While it is, by my thesis, only 1/2 way through act 1 scene 3, this psalm alludes to many of the prior psalms and anticipates many to follow. I have used thematic material to suggest these prior allusions such as the dialogue themes from Psalm 2, a confidence theme from Psalm 6 and 9. some musical allusions to St Nicholas (Britten), a reuse of the augmented 5th anger theme from Psalms 1 and 2, a new theophany theme - reused at the end as well as at the obvious part, a new innocence theme, lots of varied rhythms.
I have forgotten what little I knew about audacity so I can't even give you an MP3 at the moment. I am going to work on Psalm 19 - three things this time: a choral setting of part of it, and an Organ prelude and postlude based on some of it. Let's see what happens. In the meanwhile, if you read music, try Psalm 18 or any of the earlier ones. Our choir will, if my work is acceptable, sing Psalm 19 or the motet based on it mid-Lent.
Here's a brief summary so far
Psalm | Key Signatures | Time Signatures | Leitmotifs | Instruments | Bars |
1 | F+, Eb- | 4/4 | Happy triad, Warning/wrath – descending augmented 5th | Voice, Guitar | 27 |
2 | F- | 4/4 12/8 | Dialogue: descending major 7th also wrath, happy from 1 destruction - discontinuous | Voice, Guitar | 41 |
3 | D+ | 4/4 | top three notes of major triad only, a tentative beginning | Voice | 21 |
4 | D+ | 4/4 | criticism motif, descending semi-tones in subdominant confidence theme, rising major scale to the sixth uses wrath motif as taunting | Voice, Violin | 38 |
5 | B- | 4/4/ 12/8 | Preparation motif, ascending 4th jaunty, rhythmic | Voice, Flute | 49 |
6 | D- | 4/4 | Octaves, repentance motif confidence (minor key) destruction prayer (minor 3rd) | Voice, Violin | 45 |
7 | Bb+ | 6/8 3/4 4/4 12/8+ | Dance and destruction in semitones, judgment | Voice | 81 |
8 | Ab+ Db+ | 4/4 6/8 | Folk melody | Voice | 34 |
9 | D- G+, Dorian, F ending incomplete – seque 10 | 12/8 4/4 | Confidence destruction | Voice | 92 |
10 | B- | 4/4 12/8 | Octaves (6) very jaunty at the end lots of destruction | Voice | 81 |
11 | D+ | 4/4 rhythm modelled on Hebrew first | hell motif mocked 16th note bird flight | Voice | 32 |
12 | Bb- | 4/4 12/8 | Octaves, allegro - andante battle in Bb | Voice | 27 |
13 | F#- | 4/4 | Persistent folk-tune | Voice | 32 |
14 | Eb+ | 5/4, 9/8 | Allegro, ballad | Voice | 32 |
15 | F+ Db+ | 4/4 | Recap Psalm 1 themes | Voice, Guitar | 21 |
16 | F#+ | 5/4 3/4 | Pentatonic | Voice | 70 |
17 | Bb+ | 4/4 | Free meditation on Compline apple of the eye theme | Voice | 64 |
18 | B+, B- | 4/4 6/8 | theophany themes dialogue theme from Psalm 2 reused confidence theme 2 - another quote from Nicholas (Britten) reuse anger theme - strong relationships to Psalm 2 reuse confidence motif 1 new - innocence theme - build on over confidence of psalm 5 | Voice | 264 |
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