Joseph's posts

The Psalms are such an expressive wealth of expression and theology. I decided to pursue writing songs adapted after the Song of Ascents which consist of Psalms 120 to 134, which is about the length of an album. Here is my first rough sketch of Psalm 120 before I go to bed. Are there any musicians/worship singers/leaders/writers interested in this project? I think what made the psalms so awesome is the fact that they weren't written by just one person, no. The Psalms were a multitude of voices, composed of a group of dedicated musicans and psalm-writers, who expressed  the highest joys to the honest laments in the life of faith. I wish for a community that would help me write this Song of Ascents collection of songs today.

Anyone interested in joining me?

My only requirements are follows:

1. You must read the psalm and study it, trying to understand it to your maximum capacity

I can't convey how important this is. To merely copy the lyrics does not allow you to place yourself into the shoes of the writer. Why did the psalm-writer write? Ask questions about the psalm. Read different translations and study about the history behind it.

2. Try to relate the psalm to yourself and your audience

Make the psalm your own. Bring it into this day and age. This is the hard part or easy part, depending how you write.

3. Theoretically, the song should be singable by a congregation.

It helps me imagine a) a choir b) drunken sailors c) my local church d) a crowd at a stadium singing the song to see where the song is going.

Hope that's reasonable. Hope this song project goes better than the movie adaptions of today. I'll add more psalms as time comes, to help you guys along. But please, let me know what you think. This is about the church and something bigger than me. That's the way I see it.

 

EDIT:

Here's a more nicer version of the song above:

Psalm 120 - A Cry For Truth and Peace by josephyli