Anglican Psalm settings serve a specific liturgical function that makes them ideal for the listener seeking a serene, untroubled, low-profile experience of religious music. They don't have the flashiness of anthems, which are generally written for the offertory, where they are the primary focus of the congregation's attention and can be musical showcases for the choir, organist, and sometimes, soloists. The Psalm settings are part of the Propers of the Mass, the sections that vary from week to week, and with the Old ...
Read More
Anglican Psalm settings serve a specific liturgical function that makes them ideal for the listener seeking a serene, untroubled, low-profile experience of religious music. They don't have the flashiness of anthems, which are generally written for the offertory, where they are the primary focus of the congregation's attention and can be musical showcases for the choir, organist, and sometimes, soloists. The Psalm settings are part of the Propers of the Mass, the sections that vary from week to week, and with the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel, which are read, not sung, they constitute the lessons on which the preacher will reflect in the sermon. As such, their function is primarily the clear communication of the text, which requires music simple enough to make the words easily understood. The Toronto-based mixed Choir of St. John's Elora, directed by Noel Edison and accompanied by organist Matthew Larkin, offers an attractive selection of Psalm settings, some standards in Anglican services, and...
Read Less