The Fredösphere

One way I avoid becoming a matchstick cathedral guy (see yesterday's post) is by creating practical music for my congregation. 

For a while I have wanted to add some Psalm singing to our traditional service but didn't quite like the examples I knew about.  (The chant in the Lutheran hymnal is too dull and hard to sing as a group, while the excellent music from the local charismatic Catholics is a little too informal for what we need.)

I found a very helpful site that provides metrical versions of all the Psalms from a variety of sources, like the Presbyterian Hymnal of 1887 or Issac Watts.  Working off the lectionary, I'll plug each Sunday's Psalm into a familiar hymn tune of the same meter as the Psalm.  I'll have the congregation sing the hymn on odd-numbered verses, and write a simple chant for the cantor to sing on the even-numbered verses.  The congregation will know the music they sing, there will be chant without the need for group coordination -- well, I admit it:  I'm pumped.  Here's an example in pdf of what I intend to do.

I fully agree this is not great leap from what has been done before; indeed, it's very possible this exact kind of thing is being used in congregations right now.  (I'd love to know about it if that's true.)  Nevertheless, I'm thrilled to have figured out how to fill a gap that I've noticed in our worship for years now.  Next question:  why did it take me so long?  Maybe I've focused on performance music too much.  Maybe my vanity got in the way.

Naaaaaaaw.   Couldn't be that.