Psalm 91 - Three Motets for Choir a Cappella

Psalm 91 has been inspired by the great masters of the 16th and early 17th century. It is based on the second Tractus, or tract, for the First Sunday of Quadragesima, or Lent, from the Graduale Romanum of the Roman Catholic liturgy. The Gregorian chant has been adapted, with some modifications, into modern notation, and it is set in a strictly polyphonic manner throughout. (The corresponding sections of the original chant, as contained in the Graduale, have been inserted into the score, and may be sung ad libitum either by a solo voice or in unison, or omitted completely.)

Unlike the sacred music of the old Renaissance masters, these Motets contain modern progressions, dissonances and chords (whilst avoiding most parallel fifths and octaves) which are brought about in part by spacing the entry of each voice at varying intervals from the other voices, thus replacing the traditional entries on I and V. It is therefore important that the singers focus on their respective plainchant-like melisma at all times and consider any appearing dissonances as a "by-product" of the overall polyphonic structure, through the adherence to each vocal line.

Psalm 91 - Motet á 5

Although the music and the Latin words are based on the Roman Catholic liturgy, in its given English translation Psalm 91 would be suitable for use within the Anglican service.

Just as the 16th/17th-century composers did not indicate any dynamics or articulation markings in their scores, the interpretation is here equally left entirely to the performers (with the exception of the metronome indication) and should emphasize each of the melodic entries.

The performance score is published in two versions: a high version in C, suitable mainly for a boys' choir featuring trebles or a professional vocal ensemble, and a low version in B-flat, suitable for a mixed choir or amateur choir.

Contents:

"Qui Habitat" - Motet á 4 on the First Verse

"Dicet Domino" - Canon á 3 on the Second Verse

"Cadent a latere tuo" - Motet á 5 on the Seventh Verse

The full scores are available on IMSLP.