Everybody, Sing!

Lisa Hess reviews a new compilation of psalms by composer Jessica Gehrhardt.

Having made a Lenten resolution to read the book of Psalms, I was very excited to review Jessica Gehrhardt’s Psalms. Volume 1. My only disappointment? There aren’t more of them.

As someone who has sung in worship groups and cantored psalms, I’m not a fan of chanted psalms. I much prefer a setting that sticks with me after Mass is over, leaving the words echoing in my head and heart, and these psalms do just that. Simple and singable, each psalm repeats the response at the outset, giving the congregation a chance to pick it up before they sing along, therefore increasing the likelihood that they’ll be active participants.

The vocal range is broad enough to be interesting, but not so wide that it makes cantors cringe and the congregation bow out for fear of embarrassment. Harmonies are light and easy to pick up, and there’s space for creative vocalists to add their own touches without overwhelming the music. The settings I listened to are accompanied by guitar and percussion, but I can easily imagine the addition of piano and other instruments, depending on the particular talents and instrumental availability of the worship band or choir.

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But are they prayerful? One of my biggest gripes is when the musical setting of a psalm seems to miss the point. Is this Psalm joyful? Pensive? Mournful? Does the music support it? In this case, yes. Each of the four psalms I sampled matches tone to text, which is in keeping with the composer’s assertion: