Composer's Note:
Psalm 23 began in 2003 as a gift to Karen and Wilma, two singers in my first church choir who asked if I would write a duet for them to sing. As a young (21-year-old) composer, this project afforded me an opportunity to focus on composing music to a text of my choosing, with specific voices in mind. I wanted something universal - appropriate in any season and known beyond the church walls - so Psalm 23 quickly became the natural choice.
Since then, the piece has had life in choral ensembles of all ages, proving to be equally effective for worship services and the concert stage in both small and large-ensemble settings.
My intial musical idea came at the piano: an ascending pair of perfect fourths which resolve stepwise down to the tonic (seen first in measures 15-18). From that moment, the melody took shape quickly. I aimed to give each voice part its own melodic independence and expressive value. While much of the piece is homorhythmic, you'll encounter some light counterpoint at letter B and a brief, single-statement canon just before the final “Amen.”
Though written in two parts with no divisi, I hope singers find musical interest in the interplay between the vocal lines and the piano, which is meant to be both supportive and musically viable on its own.
Rehearsal Notes:
Measures 4-18 are a great place to start because of the ease of the parallelism in the vocal lines. Move then to letter C at measure 72 for a similarly accessible foothold.
The parallel minor section at letter A is homorhythmic, but singers might like to hear that transition played on the piano before sight reading, as parallel major/minor relationships are not as common as relative major/ minor shifts.
Similarly, the counterpoint at letter B is best taught independantly (in sectionals if possible to maximize time) and then layered together apart from the accompaniment to establish independance of the two musical lines. Adding the piano part back in after the singers are successful without it will ease the learning process.
Text:
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters, and He restores my soul.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. And you restore my soul.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil and my cup it overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, Amen.
He leadeth - me be side - still wa ters- andHere stores-
He leadeth - me be side - still wa ters - andHere stores-
Ev mf en- though I walkthroughthe valley - of the sha dow- of death, I will
Ev mf en- though I walkthroughthe valley - of the sha dow- of death, I will
en e - mies. -
pre sence - ofmy e ne - mies. -
Youa noint- my head with
Youanoint - my head with
dwell in the house, rit. I mf will dwell in the house, rit. I a tempo
dwell in the house, I mf will dwell in the house, f I will
