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How does this psalm piece interpret the psalm?
The piece is a musical interpretation of Psalm 148, “Praise the LORD.” In this piece, the text plays a structurally essential role in the musical form. With its ascetic, restrained character and strictly metrical setting the vocal part resembles Armenian monophonic chants used in the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The syllabic and somewhat recitational text setting is designed to emphasize the text and highlight its meaning. The theme in the vocal part is based on a scale of diminished 4ths, typical to Armenian sacred music modes, and it incorporates a decoration style similar to vocal melodies of Armenian sacred music. The composer approached the text as a universal address to all humankind, regardless of race and nationality, and that is what she aimed to highlight in her piece through a musical language coming from different Christian traditions.
As a universal praise addressed to both heavenly and earthly beings, “Praise the LORD” conveys a powerful and unifying message and is fitting at the beginning of worship as well as for other occasions.
Text and Music: Psalm 148; Tatev Amiryan, © Tatev Amiryan
Jared Ortiz, professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, describes the Nicene Creed as a dramatic and powerful statement where every word is like a declaration of war, saying yes to the truth and no to many falsehoods.
Jane Williams, professor of theology at St. Mellitus College in London, England, sees the Nicene Creed, crafted 1700 years ago, as an extraordinary creative and exciting description of who God is and therefore what we trust in as Christians in God's world.
Maria Eugenia Cornou and Mikie Roberts serve on a planning team for an October worship event in Egypt to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the ecumenical creed that emerged in the year 325 and remains firmly embedded in the worship practices of the church today.
Jared Ortiz, professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, describes the Nicene Creed as a dramatic and powerful statement where every word is like a declaration of war, saying yes to the truth and no to many falsehoods.
Jane Williams, professor of theology at St. Mellitus College in London, England, sees the Nicene Creed, crafted 1700 years ago, as an extraordinary creative and exciting description of who God is and therefore what we trust in as Christians in God's world.
Maria Eugenia Cornou and Mikie Roberts serve on a planning team for an October worship event in Egypt to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the ecumenical creed that emerged in the year 325 and remains firmly embedded in the worship practices of the church today.
This expression of Psalm 148 was submitted by Ed Willmington, who wrote it with Clayton J. Schmit. The nature of Psalm 148 is total exuberance as all of nature offers praise to God.
