Responsorial Psalms
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW LECTIONARY AND RESPONSORIAL PSALMS.
Until now, the Responsorial Psalms in the Roman Catholic Lectionary have essentially been the same across the whole English-speaking world, using the Grail translation. From Advent 2024, with the introduction of the New Lectionary, the translation used for the Responsorial Psalms will differ from Bishops Conference to Bishops Conference. It is our understanding that the 'old' translation is to be continued in Australia. A new translation of the Responsorial Psalms (the Abbey Psalter) will be introduced in England and Wales and for use in Scotland. The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will have a different translation, as will Canada. You will need to check with your own Bishops Conference as to what translation is to be used. It may be noted that, in England and Wales, there is a three year grace period during which musical settings using the 'old' translation may continue to be used.
Andrew Moore has revised a complete set of psalms of his own composition for the new translation providing straightforward and easy-to-learn settings, with simple keyboard accompaniment, for every Sunday and major feast of the three-year cycle – 195 psalms! This collection has been approved for use in England, Wales and Scotland. Whilst the previous cycle was available for purchase (and will remain so on request for those countries where it is still in use at £15 per liturgical year) this new collection will be made available in Pdf form at no cost. Copies may be made as necessary, with due acknowledgement.
Individual psalm settings are accessible for FREE download from below :
Or to obtain a free copy of the complete collection in pdf form please contact: andrewmooremusic@hotmail.com
Responsorial Psalms for the New Lectionary - an introduction
The Responsorial Psalm is an important and integral feature of the Liturgy of the Word. It is so-called, not only because there is usually a sung, or said 'response' but, and perhaps more importantly, because the psalm is itself a reflective 'response' to the first reading, or the general theme of the readings of the day. Musically, therefore, the settings of the responsorial psalms should also be reflective in nature; this is not the moment in the liturgy for great display. Whilst the Book of Psalms reflects the range of human emotion from sorrow to joy, or lamentation to exultation, musical settings of responsorial psalms should convey these sentiments within the constraints of a reflective moment.
There are practical issues involved in the performance of a different psalm every Sunday or major feast and each congregation will have its own limitations of resources and talents available. This collection offers a tried and tested method of a simple, accessible response that should really need no congregational practice, and a way of singing the psalms that is consistent and straightforward. The psalms may be led by a cantor or by a choir. A melody-only line is also included, which may be copied to music sheets or newsletters for the congregation.
Pointing. There is no single system of pointing the psalms for singing that works perfectly. The irregular length of both lines and verses, and the stresses within them, all cause problems. That is why metrical versions were introduced where every line had a regular number of syllables. The system of pointing used in this collection is one of the simplest and works on the principle that the change of note after the reciting note always corresponds with the second syllable (underlined) before the final stressed syllable of the line. This isn't as complicated as it sounds as the following example makes clear:
