Psalm 11

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

Psalms 11: Syllables 154 Longest recitation 10 Tenor f# 29.22%

What difference does a mode change make? This mode differs in three notes from the default mode, g# instead of g natural, C# instead of C natural. The low d is sharpened in both modes. 

There are some differences between this version and the one that Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura did by hand. Can you see the differences? This psalm like psalm 7 has examples of all accents except the shalshelet. 

Ole-veyored 4, geresh 5, revia 9, qadma 1, pazed 1, zarqa 1, tsinnor 2 illuy 1.

I am looking for a measure of ornament density in a psalm. I wonder if it would distinguish groups. Here we have 24 ornaments in 154 syllables or 15.8%. The range is from 0.5% (psalm 136) to 17.6% (psalm 117).

This psalm has a tenor of f# -- the tenor is the reciting pitch used most often in the psalm. I measure most often by counting the syllables on the pitch. The f# is like this forward slash sign / under the text. Distinguish it from the g which is like this bachward slash sign \ under the text. Because we're reading right to left, harmonically the g leads forward -- reading from right to left. The f holds back. The f (mercha), the second note of the scale, is a cadence point after an ole -- holding back -- pending -- not really at rest. The f is also a note in the scale leading to g (as in verse 5), or e (as in versea 2 and 7). The f may be part of the phrase leading to a mid-point rest or back to the tonic. Here its hold-back function is pending rather that explicit. I note this 'memory aid' to help distinguish these two similar signs since I found them hard to remember when just reading the Hebrew text.

1 For the leader. Of David. In Yahweh I take refuge. How do you say to me, Flit away to your mountain, bird? (1-2-4-1)
א למנצ֗ח לד֫ו֥ד בֽיהו֨ה חס֗יתי א֭יך תאמר֣ו לנפש֑י נ֝֗ודי הרכ֥ם צפֽור	7 11 6		a lmnxk ldvid bihvh ksiti aiç tamru lnpwi nudi hrcm xipor
2 ♪C For behold: the wicked. They direct a bow. They prepare their arrows on the bow-string, to shoot in gloom at the upright of heart. (C-1-4-1)
ב כ֤י הנ֪ה הרשע֡ים ידרכ֬ון ק֗שת כוננ֣ו חצ֣ם על־י֑תר ליר֥ות במו־א֝֗פל לישרי־לֽב	18 9		b ci hnh hrwyim idrcun qwt connu kixm yl-itr lirot bmo-aopl liwri-lb
3 ♪B For the fundamentals are overthrown. How does a righteous one work? (B-1-4-1)
ג כ֣י ה֭שתות יֽהרס֑ון צ֝ד֗יק מה־פעֽל	8 5		g ci hwtot iihrsun xdiq mh-pyl
4 Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh in the heavens his throne. His eyes gaze on, His eyelids test the children of humanity. (1-2-4-1)
ד יהו֤ה בֽה֘יכ֤ל קדש֗ו יהוה֮ בשמ֪ים כ֫סא֥ו עינ֥יו יחז֑ו עפעפ֥יו י֝בחנ֗ו בנ֣י אדֽם	14 5 10		d ihvh bhicl qodwo ihvh bwmiim cisao yiniv ikzu ypypiv ibknu bni adm
5 Yahweh will test a righteous one, but the wicked and lover of violence ... he hates. (1-2-4-1)
ה יהוה֮ צד֪יק י֫בח֥ן ו֭רשע ואה֣ב חמ֑ס שֽנא֥ה נפשֽו	6 8 4		h ihvh xdiq ibkn vrwy vaohb kms wnah npwo
6 He rains snares on the wicked. Fire and pitch and ferocious wind are the portion of their cup. (1-2-1)
ו ימט֥ר על־רשע֗ים פ֫ח֥ים א֣ש ו֭גפרית ור֥וח זלעפ֗ות מנ֣ת כוסֽם	8 14		v imTr yl-rwyim pkim aw vgoprit vruk zlypot mnt cosm
7 For Yahweh is a righteous one. He loves righteousness. His faces gaze on the upright. (1-4-1)
ז כֽי־צד֣יק י֭הוה צדק֣ות אה֑ב י֝ש֗ר יחז֥ו פנֽימו	9 8		z ci-xdiq ihvh xdqot ahb iwr ikzu pnimo