Psalm 136 - introducing the music once more

I'm thinking about how to explain the full set of constraints on the cantillation to ChatGPT. An LLM has no feelings for resonance or harmony but it can talk about it. It reads Music XML but that is far more information than it needs to learn the notes defined by the accents under the text. So I'm going to give it a try since if it learns the analysis I can ask it to identify patterns and see if there is correlation with factors in the text that I don't yet see.

The simplest starting point is the refrain in Psalm 136. The refrain is the second colon of every verse.

כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו

To read this refrain -- parse the Hebrew into its syllables, find the accent under the syllable. That accent defines the reciting pitch for all syllables from that point until you encounter the next accent under the text. Hebrew reads right to left - so the first accent is tifha, the half open arc below the letter כ֖. It's on the first syllable of the refrain. The next accent is on the letter ל֣. It is munach, a right angle open to the left. It's on the fourth syllable of the phrase. The last accent is silluq on the letter דֽ. It's on the final syllable of the phrase.

Using a simple phonetic transcription the syllables are ki le-o-lam chas-do.

The musical shape of the refrain is g B e. The g is the accent tifha. The B is the accent munach, the dominant. The e is the tonic, the accent silluq. The refrain is a strong statement by a unison chorus.

The chorus

That's lesson 1 in the accents under the text. It deals with only three accents all under the text and therefore defines a sequence of reciting pitches. 

Lesson 2 is much harder -- be warned -- you will have to actually study it. The use of limited techniques is subtle. It is not like plainsong where the incipit, tuba, and final are regular for every verse. Incidentally, the psalm has: Syllables: 400; Longest recitation: 7; Tenor: g 42.25%; Ornament density: .5%; Average phrase length: 7.7. A tenor of g seems rare to me. 5 times in the psalms, 6 times in the proverbs, once in Job, but 42.25% is double the usual percentage.

The first parts of each of the verses illustrate additional accents. Each of the cola comes to a rest point on the subdominant A. Occasionally cola begin on different recitation pitches. This is the atnah (^). The atnah occurs once per verse in 93% of the verses. It is a resting point in a verse. 

The incipit

The verses of psalm 136 approach the atnah in various ways. e B B ^A in verses 1, 14, 21. These highlight thanksgiving, passing through the sea, and inheritance. Seven times the A is approached from g (verses 5 and 6, 10, 11, 13, 16, 25). Is there any musical or structural rationale for approaching the A (atnah) from B (munach) as opposed to g (tifha)?

Note how the shape e B g ^A begins every section after the invocation. This creates sections of the poem verses 1 - 3 are the invocation, verse 4 highlights the actions of God acting alone. verses 5 - 9 are creation,  Perhaps it is a guide to structural division by strophe. I have put in a background colour to mark these sections. 

Verses 9 and 12 have the feature B g B. Verse 9 marks the end of the list of the great wonders of creation. Perhaps verse 12 marks the end of the first part of the exodus. The second part is then verses 13-15 and the third part verses 16-24. Verse 24 is unique marked with the only mercha (f#) in the poem. It's a personal note. Look at the words.

The high C occurs only twice in the Psalm. First at the beginning of the recitation of the great wonders (verse 4). Second, at the destruction of Pharaoh and all his hosts (verse 15). These two verses enclose the summary of the great works of God: creation and redemption. In these 26 verses, there is only one accent above the text. It occurs twice, once in verse 4 and once in verse 15. I have it abbreviated as zar, (for zarqa). (It is also called tsinnoret. Regardless of the name, the musical interpretation is the same given the placement over the syllable.)

Take note when a verse begins with a note other than the tonic. Verses 1-3 are all connected by this feature. You can see very clearly that the defining of the reciting note is more important than the accentuation of the word. Just compare the pulse of הוד֣ו in verse 1 with the same word in the following two verses. Verses 6-7, 16-20, 21-22, and 25-26 are similarly connected.

Here is the data without score for the whole psalm. (A full score is here for those who read music.)

Psalms thlim 136
e B B ^A g B e silluq munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.1 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

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.2 ♪g Give thanks to the God of gods, because forever is his kindness. (g-4-1)
ב ה֭ודו לאלה֣י האלה֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6	b hodu lalohi halohim ci lyolm ksdo

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.3 ♪g Give thanks to the Lord of lords, because forever is his kindness. (g-4-1)
ג ה֭ודו לאדנ֣י האדנ֑ים כ֖י לעל֣ם חסדֽו	10 6	g hodu ladoni hadonim ci lyolm ksdo

e zar,C B B ^A g B e silluq mahpakh munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.4 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.5 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.6 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

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.7 ♪g for making the great lights, because forever is his kindness. (g-4-1)
ז ל֭עשה אור֣ים גדל֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6	z lyowh aorim gdolim ci lyolm ksdo

e g B ^A g B e silluq tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.8 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

e B g B ^A g B e silluq munah tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.9 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.10 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.11 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

e B g B ^A g B e silluq munah tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.12 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.13 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

e B B ^A g B e silluq munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.14 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

e zar,C B B ^A g B e silluq mahpakh munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.15 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.16 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

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.17 ♪g and he struck great kings, because forever is his kindness, (g-4-1)
יז ל֭מכה מלכ֣ים גדל֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6	iz lmch mlcim gdolim ci lyolm ksdo

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.18 ♪g and he slew majestic kings, because forever is his kindness, (g-4-1)
יח וֽ֭יהרג מלכ֣ים אדיר֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	10 6	ik vihrog mlcim adirim ci lyolm ksdo

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.19 ♪g so Sihon, king of the Amorites, because forever is his kindness, (g-4-1)
יט ל֭סיחון מ֣לך האמר֑י כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6	iT lsikon mlç hamori ci lyolm ksdo

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.20 ♪g and so Og, king of fruitful Bashan, because forever is his kindness. (g-4-1)
כ ו֭לעוג מ֣לך הבש֑ן כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	7 6	c ulyog mlç hbwn ci lyolm ksdo

e B B ^A g B e silluq munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.21 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

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.22 ♪g the inheritance of Israel his servant, because forever is his kindness, (g-4-1)
כב נ֭חלה לישרא֣ל עבד֑ו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	9 6	cb nklh liwral ybdo ci lyolm ksdo

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.23 ♪g our abasement he remembered for us, because forever is his kindness. (g-4-1)
כג ש֭בשפלנו ז֣כר ל֑נו כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6	cg wbwplnu zcr lnu ci lyolm ksdo

e f# ^A g B e silluq merkha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.24 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

e B g ^A g B e silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.25 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

g B ^A g B e tifha munah ^atnah tifha munah silluq
136.26 ♪g give thanks to the God of Heaven, because forever is his kindness. (g-4-1)
כו ה֭ודו לא֣ל השמ֑ים כ֖י לעול֣ם חסדֽו	8 6	cv hodu lal hwmiim ci lyolm ksdo