• Psalm 107: Thanks Be to God Our Savior

    Psalm 107: Thanks Be to God Our Savior

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/ps107-thanks_be_to_god.mp3

    David Diephouse’s metrical setting of Psalm 107 is paired with a guitar-friendly tune that supports the stress/salvation pattern of the text with a major/minor harmonic sequence. The above MP3 is the Choral Scholars singing the piano accompaniment version. Below is the COS Guitarchestra in a rendition that would be perfect if there were ever an album The Eagles Sing the Psalms. This song also appears in Psalms for All Seasons, 107D.

    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/thanks_be_to_god_our_savior.mp3"][/audio]
  • Psalm 118: Everlasting to Everlasting

    Psalm 118: Everlasting to Everlasting

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/COS-easter_everlasting.mp3

    This last song from my Hallel Psalm cantata, Everlasting to Everlasting, is a setting of Psalm 118. This song is a slow burn—it sneaks up on you rather than grabbing you by the collar and shaking you. Use it like you would a song from Taizé, to accompany communion or as part of a contemplative service, for example.

  • Psalm 12: I Will Now Arise

    Psalm 12: I Will Now Arise

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    [embed]http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_012-i_will_now_arise.mp3[/embed]

    Psalm 12 is a difficult Psalm, with abrasive sentiments like, “May the Lord cut off all flattering lips.” Underneath its prickly exterior, though, the Psalm is all about words and how we use them—lies, lips, tongue, boasts, promises—the Psalm is full of “word” words. The Psalm seems to anticipate our media-saturated age in which truth is captive to rhetoric, spin, and click-bait. How comforting, then, that in this Psalm God cuts through the chatter and promises to arise and defend the maligned and defenseless!

    PowerPoint slides for congregational singing are available at Digital Songs & Hymns.

  • Psalm 121: Lift Your Eyes Up to the Mountains!

    Psalm 121: Lift Your Eyes Up to the Mountains!

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    This arrangement makes a beautiful Korean setting of Psalm 121 available to English-speaking congregations.

  • Psalm 131: Close to Your Heart

    Psalm 131: Close to Your Heart

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/close_to_your_heart-fellowship.mp3

    The song is short, simple, and heartfelt. My favorite thing about the it is the way the child/mother image places the child–and by extension, us–next to her mother’s (God’s) heart. That is not only a place of intimacy and comfort but a place where we can listen for God’s heart–God’s desire and will for us–turning the song from statement to prayer.

  • Psalm 132: Arise, O King of Grace, Arise (O Savior, Come)

    Psalm 132: Arise, O King of Grace, Arise (O Savior, Come)

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/psalm_132-o_savior_come.mp3"][/audio]

    Psalm 132 is not only one of the Psalms of Ascent, it is also one of the lectionary Psalms used in Advent. Isaac Watts teases out Christological imagery from the Psalm in a way that makes it a perfect Advent song, especially paired with the chorus, “O Savior Come.” However, it is not so Advent-specific that it can’t be used throughout the year, especially on Christ the King Sunday.

    PowerPoint slides for congregational singing are available from Digital Songs & Hymns.

  • Psalm 133: How Very Good and Pleasant

    Psalm 133: How Very Good and Pleasant

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_133-how_very_good.mp3

    My favorite setting of Psalm 133 is Barbara Boertje’s “How Very Good,” and this song adds solo verses between the congregational refrains. My study of the Psalm tells me that the oil represents–thinking broadly–the anointing that made Israel God’s people, and the dew represents God’s blessing through food and creation. Looking through New Testament eyes, we could interpret the oil as Jesus our anointed High Priest and/or the baptismal waters that set us apart as God’s people. The dew could become the bread and wine which are a foretaste of the eternal life promised at the end of Psalm 133.

    With that in mind–and with Barbara’s permission–I wrote 2 verses to go with the original song. The verses feel like they’re cut from the same cloth as the refrain and it expands Barbara’s original idea to include the text of the whole Psalm, without increasing the difficulty of the congregation’s part.

    Note: This recording is from a previous version of the song.

  • Psalm 134: Come, You People of the Lord

    Psalm 134: Come, You People of the Lord

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm134-come_you_people_of_the_lord.mp3

    Psalm 134 is both a call to worship and a benediction. Here it becomes a warm Gospel song that is easily accessible for congregational singing.

    Piano and vocal for congregational singing or unison choir. Purchase price allows you to print as many copies as you need for your ensemble.

  • Psalm 145: My Mouth Will Speak the Praise of the Lord

    Psalm 145: My Mouth Will Speak the Praise of the Lord

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    http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_145-my_mouth.mp3

    The themes of God’s greatness, goodness, faithfulness, and righteousness in Psalm 145 are bookended by verses 1-2 and verse 21. In this musical setting, verse 21 becomes a refrain that follows two verses focused on God’s faithfulness and righteousness. Notice how the verse changes halfway through, with the lyrics switching from talking about God to praying to God. 

  • Psalm 149: Let God's People Sing a New Song

    Psalm 149: Let God’s People Sing a New Song

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm149-let_gods_people.mp3

    As the Psalter ends, it erupts into a chorus of Hallelujahs and Praise the Lords, naming a plethora of instruments that should be used to make the praise even more glorious. This song follows suit, with strings, brass, harpsichord, flute, accordion, and saxophone all joining in. Of course, you don’t need all the instruments featured on the recording; you lead this with a worship band, guitar, or the piano accompaniment that’s available below.

    The song was featured on the Cardiphonia album The Songs of the Psalter, Vol 5.1, part of a series that covers the entire Psalter.