“Bless the Lord, O My Soul"
Psalm 103 freely adapted from RSV & Music by Thomas Byron Parks © 2008
~ For A Cappella SATB or with Guitar or Harp, as King David would have done it. ~
Psalm 103 freely adapted from RSV & Music by Thomas Byron Parks © 2008
~ For A Cappella SATB or with Guitar or Harp, as King David would have done it. ~
Church window in Fringford, UK http://www.featurepics.com/online/King-David-Photo-446781.aspx
Psalm 103 is sung in the Slavic
tradition as the first antiphon of the Divine Liturgy. It begins
and ends with
“Bless the LORD, O my soul!” In between are 22 verses that flow
with praise to God, thanksgiving for His mercy and all His
benifits, acknowledgement of man's short life, and God's
immortality. Many composers have set this to music, notably the
Russians. Lile them, I used the verses that
suited me, and
kept it from being too long. Words like "As for man, his days are like
grass" resonate with me as I approach 82.
This was first written to be sung a cappella in the Orthodox manner. I added the Harp part because this is a Psalm, and one of the definitions of a Psalm is a poem of set structure to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments. A Harp may be hard to come by, so I included the chord names for a Guitarist who will construct the chords and play it quite differently, but "Harplike," I hope, and at a lower volume so the words can be understood.
Listen with headphones if you can to hear “the wind passes over it.” Moving the “Pan” can be done in recordings…or live with the right sound setup.
Last of all, this should be sung by a strong well-balanced choir. The Tenors earn their keep here.
This was first written to be sung a cappella in the Orthodox manner. I added the Harp part because this is a Psalm, and one of the definitions of a Psalm is a poem of set structure to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments. A Harp may be hard to come by, so I included the chord names for a Guitarist who will construct the chords and play it quite differently, but "Harplike," I hope, and at a lower volume so the words can be understood.
Listen with headphones if you can to hear “the wind passes over it.” Moving the “Pan” can be done in recordings…or live with the right sound setup.
Last of all, this should be sung by a strong well-balanced choir. The Tenors earn their keep here.
A Cappella: Click
here
to hear music as MP3
With Harp: Click here to hear music as MP3
This has not been sung, so instruments are used for voices. MIDI String Ensemble 1 for SATB.
If you use it, please send me a recording that I may use on this site, and for seeking publication.
~ Lyrics ~
Freely adapted from RSV Psalm 103 by Thomas Byron Parks
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
With Harp: Click here to hear music as MP3
This has not been sung, so instruments are used for voices. MIDI String Ensemble 1 for SATB.
If you use it, please send me a recording that I may use on this site, and for seeking publication.
~ Lyrics ~
Freely adapted from RSV Psalm 103 by Thomas Byron Parks
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
The word psalmos is a translation of 
, which occurs in the titles of
fifty-seven psalms. Psalmos in
classical Greek meant the twang of the strings of a musical instrument;
its Hebrew equivalent 
, "to trim") means a poem of
"trimmed" and
measured form. The two words show us that a psalm was a poem of set
structure to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments.
PS: See http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/eaglerebirth.asp for their take on Eagle renewing its beak and feathers.
"Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
, which occurs in the titles of
fifty-seven psalms. Psalmos in
classical Greek meant the twang of the strings of a musical instrument;
its Hebrew equivalent , "to trim") means a poem of
"trimmed" and
measured form. The two words show us that a psalm was a poem of set
structure to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments. PS: See http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/eaglerebirth.asp for their take on Eagle renewing its beak and feathers.
"Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."