Psalm For Strings String Quartet - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1019348

Psalm For Strings, scored for 2 violins, viola and cello was composed in 1991 and later revised in 2017. Drawing inspiration from Psalm 29, the piece focuses upon the following text:

"Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

While the piece begins with an Aeolian mode melody, as played by the cello, the music quickly shifts to the major key at measure nine bringing with it a sense of optimism. A return to the inspiration of the opening lines of the psalm, at measure seventeen, introduces an additional melody. Enhanced through warm rich harmonies we now hear the fullness of the entire ensemble. A change in mood felt at measure thirty conveys reverence, as the music suddenly softens and beckons us to...

"Worship the Lord in beauty of holiness".

The melody first introduced in measure nine, along with its optimism, reappears at measure thirty seven and then returns to the opening melody at measure forty three, now played in a lush string harmony.

The same shift in mood felt at measure thirty appears in measure sixty three though a subtle change to the music is made; a shift to the minor key is used instead of a major key adding a sense of drama to the music.

At measure sixty-nine a reprise of the opening melody leads to the glorious ending of hope and peace as the psalmist intended.

"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace"