Organ and Choir Tutorial - Psalm 126 “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion”

In this brief exposition of psalm singing, Ralph Allwood teaches the choir how to perform Psalm 126, to a chant by George Garrett.
As Ralph explains in his introduction, Psalm 126, although written a very long time ago, is as appropriate for our current age as it was then. It’s a lesson in how things go up and down in people’s lives-fortunes go up and fortunes go down, he says, and when things turn down they usually turn up again at some point. This is therefore a class in optimism, or death and resurrection perhaps, the question being how do we look on the bright side when things are bad? This has always been a problem for humans, says Ralph, even going back 3000 years.
Garrett’s chant supports the text admirably using harmonic progression. Written in A major, it finishes the first half on the dominant of F sharp minor, holding the tension of the waning fortunes or pleas mentioned in the text. The second half lurches right back to the positive-sounding A major, modulating to D by the end of the third quarter, then using the dramatic device of a so-called “German” sixth (one of a family of augmented 6th chords, useful for quick modulations) to haul us back joyfully to the end.
Read more and watch the video here: viscountorgans...
About this Organ Tutorial Series:
One of an organist’s most subtle and sensitive roles is in the accompaniment of psalms and church anthems. In such an accompanying role, one’s job is rarely to stand out as a performer but to create an underlying musical foundation on which the choir’s singing can build.
For this year’s offering, then, we present a series in which the renowned choir director Ralph Allwood teaches the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir about psalm singing, with three lovely anthems thrown in to the bargain.
They’re accompanied ably by Mark Shepherd on the Viscount Regent 356 organ. You’ll hear Mark exercising all his artistic powers in support of the choir.
Crucially we don’t just show you a performance, but take you through the rehearsal process, during which Ralph explains the pieces, discusses word painting with the choir and organist, and leads everyone towards a good final performance.
For more information about this Organ Tutorial Series and more videos visit our website: viscountorgans...

[@c-historia]

magnificent 👏

[@JOSEWALTE11]

8:53 Psalm 126 Starts

[@photonatjag]

Where does he find these chants. They're not in any of the books I have access to.

[@James_Bowie]

Glorious.