Psalm 136

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 136: Syllables 400 Longest recitation 7 Tenor g 42.25%

Here's a psalm where you can easily memorize the accents under the text.

Let's start with the refrain. - Try translating that in 6 syllables. I think for evermore is his kindness is the best I can do -- so I will change what I have written because forever .... It is to say the least a-rhythmic! Now note the three accents: 

• the first (rightmost) is tifha -- always a g, the third note of the scale, in both poetry and prose. Note reading right to left how tifha slopes up to the left -- it carries the harmonic sense of going forward.
• And the second accent on the lm of lyolm. This is always a B. 
• and the last syllable of the verse is the silluq, the tonic, always an e. 

The lower accents never change their mapping in any verse to the notes of the scale.

כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו

Every chorus follows the mid-verse cadence on the atnah, A, the subdominant, the fourth note/pitch/degree of the scale. You can see the ^ below the text at the line feed in each verse. As in the first verse on ט֑וב

Except for the two C's and the ornament, you now have all the notes required to sing the whole psalm. You need to be able to sing these intervals:

• a fifth from e to B
• and a third down from B to g
• and a second down from B to A
• and a second down from A to g
• and a third up from g to B
• and a fifth down from B to e.

If you have never sung before then ask a friend (or an enemy) to help. Remember the pitch as you sing it. Keep on singing at that pitch until you reach a syllable with a new sign, and come back to the same pitch when you encounter the same sign under the text.

Notice the paucity of ornaments. 0.5%, 2 zarqa in verses 4 לע֘ש֤ה and 15 ונ֘ע֤ר only. Each time the ornament highlights the approach to the mahpakh.

Here you sing the turn and leap to the high C. Then stay on the high C till you meet the next pitch which you will recognize as the same B you are comfortable with.

1 Give thanks to Yahweh because it is good, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
א הוד֣ו ליהו֣ה כי־ט֑וב כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	6 6		a hodu lihvh ci-Tob ci lyolm ksdo
2 ♪g Give thanks to the God of gods, because forever is his kindness. (g-1-4-1)
ב ה֭ודו לֽאלה֣י האלה֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		b hodu lalohi halohim ci lyolm ksdo
3 ♪g Give thanks to the Lord of lords, because forever is his kindness, (g-1-4-1)
ג ה֭ודו לאדנ֣י האדנ֑ים כ֖י לעל֣ם חסדֽו	10 6		g hodu ladoni hadonim ci lyolm ksdo
4 For doing great wonders alone, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
ד לע֘ש֤ה נפלא֣ות גדל֣ות לבד֑ו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	12 6		d lyowh nplaot gdolot lbdo ci lyolm ksdo
5 For making the heavens with understanding, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
ה לעש֣ה ה֭שמים בתבונ֑ה כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		h lyowh hwmiim btbunh ci lyolm ksdo
6 For expanding the earth over the waters, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
ו לרק֣ע ה֭ארץ על־המ֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	10 6		v lroqy harx yl-hmim ci lyolm ksdo
7 ♪g for making the great lights, because forever is his kindness. (g-1-4-1)
ז ל֭עשה אור֣ים גדל֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6		z lyowh aorim gdolim ci lyolm ksdo
8 Even the sun to govern by day, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
ח את־ה֭שמש לממש֣לת בי֑ום כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	10 6		k at-hwmw lmmwlt biom ci lyolm ksdo
9 Even the moon and stars to govern by night, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
ט את־היר֣ח ו֭כוכבים לממשל֣ות בל֑ילה כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	16 6		T at-hirk vcocbim lmmwlot blilh ci lyolm ksdo
10 For striking the firstborn of Egypt, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
י למכ֣ה מ֭צרים בבכוריה֑ם כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		i lmch mxriim bbcorihm ci lyolm ksdo
11 And he brought Israel out from their midst, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
יא ויוצ֣א י֭שראל מתוכ֑ם כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		ia vioxa iwral mtocm ci lyolm ksdo
12 With a courageous hand and by an arm stretched out, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
יב בי֣ד ח֭זקה ובזר֣וע נטוי֑ה כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	12 6		ib bid kzqh ubzroy nTuih ci lyolm ksdo
13 For parting the sea of reeds into parts, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
יג לגז֣ר ים־ס֭וף לגזר֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6		ig lgozr im-suf lgzrim ci lyolm ksdo
14 And made Israel pass through in the midst of it, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
יד והעב֣יר ישרא֣ל בתוכ֑ו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	10 6		id vhybir iwral btoco ci lyolm ksdo
15 And tossed Pharaoh and his force into the sea of reeds, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
טו ונ֘ע֤ר פרע֣ה וחיל֣ו בים־ס֑וף כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	11 6		Tv vniyr pryh vkilo bim-suf ci lyolm ksdo
16 For walking with his people in the wilderness, because forever is his kindness, (1-4-1)
טז למול֣יך ע֭מו במדב֑ר כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6		Tz lmoliç ymo bmdbr ci lyolm ksdo
17 ♪g and he struck great kings, because forever is his kindness, (g-1-4-1)
יז ל֭מכה מלכ֣ים גדל֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		iz lmch mlcim gdolim ci lyolm ksdo
18 ♪g and he slew majestic kings, because forever is his kindness, (g-1-4-1)
יח וֽ֭יהרג מלכ֣ים אדיר֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	10 6		ik vihrog mlcim adirim ci lyolm ksdo
19 ♪g so Sihon, king of the Amorites, because forever is his kindness, (g-1-4-1)
יט ל֭סיחון מ֣לך האמר֑י כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		iT lsikon mlç hamori ci lyolm ksdo
20 ♪g and so Og, king of fruitful Bashan, because forever is his kindness. (g-1-4-1)
כ ו֭לעוג מ֣לך הבש֑ן כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	7 6		c ulyog mlç hbwn ci lyolm ksdo
21 And gave their lands as inheritance, because forever is his kindness, (1-4-1)
כא ונת֣ן ארצ֣ם לנחל֑ה כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		ca vntn arxm lnklh ci lyolm ksdo
22 ♪g the inheritance of Israel his servant, because forever is his kindness, (g-1-4-1)
כב נ֭חלה לישרא֣ל עבד֑ו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		cb nklh liwral ybdo ci lyolm ksdo
23 ♪g our abasement he remembered for us, because forever is his kindness. (g-1-4-1)
כג ש֭בשפלנו ז֣כר ל֑נו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6		cg wbwplnu zcr lnu ci lyolm ksdo
24 And rends us from our troubles, because forever is his kindness. (1-4-1)
כד ויפרק֥נו מצר֑ינו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6		cd viprqnu mxrinu ci lyolm ksdo
25 Giving bread to all flesh, because forever is his kindness, (1-4-1)
כה נת֣ן ל֭חם לכל־בש֑ר כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6		ch notn lkm lcl-bwr ci lyolm ksdo
26 ♪g give thanks to the God of Heaven, because forever is his kindness. (g-1-4-1)
כו ה֭ודו לא֣ל השמ֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6		cv hodu lal hwmiim ci lyolm ksdo