The New Compilation
As is tradition, yours truly and The Gentle Wolves have contributed an original track to the new Cardiphonia Psalms compilation. This is our seventh compilation with Bruce Benedict, and everyone in the community. It’s an incredible collection of Psalms set to new music. I love the freshness it can bring to the ancient hymnal of the Hebrews.
The Track
Our assignment was to set Psalm 101 to music. For me, this often involves tweaking and redacting the words by referencing a handful of English translations.
Psalm 101 (CEB)
Oh, let me sing about faithful love and justice!
I want to sing my praises to you, Lord!
2 I want to study the way of integrity—
how long before it gets here?
I will walk with a heart of integrity
in my own house.
3 I won’t set my eyes on anything worthless.
I hate wrongdoing;
none of that will stick to me.
4 A corrupt heart will be far from me.
I won’t be familiar with evil.
5 I will destroy anyone
who secretly tells lies about a neighbor.
I can’t stomach anyone
who has proud eyes or an arrogant heart.
6 My eyes focus on those
who are faithful in the land,
to have them close to me.
The person who walks without blame
will work for me.
7 But the person who acts deceitfully
won’t stay in my house.
The person who tells lies
won’t last for long before me.
8 Every morning I will destroy
all those who are wicked in the land
in order to eliminate all evildoers
from the Lord’s city.
When you read the original text it takes a strange turn. Verses 1-4 goes from talking about avoiding wickedness and wrongdoing, then in verse 5 it takes a turn to talking about evil and wicked people. The Psalmist (presumably David) concludes the Psalm by saying that he’ll kill all of the wicked in his land. This ancient judgement does not sit well with modern sensibilities.
When I sat down to tweak it, rather than try and over-spiritualize the Psalmist, I decided to embrace the darkness. You can hear the transition that happens in the song at the 2:24 mark. Just as the lyrics turn to David’s willingness to kill those he believes God deems wicked, so the key of the song turns minor and dark.
”Every morning I will kill the wikced in the last to keep the city of the Lord nice and clean.”
I decided to come back to the “I won’t know evil” motif immediately after the Psalmist’s grim utterances. To me, the juxtaposition can’t be turned away from.
Enjoy!
Credits:
Richard Kentopp: Vocals and Instruments
Molly Kentopp: Vocals
Mixed and mastered by Richard Kentopp
Mastered by Drew Elliot