Saturday, March 29, 2014

Psalm 113

General Information:

Liturgical Uses:
  Responsorial psalm; themes of God’s care for the poor.

Refrain:
“Praise, oh praise the Lord, who lifts up the poor.”        
                           




Verses:                       
1) Praise, you servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed by the name of the Lord both now and forever.

2) High above the nations is the Lord;
Above the heavens is God's glory.
Who is like the Lord, enthroned on high,
Who looks upon the heavens and the earth below?

3) God raises up the lowly from the dust; from the ash-heap
God lifts up the poor to seat them with princes, with princes of his people.

Arrangement:

Vocal:                         
Refrain:  SATB choir
Verses:   Cantor    

Instruments:           
Piano, guitar, bass with recorders (or flutes or other reeds)   

Availability:

Sheet Music:           
Lead sheets.
Order from Wood Harbor Music

Recorded Versions:

Video:       New Dawn Concert, May 20, 2011     [link to be added]

CD:            Praise for the New Dawn, Vol. 1   
Order from Wood Harbor Music.
Digital download available at CD Baby.
Listen on YouTube or at Spotify!





Composer's Notes:
This is a favorite psalm, describing God’s concern for the poor and marginalized.  In the 3rd verse the psalmist wrote of God who lifts up the poor from the dust and ashes to seat them with the princes of his people. 

The text is timeless as even in today’s world, the text could be updated to tell of God who raises up the poor from the slums of the 3rd world, from the poverty of Appalachia, from the depressed urban neighborhoods, and seating them at a banquet table with the fabulously rich.  Time passes, but the word of God is eternal!


The arrangement is inspired by setting of Psalm 103 (Praise the Lord, O My Soul!) composed many years ago by a friend and Berklee grad, George Guenther.
  

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