But of course all of this depended on ordinary Christians being able to read the Bible for themselves in their own languages and thereby to discern its true teachings. Today the English language in particular boasts a huge number of bible translations for every conceivable use and occasion. We speakers of the language are singularly blessed by such an abundance of spiritual riches. But there was once a time when most Christians did not have access to the Bible and had to depend on hearing only sections of it read in the liturgy in a language with which they might not be familiar. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century changed all this, laying the foundations for the Reformation.
31 Oct 2024
The English Bible
11 Sept 2024
De Nieuwe Psalmberijming: Psalm 151
So I was surprised—pleasantly so, to be sure—to discover that our friends behind De Nieuwe Psalmberijming have recently posted a Dutch metrical versification of this psalm set to the Genevan tune for Psalm 19: Psalm 151. To be clear, the arrangement is not precisely of the version found in the LXX but of a longer version found at Qumran and thus part of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This psalm is unusual in being autobiographical in nature and is written in the voice of David himself. The story recounted is the familiar one in which David slays the Philistine warrior Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17).
6 Sept 2024
'O', 'oh': interjections and our English Bible translations
O come, let us sing unto the Lord:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1).
But in the English Standard Version we read this:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;And in the New King James Version this:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Anatomy of the Soul: Psalm 28
Our friend Brian Wright has posted another psalm for our edification and enjoyment:
26 Aug 2024
De Nieuwe Psalmberijming: Psalm 25
One more psalm from Roeland Scherff and company from the new Dutch versification of the Psalms:
14 Aug 2024
Thinking Christian podcast interview
8 Aug 2024
Lutherans sing through Psalter
6 Aug 2024
Huguenot Psalter: Psalm 24
Here is an inspiring version of Genevan Psalm 24 sung enthusiastically by a francophone congregation:
30 Jul 2024
Goudimel: Psalm 137
Here is a lovely rendition of Genevan Psalm 137 sung to Claude Goudimel's arrangement by the Ensemble Clément Janequin:
26 Jul 2024
Cithara Sanctorum: Psalmy
Last year I reviewed the wonderful album of Genevan Psalms in Polish produced by Cithara Sanctorum. This was shortly after I had had the privilege of spending time with Andrzej Polaszek, a Reformed pastor in Poland whose wife Agata directs Cithara Sanctorum. Because they live in the city of Poznan, the collection is known as the Psałterz Poznański. In my review, I highly recommended this album but hinted that it might be hard to come by for North Americans and others outside of Poland. However, the entire album has now been posted on YouTube for the entire world to enjoy: Psalmy -- album Cithara Sanctorum. Here is Psalm 11:
18 Jul 2024
Robson goes Genevan
Two days ago, I alerted readers to Sam Robson's just released album of through-composed Psalms. Today he has posted a rendition of the familiar canticle often sung during Advent, Comfort, Comfort Now My People, a metrical versification of Isaiah 40:1-5 set to the tune for Genevan Psalm 42. Very nice indeed!
17 Jul 2024
Cithara Sanctorum: Psalm 46
Our friends Andrzej and Agata Polaszek have just posted on their YouTube channel Psalm 46 from their new album, Cithara Sanctorum: Psalmy, which I reviewed last year. The text is from their collection of Polish-language Psalms, Psałterz Poznański.
Incidentally, I was privileged to spend time with Andrzei Polaszek here in Hamilton last September.
16 Jul 2024
Robson's Psalter
Sam Robson is a gifted British musician who, for several years now, has posted on his popular YouTube channel videos of himself singing all parts to songs he himself has arranged, demonstrating thereby his singular virtuosity. These include popular songs, folk songs, and hymns. Now he has released an album dedicated to the biblical Psalms, three of which he has posted online. These psalms are through-composed rather than metrical and use the English Standard Version of the Bible as text. Here are Psalms 3, 15, and 67:
9 Jul 2024
Psalm 100: thousands sing God's praise
A dozen years ago, a huge congregation assembled for the Reformed Presbyterian International Conference sang Psalm 100, set to the familiar tune, LOBE DEN HERREN.
7 Jul 2024
Psalm 42: Goudimel, Tallis, Palestrina
This is quite lovely. A performance of three settings of Psalm 42, beginning with the Genevan version in French, proceeding to the version from Archbishop Parker's Psalter in English, and concluding with a Latin version composed by Palestrina. This was posted nine years ago, but somehow I managed to miss it until now.
24 Jun 2024
Reformation worship
21 Jun 2024
De Nieuwe Psalmberijming: Psalm 14
Here is Psalm 14, which is a near doublet of Psalm 53. In this versification, stanzas 1, 2, and 4 are nearly identical in the two psalms, while 3 differs. In the Hebrew, Psalm 14 is a Yahwistic (LORD) version of the Elohistic (God) 53 (or perhaps vice versa), although this is not reflected in the new versification, except for two uses of the Dutch HEER in stanzas 1 and 3 of 14.
18 Jun 2024
Psalter review: Trinity Hymnal (1961)
13 Jun 2024
De Nieuwe Psalmberijming: Psalm 100
The congregation of the Hervormde Gemeente in Beekbergen sings Psalm 100 according to the new Dutch versification of the Psalms:
11 Jun 2024
Brian Wright: Psalm 81
Our friend Brian Wright has posted a performance of Psalm 81. The text is from the RPCNA's Book of Psalms for Worship, and the tune, NEW MOON, is Wright's own composition.