basis upon which I can craft a new psalm setting, happily, this was not the case for Psalm 19, “The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart.” which is prescribed for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). This particular text is the traditional offertory antiphon for the 3rd Sunday in Lent, so I had many sources I could reference. Pictured below are the first two lines of this antiphon:
Quite happily, the incipit (“Justitiæ Domini”) adapted almost 1:1 to the text of the refrain in English (marked in red). As you can also see above, I also decided to use other parts of the chant to inform the melody for the verses (marked in blue).
As I’ve discussed previously, adapting chant this way results in a composition the likes of which I would have never conceived on my own. I also take great solace that these “chant psalm” settings approach in their savor the original chant (see the quote by St. Pius X that I posted a few days ago,) albeit with a fresh coat of paint.
Rather predictably, I find the end result quite satisfying. In truth, this feel somewhat akin to laughing at one’s own jokes—I however find it odd that people poo-poo such behavior. If the joke wasn’t funny, I wouldn’t tell it; and of course it makes me laugh! Similarly, I wouldn’t share my work with the world if I wasn’t happy with it; I do not consider this hubris, so much as excitement and intellectual pleasure. Hopefully, dear reader, you take similar pleasure in these arrangements and will not tire of these little articles pertaining to them.
One final thing worth noting is the fact that I chose to use the new Abbey Psalms & Canticles translation, since it has been announced that these will eventually become the official translation of the psalms (at least for use in sacred liturgies in the USA,) and they will eventually be promulgated by the publication of a revised lectionary. I’ve decided this is the approach I will take going forward, so that in 2-3 years’ time my work will not be rendered obsolete or require substantial revision.
You can listen to the SATB version by clicking on the player below, or watch an animated score version via the YouTube player, which also includes practice tracks for each individual voice part.
