Psalm 135 in the lurch

I left that psalm 135 in limbo, unanalysed. It's clear that complex analysis using AI is difficult. Prompting is difficult. It's possible also that I will miss features in the music because I look at them in a particular way. For instance, in psalm 135, is it possible that the verses beginning on the mediant g are indeed the beginning of strophes? Of course it is. It would simply mean that the strophes look back to some part of the previous writing in the psalm.

Note: my 18 volumes of printer-ready material are almost entirely without analysis. There are introductory paragraphs in the volume on Job, but only brief notes at the end of the volume for the other volumes. I don't want to impose on the Scripture a premature method of strophe-hunting. The usage of the music is both constrained and too subtle to consider its many possible roles. But a few of them are outlined in the following analysis. I will say this -- even starting this analysis would have been impossible if I had only studied Wickes and the concepts he insisted on -- that there is no relationship across verses, chapters, or books in the use of the accents. Wickes is simply incorrect in his thesis. It is the deciphering key of Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura that has made my work possible. Here we see music and not hierarchy, we hear the theology of the testament in the shapes, and not simply pauses or continuations. We hear the love of the composers and compilers of the Hebrew canon for their God, not to mention the love of God for all of us also.

There are features to identify. 

A. Count the features of the music: (if you have a copy of my spreadsheet with the abbreviations, use it for analysis -- this psalm is below so you can use the find feature of your browser to check my work.)

1. Contrary to expectation after the responsive chorus of 136, the second cola in many of the bicola of 135 is actually a repeating shape: revia mugrash on an A reciting note returning to the tonic. This is a very restful return to the tonic. It occurs in 6 of the 21 verses. In 5 of the 21 verses the return to the tonic is similar but adds an f# on the way down. Equally restful and with an additional step. Other returns to the tonic also occur in pairs -- verses 2-3 and verses 15-16.
2. Four verses recite the revia-mugrash (the tuba announcing the tonic) from f#.
3. Also note that the approach to the atnah is from the dominant, B, in 19 of the 21 verses. g B ^A in 15 of those 21. The two that are unique are verses 6 and 21.
4. Verse 6 is the only verse that approaches the tonic from f#, itself prepared for by the ole-veyored. This is rare (8 occurrences) if there is no ole in the verse, but frequent preparation for the caesura when both are in the verse (119 occurrences -- about 25% of the occurrences of ole use this approach to the subdominant).

B. Observe the sequences of the verse contours.

1. In the middle of this poem - verses 8 to 14, three collections of verses refer back to a prior anchor. What is it?
2. Note that both verses six and seven are tricola. Psalms 111 and 112 end with a double tricolon, so it is not unlikely that this double ends a strophe. The words agree. 

C. Observe the use of or not of the variations in ornaments.

D. Look for confirmation of your observations in the text. Enough for now.

Here is the music by verse laid out in abbreviated form.

1. f# qad,g B ^A e ger,f# e -- return to the tonic unique
2. B g B ^A ger-rev,B e   -- return to the tonic (1/2)
3. g B ^A f# ger-rev,B e  -- return to the tonic (1/2)
   
   
4. e rev,B B ^A ger-rev,e -- return to the tonic (1/6)
5. C B g B ^A ger-rev,e  (2/6)
6. C f# rev,ole,f# f# ^A ger-rev,e  (3/6)
   
7. e B tsi,d ole,f# B B ^A e ger,e -- return to the tonic unique
   
   
8. g B ^A ger-rev,e  (4/6)
   
9. e C B g B ^A ger-rev,e  (5/6)
   
   
10. g B ^A ger-rev,f# e -- return to the tonic (1/5)
    
11. e C C rev,g B ^A ger-rev,f# e  (2/5)
12. e B B ^A ger-rev,f# e  (3/5)
    
    
13. g B ^A ger-rev,f# e  (4/5)
14. e B B ^A ger-rev,e  (6/6)
    
    
15. e B g B ^A ger-rev,B e  -- (2/2)
    
16. e g B ^A f# ger-rev,B e  -- (2/2)
    
17. e B g B ^A ger-rev,f# e  (5/5)
18. g B ^A g B e  -- return to the tonic unique
    
    
19. B g B ^A f# ger-rev,f# e 
20. B g B ^A e f# ger-rev,f# e 
21. zar,C qad,rev,zar,C e rev,e -- no atnah

Here is the psalm with abbreviated score. Strophes are hard to draw because they are not of constant length, but they draw on musical memory as defined in the prior verses. E.g. the paired 15-16 in contrast with standing in the courts of ihvh in verses 2-3. The last part of verse 18 will be hammered home 26 times in the next psalm as we have already seen.

f# qad,g B ^A e ger,f# e merkha tifha munah ^atnah silluq merkha silluq
135.1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. Praise the name of Yahweh. Praise O servants of Yahweh, (f-4-1)
א ה֥ללו־י֨ה ׀ הֽ֭ללו את־ש֣ם יהו֑ה הֽ֝ללו עבד֥י יהוֽה	9 6	a hllu-ih hllu at-wm ihvh hllu ybdi ihvh

B g B ^A ger-rev,B e munah tifha munah ^atnah munah silluq
135.2 ♪B who stand in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of the house of our God. (B-4-1)
ב ש֣֭עמדים בב֣ית יהו֑ה ב֝חצר֗ות ב֣ית אלהֽינו	7 8	b wyomdim bbit ihvh bkxrot bit alohinu

g B ^A f# ger-rev,B e tifha munah ^atnah merkha munah silluq
135.3 ♪g Hallelu Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing a psalm to his name for pleasure. (g-4-1)
ג הֽ֭ללו־יה כי־ט֣וב יהו֑ה זמר֥ו ל֝שמ֗ו כ֣י נעֽים	7 7	g hllu-ih ci-Tob ihvh zmru lwmo ci nyim

e rev,B B ^A ger-rev,e silluq munah ^atnah silluq
135.4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own treasure trove. (1-4-1)
ד כֽי־יעק֗ב בח֣ר ל֣ו י֑ה י֝שרא֗ל לסגלתֽו	7 7	d ci-iyqob bkr lo ih iwral lsgulto

C B g B ^A ger-rev,e mahpakh munah tifha munah ^atnah silluq
135.5 ♪C For I myself know Yahweh is great, and our Lord more than all gods. (C-4-1)
ה כ֤י אנ֣י י֭דעתי כי־גד֣ול יהו֑ה ו֝אדנ֗ינו מכל־אלהֽים	10 10	h ci ani idyti ci-gdol ihvh vadoninu mcl-alohim

C f# rev,ole,f# f# ^A ger-rev,e mahpakh merkha ^atnah silluq
135.6 ♪C All that delighted Yahweh he did, in the heavens and in the earth, in the seas and all abysses, (C-2-4-1)
ו כ֤ל אשר־חפ֥ץ יהו֗ה ע֫ש֥ה בשמ֥ים ובא֑רץ ב֝ימ֗ים וכל־תהומֽות	9 7 8	v col awr-kpx ihvh ywh bwmiim ubarx bimim vcl-thomot

e B tsi,d ole,f# B B ^A e ger,e silluq munah galgal merkha munah ^atnah silluq
135.7 making mists ascend from the extremity of the earth, lightnings for the rain he makes, bringing forth wind from his treasuries, (1-2-4-1)
ז מֽעל֣ה נשאים֮ מקצ֪ה ה֫א֥רץ ברק֣ים למט֣ר עש֑ה מֽוצא־ר֝וח מאֽוצרותֽיו	11 8 8	z mylh nwiaim mqxh harx brqim lmTr ywh moxa-ruk maoxrotiv

g B ^A ger-rev,e tifha munah ^atnah silluq
135.8 ♪g who struck the firstborn of Egypt, from human to beast. (g-4-1)
ח ש֭הכה בכור֣י מצר֑ים מ֝אד֗ם עד־בהמֽה	9 7	k whch bcori mxriim madm yd-bhmh

e C B g B ^A ger-rev,e silluq mahpakh munah tifha munah ^atnah silluq
135.9 He sent signs and portents into your midst O Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants, (1-4-1)
ט של֤ח ׀ את֣ות ו֭מפתים בתוכ֣כי מצר֑ים ב֝פרע֗ה ובכל־עבדֽיו	14 8	T wlk aotot umoptim btocci mxriim bpryh ubcl-ybdiv

g B ^A ger-rev,f# e tifha munah ^atnah merkha silluq
135.10 ♪g who struck many nations, and slew numerous kings. (g-4-1)
י ש֭הכה גוי֣ם רב֑ים ו֝הר֗ג מלכ֥ים עצומֽים	7 9	i whch goiim rbim vhrg mlcim yxumim

e C C rev,g B ^A ger-rev,f# e silluq mahpakh tifha munah ^atnah merkha silluq
135.11 So Sihon king of the Amorites, and so Og king of fruitful Bashan. and so all the kings of Canaan, (1-4-1)
יא לסיח֤ון ׀ מ֤לך האמר֗י ו֭לעוג מ֣לך הבש֑ן ו֝לכ֗ל ממלכ֥ות כנֽען	16 8	ia lsikon mlç hamori ulyog mlç hbwn ulcol mmlcot cnyn

e B B ^A ger-rev,f# e silluq munah ^atnah merkha silluq
135.12 and gave their lands as inheritance, an inheritance to Israel his people. (1-4-1)
יב ונת֣ן ארצ֣ם נחל֑ה נ֝חל֗ה לישרא֥ל עמֽו	8 9	ib vntn arxm nklh nklh liwral ymo

g B ^A ger-rev,f# e tifha munah ^atnah merkha silluq
135.13 ♪g Yahweh your name is forever. Yahweh your remembrance from generation to generation. (g-4-1)
יג י֭הוה שמך֣ לעול֑ם י֝הו֗ה זכרך֥ לדר־ודֽר	7 9	ig ihvh wmç lyolm ihvh zcrç ldor-vdor

e B B ^A ger-rev,e silluq munah ^atnah silluq
135.14 For Yahweh will make the case for his people, and his servants he will comfort. (1-4-1)
יד כֽי־יד֣ין יהו֣ה עמ֑ו ועל־ע֝בד֗יו יתנחֽם	6 8	id ci-idin ihvh ymo vyl-ybdiv itnkm

e B g B ^A ger-rev,B e silluq munah tifha munah ^atnah munah silluq
135.15 The pained fetishes of the nations are silver and gold, a deed of the hands of a human. (1-4-1)
טו עצב֣י ה֭גוים כ֣סף וזה֑ב מ֝עש֗ה יד֣י אדֽם	11 7	Tv yxbi hgoiim csf vzhb mywh idi adm

e g B ^A f# ger-rev,B e silluq tifha munah ^atnah merkha munah silluq
135.16 Mouth they have but they don't speak. Eyes they have but they don't see. (1-4-1)
טז פֽה־ל֭הם ול֣א ידב֑רו עינ֥ים ל֝ה֗ם ול֣א יראֽו	9 8	Tz ph-lhm vla idbru yiniim lhm vla irau

e B g B ^A ger-rev,f# e silluq munah tifha munah ^atnah merkha silluq
135.17 Ears they have but they don't listen, ha! no spirit being there in their mouths. (1-4-1)
יז אזנ֣ים ל֭הם ול֣א יאז֑ינו א֝֗ף אין־יש־ר֥וח בפיהֽם	10 8	iz aozniim lhm vla iazinu af ain-iw-ruk bpihm

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
135.18 ♪g Like them become those who make them, all who trust in them. (g-4-1)
יח כ֭מוהם יהי֣ו עשיה֑ם כ֭ל אשר־בט֣ח בהֽם	8 8	ik cmohm ihiu yowihm col awr-boTk bhm

B g B ^A f# ger-rev,f# e munah tifha munah ^atnah merkha silluq
135.19 ♪B House of Israel bless Yahweh. House of Aaron bless Yahweh. (B-4-1)
יט ב֣ית י֭שראל ברכ֣ו את־יהו֑ה ב֥ית א֝הר֗ן ברכ֥ו את־יהוֽה	10 10	iT bit iwral brcu at-ihvh bit ahron brcu at-ihvh

B g B ^A e f# ger-rev,f# e munah tifha munah ^atnah silluq merkha silluq
135.20 ♪B House of Levi bless Yahweh. Those who fear Yahweh bless Yahweh. (B-4-1)
כ ב֣ית ה֭לוי ברכ֣ו את־יהו֑ה יֽרא֥י י֝הו֗ה ברכ֥ו את־יהוֽה	10 10	c bit hlvi brcu at-ihvh irai ihvh brcu at-ihvh

zar,C qad,rev,zar,C e rev,e mahpakh silluq
135.21 ♪~ Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, dwelling in Jerusalem, Hallelu Yah. (~1)
כא ב֘ר֤וך יהו֨ה ׀ מצי֗ון ש֘כ֤ן יֽרושל֗ם הֽללו־יֽה	16	ca bruç ihvh mxion wocn iruwlim hllu-ih

If you are interested, my conversation on this psalm is here.