![]() Also, because the system of matching tone to text is so natural, it makes it easy to compose new tones. This means that in just a few minutes, you could have a completely fresh group able to learn a tone and sing a whole Office together. ![]() The system is so simple, that you don't need a deep musical training - if you can sing it, you can teach others to sing it. ![]() These tones are arranged so that any tone can be applied to any text and they always follow the natural rhythm of the words of the text. This means that once you understand how the system works, which is pretty simple, they flow naturally and it frees you to contemplate the text more deeply.Īny psalm tone can be sung to any psalm, so once you know even just one, you can sing the whole psalter. The tones conform to the pattern of language, rather than imposing their own rhythm on the words. The starting point is the natural rhythm of speech. As we sing in the Offertory, it is in the desert, and in the garden, and in the court of Pilate, and on the Cross, and in the grave, that God’s faithfulness is Jesus’ shield.These psalm tones are modal and so work within the ancient musical form as traditional plainchant. He rescues Him and gives Him length of life, both against Satan and then most triumphantly in the Resurrection and Ascension. Alone in the desert, Jesus calls to God, as we sing in the Introit, and God answers Him. Paradigmatically, it is Jesus Himself Who clings to God. More deeply, the Psalm is Christological. It is not a time of daring feats but of adherence to God. The Church’s musical response to this unique dialogue is to re-interpret the Psalm that was quoted for evil purposes, In the context of the Mass, the Psalm teaches us the true meaning of trust as we begin our fasting. They shall bear you upon their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answers by quoting the Law, “It is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” He tells Jesus to throw himself from the Temple using, or rather misusing, Psalm 90 (91), which reads in part, “For you has he commanded his angels, to keep you in all your ways. Jesus answers Satan with Scripture.Īs we read in the parallel passages in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Satan tries, once, to tempt Jesus with Scripture. This is a key moment in the ministry of Jesus, when he binds the strong man who rules this world and makes him powerless before plundering his house. Today is Temptation Sunday, when we hear in the Gospel of Mark how the Lord answered Satan who tried to tempt Him. It is unusual for a single Psalm to sweep cleanly through the Mass, and what makes this Psalm even more remarkable in this context is its place in today’s Gospel. It is full of sentiments of trust on the part of human beings, and trustworthiness on the part of God. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shade of the Almighty, says to the Lord, “My refuge, my stronghold, my God in Whom I trust.’” Psalm 90 is traditionally sung at Compline, the last canonical hour of the Divine Office’s day, before the sleep of night. All of the proper chants this Sunday are taken from the same Psalm, 90 (91).
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