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Use: General, Funeral
Required Resources: 2-part choir, organ
Language: English
Colin Brumby gives us an easy, serviceable setting of Psalm 23 for 2-part equal voices.
Superbly written as a canon at the 4th, this anthem is a great way to introduce youth choirs to part singing.
The motion rarely happens together — for example, sopranos hold a note while altos move, and vice versa.
This makes hearing pitches easy for young singers.
The text makes this anthem usable in many liturgies, including:
- Good Shepherd Sunday [4 Easter]
- Funeral
- Wedding
- First Communion
- Penance Service
- Ordinary Time
The poetic text gives a sense of nobility to the anthem. The older English usage may be where most of the rehearsal work with children lies.
An excerpt:
1.The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
2. My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness
E'en for his own name's sake.
Verses 3-5 omitted here.
The accompaniment, playable on organ or piano, is easy; the right hand mostly doubles the voices, with the left hand (or pedal) adding a bass line.
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