The Common Psalms of Lent

The common psalms for the Lenten season that are offered in the Lectionary provide some possibilities that are often overlooked in our planning music for the season. One of the common psalms (Psalm 51, Psalm 91, Psalm 130) may replace any of the proper Responsorial Psalms for the Sundays of Lent or a common psalm may even be used for all Sundays of Lent. This latter option instills a sense of unity to the season and a familiarity for the congregation. Any psalm that functions as the Responsorial Psalm at Mass must use the approved text as found in the Lectionary. Many of these psalms would make perfect processionals (entrance or communion) and follow closely the Roman Rite ideal of a psalm with antiphon for processional music. There are also choral motet suggestions based on the common psalms of Lent.

Psalm 51

• Psalm 50 (51) from Gelineau Gradual [GIA #G-2124] page 21 -- use handbells or chimes to accompany the verses; for antiphon descant sing the alto part an octave higher
• Have Mercy on Me from Worship II #112 -- cantor or choir on verse; optional harmony on antiphon
• Psalm 50 (J. Takacs) from People's Mass Book
• Yes, I Shall Arise (Lucien Deiss) from Biblical Hymns and Psalms
• Have Mercy on Me, O God from Psalms of Israel (Alexander Peloquin) [GIA #G-1657] -- may be accompanied by harp and string bass
• Psalm 51 from Seven Penitential Psalms (Heinrich Schütz) [GIA #G-1912] -- for choir alone, SATB or unison; many instrumental possibilities: strings, brass, recorders, handbells
• Create in Me (Jean Pasquet) [Augsburg #0627) -- SAB anthem
• Create in Me (Healey Willan) from Church Choir Book [Concordia] -- SATB anthem
• Have Mercy on Me (Thomas Tomkins) [GIA #G-1899] -- Renaissance motet for choir; may be sung SAB, or unison with instrumenst on lower two parts
• Miserere mei Deus from Saint Gregory Hymnal page 367 -- choir sings verses; select a response from another source
• Be Merciful, O God from Psalms for the Church Year (David Clark Isele) [GIA #G-2262] page 9 -- verses SATB or unison; simple antiphon with descant
• Be Merciful, O Lord (Douglas Mews) from New People's Mass Book #286
• Create in Me (James Burns) from New People's Mass Book #339
• Have Mercy, O God from Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Canticles #400
• God of All Mercy from Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Canticles #168
• Hear, O Lord from Christus (Felix Mendelssohn) -- two part mixed
• O My God, Bestow Thy Tender Mercy (Pergolesi / Hopson) [Carl Fischer #CM 7974] -- two-part mixed
• Miserere mei (William Byrd) -- SATBB
• Lord, O Lord, Have Mercy (Orlando di Lasso) -- SATB
• Wash Me Thoroughly (G.F. Handel) from Anthems for Choirs 2 [Oxford Press] -- SA
• Wash Me Thorougly from My Wickedness (Samuel Wesley) -- SATB
• Create in Me, O Lord (Johannes Brahms) -- SATBB
• Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala) CNP Catalog #3020

Psalm 91

• Psalm of God the Protector (Malcolm Williamson) [Boosey & Hawkes] #5946
• Psalm 90 (91) (Hans van Koert) from People's Mass Book #P-90
• Psalm 90 (91) from 24 Psalms and a Canticle (Joseph Gelineau) [GIA #G-1424]
• O God Our Help in Ages Past -- found in various hymnals
• He Who Dwells in the Shelter from Worship II #113
• Be with Me, Lord (James Chepponis) from New People's Mass Book #287
• You Who Dwell in the Shelter from Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Canticles #423
• Within the Shelter of the Lord from Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Canticles #353
• Psalm 91 (Felix Mendelssohn) -- SSAATTBB
• Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala) CNP Catalog #3020

Psalm 130

• Psalm 130 (Christopher Bord) CNP Catalog #1130-1
• Psalm 129 (130) from Gelineau Gradual [GIA #G-2124] page 33 -- use string accompaniment
• De profundis from An American Liturgy (Alexander Peloquin) [GIA #G-2049] page 35 -- SAB voicing with optional strings and flute
• Processional Psalm for Lent (Richard Proulx) [GIA #G-1966] -- for two-part choir and five handbells
• Psalm 130 from Seven Penitential Psalms (Heinrich Schütz) [GIA #G-1912] -- SATB or unison; many instrumental possibilities
• Out of the Depths from People's Mass Book
• Out of the Depths (Malcolm Williamson) [Boosey & Hawkes] #5952 -- for choir and congregation
• De profundis (W.A. Mozart) profoundly gorgeous SATB motet with continuo accompaniment
• Out of the Depths (James Chepponis) [GIA #G-2308] -- simple psalm for cantor, congregation and organ
• With the Lord There Is Mercy from Psalms for the Church Year (David Clark Isele) [GIA #G-2262]
• Out of the Depths I Cry (Randolph Currie) [Roger Dean Publ CE-103) -- easy anthem for SATB choir and congregation
• Psalm 129 (130) (Guido de Sutter) from People's Mass Book #P-129
• From the Depths Do I Cry from Biblical Hymns and Psalm I (Lucien Deiss)
• With the Lord (Muriel Hertel) from New People's Mass Book #288
• With the Lord (Richard Proulx) from New People's Mass Book #338
• Out of the Depths from Hymns, Psalm and Spiritual Canticles #460
• Out of the Depths from Hymns, Psalm and Spiritual Canticles #277
• Out of the Deep (Adrian Batten) -- SATB
• Out of the Depths (Marc-Antoine Charpentier) [Concordia #98-1521] -- SATB
• De profundis (Orlando di Lasso) -- SATTB
• Psalm 130 (John Dowland) [Mark Foster #MF 107] -- SATB
• Out of the Depths I Cry from Laudate pueri Dominum (G.F. Handel / Hopson) [Flammer #EA 5025] -- SA
• Psalm 130 (Paul Manz) [Summy Birchard #1547] -- SATB, organ
• Out of the Deep (Virgil Thomson)
• Our Soul Doth Wait upon the Lord (John Antes) [Boosey & Hawkes #5941]
• Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala) CNP Catalog #3020