Psalms for SATB #3, Vol. 14

The Lord Shepherds Me – Psalm 23
The Lord Shepherds Me – a Psalm of support.
Dominus pascit me, animam meam refecit. Dominus pascit me, animam meam refecit.
The Lord shepherds me, nurtures me, feeds me, renews me, refreshes my breath and restores my soul. The Lord shepherds me, nurtures me, feeds me, renews me, refreshes my breath and restores my soul.

I Will Say to the Lord – Psalm 16
I Will Say to the Lord – a Psalm of praise.
Dixi Domino Dominus, I will say to the Lord, You are my Lord.
Benedicam Dominum, I will bless the Lord

Into Your Hands – Psalm 31Into Your hands – a Psalm of trust.
Into Your Hands is based on Psalm 31:6. These words are immediately recognizable as Christ’s words on the cross: “Into Thy hand I commit my spirit” or “in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum” (Luke 23:46).  Interestingly, commendo (Commend, entrust) comes from the same root as manus (hands).  The line “Into your hands I hand my spirit” is based on that etymological connection.  This psalm setting alternates driving rhythms with swirling melodies.

Turn Round, O My Soul – Psalm 116
Turn Round, O My Soul, To Your Rest is a eulogy and elegy for All Souls Day, remembering the friends and loves that have passed through our lives.  The melodies and harmonies evoke the feelings that words cannot express – sadness, beauty, mournfulness, grief, sorrow, and nobleness.  The harshness of grief is portrayed by the dissonance near the end of the middle section with loud, tension, and grief-stricken chords. Convertere, anima mea, in requiem tuam, requiem tuam.

I Call to the Lord – Psalm 18
I Call to the Lord – a Psalm of praise and supplication.
Laudabilem invocabo Dominum. I call to the Lord, worthy of praise.
The Latin is from the Nova Vulgata Bibliorum Sacrorum Edition.