In the composition of this Psalm Offering the following verses from Psalm 71 came to my mind.
In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.
O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have rescued.
All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help,
for those who tried to do me harm have been put to shame, and disgraced.
(Psalm 71: 1-6, 17,22-24, NRSV Bible, New Oxford Annotated Edition)
The psalmist writes this psalm from the perspective of someone who has experienced hardship in life. Though, this person may be in the midst of some conflict, the person’s trust in God’s enduring love and care rejoices knowing the justice will prevail and God will make all things right. The agitation and conflict is heard in melody A but gradually fades away in the peace and tranquility of melody B. It is as if the peace and trust of the psalmist in melody B is an oasis in the midst of the agitation and conflict of melody A. Though melody A does return in great fury, the peace of melody B prevails, growing only the more loud and victorious by the end of the song.
I dedicate this song to my good friend and colleague, Carol Weiers, with whom I have ministered the past 8 years. Even in the midst of the craziness of parish life, Carol has always been that oasis of sanity and wisdom, maintaining a sense of humor and balance.
About the music: This Psalm Offering is in simple two part form, AB and is composed in the key of F minor. Melody A has a very fast running arpeggio in the left hand against loud, heavy chords in the right hand. Melody B is slower, softer and more expressive, harmonically progressing to a concluding chord in Bb major. The entire structure of the song is A,B,A,B.
The B melody was intended 42 years ago to be a chorale in a massive choral work based on Psalm 71. Over the years, I misplaced the score for the chorale and just recently discovered it in the bottom of a storage bin. The rest of the choral work is gone, but the best ended up being preserved … thanks be to God.
Psalm Offering 5 Opus 9 (c) 2018, Deacon Bob Wagner OFS. All rights reserved.
