The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Psalter recommendations

I am pretty sure I have asked this before. I do not come from a heritage of psalm-singing, and I would like recommendations on psalters in English that reflect the great Reformed tradition of Calvin's Geneva, Knox's Scotland, and the Westminster Standards. Any suggestions on which psalters are best, and where I might find them?

We really enjoy The Book of Psalms for Singing.

Enjoy,

~Jason

Also check out the CD's available at the same site. Many of the Psalms are set to familiar tunes.

One thing I have to say though, is that the tune library is disappointing. The music is done by an electronic synthesizer and the notes are not easy to distinguish. I wish they (or someone) would make MIDI files available like what is out there for the Trinity Hymnal.

~Jason

Hmm, I wonder what tune library you are referring to? There is not a electronic synthesizer (or organs) on the CD's sold at Crown and Covenant. This is a ministry of the RPCNA which holds to an exclusive psalmody without musical accompaniment. (This is why they do not sell "Psalms of the Trinity Psalter.")

As for the Trinity Hymnal MIDI files, you might want to check out the Trinity Psalter, which is available from Crown and Covenant and Great Commission Publications. This is a compact words only Psalter that is keyed to selections in the Trinity Hymnal for the tunes. For example Psalm 46, second version has the notation "TUNE: EIN' FESTE BURG 88.88.66.668 (46C) ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God")."

Hi jfschultz,

It is Crown and Covenant who sells a tune library on CD and cassette. Although they do not believe in musical accompaniment, the tunes are intended to help you understand how it is to be sung, of course, only to be done after the track ends presumably. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> The problem is, they are not as helpful as I would like for understanding how it is to be sung because some notes are barely perceptible from others.

I am familiar with the Trinity Psalter, but I don't think it compares to the Book of Psalms for Singing. If I remember correctly, it does not contain all 150 Psalms either.

Regards,

~Jason

I have an old KJV with the Psalms of David in Metre ,according to the version approved by The Church of Scotland. I believe them to be after the fashion of Knox but as to whether they are still in print <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/sorry.gif" alt="" /> I cant help you there. My copy is from 1943.

Hi Jason

The Trinity Psalter does have all 150 Psalms. Many of them are intact from the Book of Psalms for Singing. Very few selections in the Trinity Psalter have more than one version. (Only Psalm 46 comes to mind as having two versions.) The Book of Psalms for Singing has multiple versions for most Psalms.

BTW the C&C CD "His Mercy Fills the Earth" is noted as selections from the Trinity Psalter. In fact it is a compilation of Psalms from recordings done in the 1970's using the Book of Psalms for Singing.

Thanks for the suggestions. I did a little web research and found a reference to something called the Book of Praise from the Canadian Reformed Churches that seems to be pretty cool, but I don't know how to get one. I also heard that there is a CD that has organ and trumpet versions of the psalms. I also heard that this particular psalter contains most of the original Genevan melodies. Finally, I heard that the book also contains some of the old Biblical Canticles/hymns like the Song of Simeon, which Calvin and Knox would have used, but which are not generally sung anymore since the Westminster Standards were written.