Liturgical Advisory Committee15 Nov 10

'Singing Psalms' Simple Chants Year A Now Available

SINGING PSALMS VOL. 3 LAUNCHED
Responsorial Psalms set to Simple Chant for Year A
Music by Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson

Revd Peter Thompson and Alison Cadden launch Singing Psalms Vol. 3 in the Good Bookshop, Belfast

In time for the coming liturgical year beginning on Advent Sunday (28 November 2010), a new publication – the last in a series of three – has been produced by the Church of Ireland designed to encourage more psalm singing in churches. The publication contains simple musical psalm settings for all the psalms needed for the liturgical year. Like volumes one and two, Singing Psalms – Year A contains fresh and engaging simple chants for the psalms.

The publications have resulted from a feeling that the practice of singing psalms has been somewhat lost in parishes. In an attempt to recapture the richness and variety of emotion expressed within the psalms, the Liturgical Advisory Committee (LAC) of the Church of Ireland asked musicians Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson to devise a way of setting the psalms to music that can be sung by anyone.

Alison Cadden and Peter Thompson say, ‘Whether there is a congregation of ten or a hundred, no choir or a large chorus, Singing Psalms will work effectively – all that is needed is the prayer book and a copy of this new publication. The publication of Singing Psalms – Year A completes the full lectionary cycle of responsorial psalms and marks the culmination of this important project by the LAC. We are delighted to see the full set in print and hope that they will be used to reinvigorate psalm-singing throughout Ireland and beyond.’

Singing Psalms – Responsorial Psalms set to Simple Chant – Year A sets out the psalms  in a clear and easy to use manner.  It also contains Appendices covering Saints’ Days, Holy Days and the Easter Vigil, and contains cross-references to the other two volumes. 

It is published by The Columba Press, price £12.99 or €17.99 and will be available from the Good Bookshop, Belfast and the Resource Centre, Rathmines, Dublin. 
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