Psalm 139

A premiere of a new piece brings a combination of reflection, excitement, and (if I'm being honest with myself) nerves.  Adding to that I'm also singing as part of the choir in the premiere today.  There is always that part of the private rehearsal process for me when I look at my own music with anxiety and think "Why on Earth did I write it that way?"  But, with age you learn that that is part of "The Process."  You also learn to trust that there was a reason you wrote it that way at the time.  And finally, you learn to wait to hear the performance and then decide if that was an idea you might want to explore again or not.

Psalm 139 speaks of the wickedness within each of us and also of our enemies.  In these divisive times I felt these words had something to say to us now.  This psalm is considered one of the Imprecatory Psalms.  As Wikipedia states, they "invoke judgment, calamity, or curses, upon one's enemies or those perceived as the enemies of God."  When I began setting this piece I actually stayed away from that part of the psalm, focusing instead on the line "Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb."  But the line "If Thou but would slay the wicked, O God" kept reasserting itself in my thoughts.

As a nation we are dealing with times where many people speak of enemies--of them versus us.  Part of what I love about the Psalms is that they are written from King David's point of view--not God's.  King David sins. He does horrible things. He rails against his enemies. Yet, he continues to try to walk with God.

For the past few years I have been singing with and composing for the Minnesota Compline Choir. They are a wonderful group of singers. I would like to thank the choir, its director, Adam Reinwald, and Pilgrim Lutheran Church's director of music, Paul Stever, for their continued encouragement and the premiere of this work.

Compline for a New Millennium this Sunday, October 15, at 6:51 pm.

Psalm 139, adapted by Chris Gennaula.

Biblical Sources:
King James Version,
Jewish Publication Society, 1917
Douay-Rheims

SOLOIST:
If Thou but would slay the wicked, O God.

ANTIPHON:
Prove me, O God, and know my heart: 
And see if there be any wicked way in me.

VERSE:
Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb. 
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: 
Marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!  

SOLOIST:
If Thou but would slay the wicked, O God.

ANTIPHON:
Prove me, O God, and know my heart: 
And see if there be any wicked way in me.

VERSE:
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 
Too high, I cannot attain unto it. 
If I take the wings of the morning,  
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

SOLOIST:
If Thou but would slay the wicked, O God.

ANTIPHON:
Prove me, O God, and know my heart: 
And see if there be any wicked way in me.

VERSE:
Even there shall thy hand lead me,  
And Thy right hand would hold me.  
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; 
even the night shall be light about me. 

ANTIPHON:
Prove me, O God, and know my heart: 
And see if there be any wicked way in me.