Month: January 2024

A quick refresher: Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm, an acrostic poem with 22 sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This third movement is “Gimel.” As with the previous two movements, the music is all about transformation. Sometimes you turn a corner and suddenly a new vista opens before you; other times the transformation takes place slowly, like a sunrise.

All of this was recorded by me, “in the box.” That is, anything that isn’t my voice, guitar, bass, or the upright piano 8th notes is a sample from Logic Pro. I would have loved to record two classical violin soloists, a jazz/fusion pianist, a ton of percussion, and strings in the studio, but alas… “Done,” as they say, “is the new great.” Even with so many digitized parts, I hope you can hear a little spark of what I was hearing in my head.

ג Gimel

Reward your servant
that I may live to treasure your Word.
Open my eyes
that I may gaze upon the wonders of your law.

I am a stranger on this earth.
Oh, do not conceal your commands from me!
I am consumed—
consumed with longing for your law.

You scorn the scornful—
those who disregard your way.
Remove the disgrace of the arrogant
for I have followed your path.

Though a council of the mighty speaks against me,
your servant will dwell upon your Word.
Your words are my delight.
Your law is my counsel.

Continuing our series from Psalm 119, here is Beth. Beth is not only a woman’s name and the title of a ballad by Kiss; it is also the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this second section of Psalm 119 the Psalmist continues an acrostic meditation on God’s law.

Musically, this is my favorite of the three movements. There is just a lot of interesting stuff going on, with twists and turns throughout. You wouldn’t think that rock, slinky funk, choral, classical piano, the Chinese erhu, and minimalism could hang together coherently in the same 11-minute musical frame, but somehow they do.

All the tracks were recorded by me in my home studio using Logic Pro.

ב Beth

How can the young remain on the path of the pure?
By walking in the way of your Word.

With all my heart I seek you. 
Let me not wander from your way.
Within my heart, I treasure your Word.
Let me not sin against you.

Blessed are you, my Lord.
Oh, that I would learn your law.

I recount with my lips
all the words of your mouth.
I rejoice in the way 
of your Word more than wealth.

I meditate upon your precepts
and gaze upon your paths.
I will delight in your law.
I will not neglect your Word.

For the last three years, I have been quietly chipping away at a composition of behemoth proportions. It is now time to release it. And I mean “release” in two senses of the word: Over the next few days, I will release the recordings of the first three movements; I will also release the project in the sense that I need to let it go so I can turn my attention to other music that is waiting to be written.

Here is how I described the project in its early stages:

Psalm 119—often called “The Great Psalm”—is the longest Psalm, an acrostic poem on God’s law, with one eight-line verse for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. 

For setting Psalm 119 to music, I’ve decided on a different path than I’ve used with previous Psalm settings. This will not be congregational or choral; instead, it will be a recorded meditation weaving words and music together in a mesmerizing, ever-transforming musical mosaic. Each of the 22 sections will be a 5–10-minute musical movement that will be both independent and interlocking with the movements around it. 

What will the music sound like? Imagine Mike Oldfield, J.S. Bach, and Steve Reich collaborating while on retreat at a monastery, composing music to be performed by the Penguin Café Orchestra, Pinback, and Polyphonic Spree and sung by Taizé, the Bulgarian Women’s Choir, and Keur Moussa. Like that. 

I am writing my own translation of Psalm 119 that attempts to honor the original text while remaining accessible to modern ears. My version is unmetered and unrhymed, but with a latent inner rhythm. 

Here is the first movement, Aleph. Most of the tracks were recorded by me in my home studio; additional tracks were recorded at Local Legend Recording with the help of these musicians:

• Clara Becksvoort (9 years old)
• Men’s Trio: Chris Snyder, Paul Ryan, Jordan Clegg
• Theo Janga Ndawillie, drums
• Josh Kaufman, guitar and mixing

א Aleph

Blessed are those whose way is pure,
who walk in the Word of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep God’s will
and seek the LORD with all their heart—
who do no wrong,
for they follow God’s way.

You have established your Word
to be followed wholeheartedly.

Oh, that my path would be built on your Word;
then will the whole of your law bring no shame.

I will praise you with a pure heart,
for I learn from your righteousness.
I will walk in the Word of the LORD.
O God, do not leave me alone.