Saturday 21 September 2024

Psalms 1 to 21 -- A sampling of first verses

Remember my analysis of the reciting notes for the 150 psalms? I was surprised to find that I had started this idea some years ago -- but clearly forgot where I was heading and didn't finish. Examining all the first verses is really quite interesting. The table elements are percentages of syllables by psalm on each reciting note. I hope to make this a series -- about 20 psalms at a time. It's another way to get the message of the psalms across in a time of desperate need and a complete failure of sense on so many fronts.
Psalm 1 - without inscription, f# Deliberation - the tenor for 18 of the 41 psalms of Book 1
PSALM Syllables d e f# g A B C
1 147 2.72 20.41 32.65
12.93 10.20 10.88 10.20 Happy the person who does not walk in the advice of the wicked,
and in the way of sinners does not stand,
and in the seat of the scornful does not sit.
Psalm 2 - without inscription, A at Rest - 7 psalms in Book 1 have A as the tenor
The opening on g (not the tonic e) connects Psalm 2 to the previous psalm.
Psalms 1 and 2 are clearly a pair for many reasons. The first note confirms this.

2 220 .00 18.64 12.73 13.64 28.64 19.09 7.27 Why such a throng of nations?
and tribes in empty muttering?
Psalm 3 - with inscription, e - at home base - is the tenor for 15 psalms in Book 1.
3 161 1.86 19.25 15.53 14.29 18.63 15.53 14.91 A psalm of David,
when he ran away from the face of Absalom his son.
Psalm 4 - with inscription, e - at home base

4 179 2.79 26.82 20.67 15.08 15.64 15.08 3.91 For the leader on strings. A psalm of David.
Psalm 5 - with inscription, e - at home base

5 276 7.61 34.06 20.29 10.87 13.04 6.88 7.25 For the leader on the flutes. A psalm of David.
Psalm 6 - with inscription, e - at home base - the suggestion of 8 modes is a maybe - see psalm 12

6 201 .00 20.90 16.92 15.42 20.40 17.91 8.46 For the leader on strings in the eighth mode. A psalm of David.
Psalm 7 - with inscription, f# - 

7 331 1.21 19.34 23.56 15.41 22.66 15.71 2.11 A reel of David,
who sang to Yahweh,
over the words of Cush of Benjamin,
Psalm 8 - with inscription - f#

8 192 1.04 21.35 23.44 14.58 17.19 15.10 7.29 For the leader on musing. A psalm of David.
Psalm 9 - with inscription - f# - connected to Psalm 8
This is part of a structural component connecting Books 1 and 5
and all the psalms that precede an Acrostic.

9 395 .51 20.25 27.59 15.95 16.96 14.94 3.80 For the leader on death of the son. A psalm of David.
Psalm 10 continues psalm 9 -- therefore lacking an inscription.

10 370 .81 19.46 25.41 16.49 15.41 12.70 9.73 LORD why do you stand in the distance,
obscure in times of trouble?
Psalm 11 -- Inscription - f# - cadenced on the second, joined to the first words of the poem

11 154 9.74 13.64 29.22 13.64 14.29 11.69 7.79 For the leader. Of David.
In Yahweh I take refuge. How do you say to me,
Flit away to your mountain, bird?
Psalm 12 -- f#, an incipit in low register; eighth mode? or perhaps over octaves?
See 1 Chronicles 15:21

12 187 3.21 17.65 27.81 12.83 14.97 17.11 6.42 For the leader in the eighth mode. A psalm of David.
Psalm 13 - high tessitura C

13 126 5.56 20.63 19.84 11.90 12.70 25.40 3.97 For the leader. A psalm of David.
Psalm 14 -- Inscription - e - cadenced on the second, joined to the first words of the poem, full tricolon

14 154 6.49 29.22 21.43 8.44 13.64 18.18 2.60 For the leader. Of David.
Senseless said in its heart, God? Nothing.
They destroy, they do abomination, wantonness. There is none doing good.

Psalm 15 - e - incipit cadenced on the second, full tri-colon, similar to 14

15 118 .00 24.58 19.49 8.47 13.56 23.73 10.17 A psalm of David.
Yahweh who will guest in your tent?
Who will dwell on your holy hill?
Psalm 16 - f# - the first miktam - mystery word
The incipit comes to the mid-verse rest on the subdominant

16 216 .93 24.07 21.76 12.96 21.76 14.35 4.17 From gold, concerning atonement, through inscription, of David.
Keep me O God for I take refuge in you.
Psalm 17 - f# - The incipit ends on the ole-veyored, the prayer begins immediately.
17 328 .61 18.90 32.01 14.33 18.29 9.45 6.40 A prayer of David.
Hear Yahweh righteousness. Attend to my shout. Give ear to my prayer,
not from lips of deceit.
Psalm 18 - e - A very long incipit and explanation of context for the psalm

18 974 1.33 26.59 18.79 12.53 21.25 13.86 5.65 For the leader. Of a servant of Yahweh. Of David,
who spoke to Yahweh the words of this particular song,
in the day Yahweh delivered him from the slap of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
Psalms 19-21 - identical music - all on f# and one tied on A

19 304 .99 24.01 27.30 10.86 14.80 10.20 11.84 For the leader. A psalm of David.
...
20 194 .00 20.62 23.71 10.82 23.71 11.34 9.79 For the leader. A psalm of David.
...
21 257 .78 20.23 29.96 14.40 16.34 15.95 2.33 For the leader. A psalm of David.


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