Psalms 1 and 2

Psalms 1 and 2 introduce the Psalms as a whole. A performance of psalm 1 is available here on mp3.

Psalms 1: Syllables: 147; Longest recitation: 10; Tenor:  f#  32.65%;
Ornament density: 12.2%; Average phrase length: 10.5.

Psalm 1 begins on an f#, a note other than the tonic. That is a signal that the whole book of psalms continues from what has gone before. In the Hebrew Bible, Psalms begins the Writings. The Writings are thus a commentary and a key to what has gone before. They are not less important than Torah or Prophets. I am not the first to suggest this, but it is not my opinion but the music itself that suggests it.

Verse 1 a tri-colon, stands out with its abrupt rise on the second syllable of awr distinguishing the word from the first word of the psalm awri. You can see the assonance in the SimHebrew, the multiple occurrences of the letter shin, w, ש‬. Those are where the sh sounds come from in the lyrics above.

The tsinnor on hlç highlights the walk. Verse 2 tied to verse 1 by its initial C, (C-bi-colon-f#). In verse 3, a second tri-colon, the tsinnor highlights the tree. The second occurrence of awr is painted with the same colour as the first instance, a rise of a fifth but this time continuing to fruitfulness, and a low tessitura statement of thriving.

Verses 4 and 5 are both of the type bi-colon-A. Verse 4 contributes to recitation on the f#. Verse 5, even for sinners, allows recitation on the A, that mid-verse point of repose. Maybe there is hope for the sinners after all. There are no ornaments in the last verse, also a bi-colon-A.

1 ♪f 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.
א א֥שֽרי הא֗יש‬ אש֤ר ל֥א הלך֮ בעצ֪ת רש֫ע֥ים ובד֣רך ח֭טאים ל֥א עמ֑ד ובמוש֥ב ל֝צ֗ים ל֣א ישֽב	15 9 8		a awri haiw awr la hlç byxt rwyim ubdrç kTaim la ymd ubmowb lxim la iwb
2 ♪C In contrast: in the instruction of Yahweh is his delight, and in his instruction he mutters day and night.
ב כ֤י א֥ם בתור֥ת יהו֗ה ח֫פצ֥ו וֽבתורת֥ו יהג֗ה יומ֥ם ולֽילה	9 11		b ci am btort ihvh kpxo ubtorto ihgh iomm vlilh
3 Such a one is like a tree transplanted by streams of water, that gives its fruit in its time and its leaf does not wither. And in all that it does, it thrives.
ג וֽהי֗ה כעץ֮ שת֪ול עֽל־פלג֫י־מ֥ים אש֤ר פרי֨ו ית֬ן בעת֗ו ועל֥הו לֽא־יב֑ול וכ֖ל אשר־יעש֣ה יצלֽיח	11 17 10		g vhih cyx wtul yl-plgi-mim awr priio iitn byito vylhu la-iibol vcol awr-iywh ixlik
4 Not so the-many wicked, in contrast: like chaff that wind blows.
ד לא־כ֥ן הרשע֑ים כ֥י אם־כ֝מ֗ץ א‍ֽשר־תדפ֥נו רֽוח	5 11		d la-cn hrwyim ci am-cmox awr-tidpnu ruk
5 So they will not arise, the wicked, in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the-many righteous.
ה על־כ֤ן לא־יק֣מו ר֭שעים במשפ֑ט ו֝חטא֗ים בעד֥ת צדיקֽים	12 10		h yl-cn la-iqumu rwyim bmwpT vkTaim bydt xdiqim
6 For Yahweh knows the way of those righteous, but the way of those wicked will perish.
ו כֽי־יוד֣ע י֭הוה ד֣רך צדיק֑ים וד֖רך רשע֣ים תאבֽד	11 8		v ci-iody ihvh drç xdiqim vdrç rwyim tabd

 The opening g in verse 1 of psalm 2 shows that it continues psalm 1. 

Psalms 2: Syllables: 220; Longest recitation: 10; Tenor:  A  28.64%;
Ornament density: 12.4%; Average phrase length: 8.7.

All the bi-cola are with 'A', the subdominant, Atnah. There is only one tri-colon, verse 7.

Notice the recitation following the subdominant. In every case except verse 5 it is on the subdominant. That all contributes to the tenor of A, a tonality of stability in the midst of turmoil. The music in the Bible may differ from the ferocity we imagine based on the words. (Compare with Bernstein or Handel.)

Verses 3, 5, and 9 are completely without ornaments (accents above the text). Verses 1, 4, 6, 10, and 11 have only the revia mugrash, the ornament pair that is unique to the poetry books and used only on return to the tonic, the last colon of a verse. Verses 7 and 12 have the most ornamentation.

Verse 1 connects the psalm to the prior psalm. Verses 1 to 3 are a unit connected by the initial notes of each verse. Similarly verses 4 to 6 are connected. Verses 8, 9, and 10 are similarly joined. Verse 7 seems to stand alone. The beatitude in psalm 1:1 and the beatitude in the last verse of psalm 2 forms a frame for this pair of psalms.

Music supports exegesis and structure. Just how and whether we can see and hear it is part of this journey. I have been on parts of this journey, but this time I hope my tools are somewhat sharpened.

1 ♪g Why such a throng of nations? and tribes in empty muttering?
א ל֭מה רגש֣ו גוי֑ם ו֝לאמ֗ים יהגו־רֽיק	6 6		a lmh rgwu goiim ulaumim ihgu-riq
2 ♪f They station themselves, these sovereigns of earth, these rule-makers reasoning as one, over Yahweh and over his anointed:
ב י֥תיצב֨ו מלכי־א֗רץ ורוזנ֥ים נֽוסדו־י֑חד על־י֝הוה ועל־משיחֽו	14 8		b itiixbu mlci-arx vroznim nosdu-ikd yl-ihvh vyl-mwiko
3 ♪g Let us snap their bonds, and kiss good-bye to their cords.
ג נֽ֭נתקה את־מֽוסרות֑ימו ונשל֖יכה ממ֣נו עבתֽימו	8 11		g nntqh at-mosrotimo vnwlich mmnu ybotimo
4 The one sitting in the heavens, he laughs. My Lord derides them.
ד יוש֣ב בשמ֣ים ישח֑ק א֝דנ֗י ילעג־לֽמו	7 7		d iowb bwmiim iwkq adonii ilyg-lmo
5 ♪C Then he will speak to them in his anger, and in his burning vex them.
ה א֤ז ידב֣ר אל֣ימו באפ֑ו וֽבחרונ֥ו יבהלֽמו	10 10		h az idbr alimo bapo ubkrono ibhlmo
6 ♪g I myself have offered as libation my own king, on Zion, my holy hill.
ו ו֭אני נס֣כתי מלכ֑י על־צ֝י֗ון הר־קדשֽי	8 6		v vani nscti mlci yl-xion hr-qodwi
7 I will recount the decree. Yahweh promised to me: You are my son. I myself this day gave birth to you.
ז אספר֗ה אֽ֫ל־ח֥ק יֽהו֗ה אמ֘ר אל֥י בנ֥י א֑תה א֝נ֗י הי֥ום ילדתֽיך	5 10 8		z asprh al-koq ihvh amr alii bni ath ani hiom ildtiç
8 Ask me and I give the nations as your legacy, and as yours to hold fast, the ends of the earth.
ח שא֤ל ממ֗ני ואתנ֣ה ג֭וים נחלת֑ך ו֝אחזתך֗ אפסי־אֽרץ	15 9		k wal mmni vatnh goiim nkltç vakuztç apsi-arx
9 ♪g You will injure them with an iron sceptre. Like fashioned vessels, you will smash them.
ט ת֭רעם בש֣בט ברז֑ל ככל֖י יוצ֣ר תנפצֽם	8 7		T troym bwbT brzl ccli ioxr tnpxm
10 ♪g So now, you sovereigns, let there be insight. Be warned you who judge on earth.
י ו֭עתה מלכ֣ים השכ֑ילו ה֝וסר֗ו ש֣פטי אֽרץ	9 7		i vyth mlcim hwcilu hivvsru wopTi arx
11 Serve Yahweh in fear, and rejoice in trembling.
יא עבד֣ו את־יהו֣ה בירא֑ה ו֝ג֗ילו ברעדֽה	8 6		ia ybdu at-ihvh birah vgilu brydh
12 Kiss, each of you, pure lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for he kindles as a hint of his anger. Happy are all who take refuge in him.
יב נשקו־ב֡ר פן־יאנ֤ף ות֬אבדו ד֗רך כֽי־יבע֣ר כמע֣ט אפ֑ו א֝שר֗י כל־ח֥וסי בֽו	19 6		ib nwqu-br pn-ianf vtabdu drç ci-ibyr cmyT apo awri cl-kosi bo

The music in these posts is derived from the accents in the Hebrew Bible. Introductions - letters, music, text and music, and terminology, are here.