A SEMINAR ON PSALM BY REV. SR. DR.

MARIE AGATHA OZAH

FROM CATHOLIC SUNDAY PSALMS WHATSAPP PAGE,
WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 2023.

In this session, we shall be going through some of the issues we had discussed
concerning the Responsorial Psalm.
Questions that will guide us include: what is the Responsorial psalm? what is its
importance in the Mass? How or what is the proper way to sing the responsorial
psalm? etc.
What is the Responsorial Psalm?

The responsorial psalm is often taken from the book of psalms in the Bible. It
functions to complement and serve like a melodic bridge between the readings.
like the readings it is scriptural and must be performed/chanted in such a way that it
is heard by the Faithful, just like the readings are read clearly for all the faithful to
hear.
In the early days of the Church, the readings were chanted but in a more syllabic
manner. However, the psalm was more ornate.
In fact, all the chants of the Mass were chanted in three ways. For example, the
Introit and Communion were chanted by all the faithful led by the choir. The
responsorial psalm and Tract were chanted by the soloist while the offertory was
chanted by the choir.
I can feel and hear your questions.
Why was the psalm allocated to the soloist?
Because the psalm verse was more complicated and often melismatic like the
Alleluia.
The short response sung by the choir was simple while the complicated verse was
left for the soloist. the same is applicable with the alleluia.
in reality what was referred to as simple then will be complicated for our faithful or
choir today. so let us leave that and simple take the lesson.

Today, the faithful are expected to sing the response to the psalm as well as the
Alleluia, while the soloist sing the verse the response therefore, MUST be simple
enough so the soloist will have to sing it just once and the faithful will repeat once
after the soloist, who then moves straight to the verses.
If the soloist has to sing the response two or three times before the faithful can pick
it, then there is a problem.
The choir is of great help here as they have the luxury of practicing the response
during choir practice. however, that does not mean that the response can be
complicated because the choir can sing it. No. know that that action is for the faithful
and not the choir.
Although the verses can be complicated, they should not be such that the faithful are
unable to comprehend the text. Don't forget that the psalm is part of the readings, it
complements the readings and the Priest sometimes draw on it during the homily
Let the sung psalm, "the Lord is my Shepherd" always be your guide. The psalm of
last Saturday at the Cathedral was very appropriate. if you were there you will notice
that the soloist sang the response once and everyone in the Church were able to
repeat it. the soloist did not need to repeat it, and rightly so, but he went straight to
the verses.
It was beautiful.
Before we run out of time, let me talk about the Alleluia. Like the psalm, the Alleluia
should be simple because it is for the faithful and choir.
The verse is for the soloist and can be complicated but audible. Most importantly,
THE MELODY OF THE ALLELUIA MUST NOT BE THAT OF THE PSALM.
They are two different chants with two different liturgical meanings.
The alleluia heralds the Gospel so it is joyful, should be accompanied by musical
instruments, especially the alleluia. When the verse is being sung, the instruments
should be soft so the text is heard clearly and the instruments come back in full at
the alleluia.
The psalm should be accompanied by the organ alone. However, if a choir wants to
use other instruments, I suggest traditional instruments which are soft so that the text
is clearly heard. The accompanying rhythm should be such that the faithful are
driven to dance because there is really nothing to dance about in the responsorial
psalm.
To respond to Ali-Okoro: When composing in the vernacular, the tonal contour of
the language must be taken into consideration or else there will be confusion.
I hope I have covered some points that are useful to you. I will take questions so I
don't keep you all too long.

Thank you for your patience and for listening or rather reading from me.

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE LECTURE ROOM

QUESTION: Does the PSALM require a danceable tune or only chanting?

ANSWER: NO. it is part of the readings. it requires no dancing.
QUESTION: God bless you Sr. You have clarified so many issues about the
psalm and alleluia.
Now my question is based on using the tune of the responsorial
Psalm to sing alleluia, is it right?
ANSWER: No.
QUESTION: Thank you so much sister for this wonderful lecture and my
question goes this way, does this mean that all responsorial
Psalms are meant to be Solemn and chanted?
ANSWER: The examples I gave above are not chants. They are sung
psalms. I wish I can understand what you mean by solemn.
QUESTION: Is it necessary to repeat a psalm all over?
ANSWER: No.
QUESTION: What determines the tune of the Psalm?
ANSWER: The text.
QUESTION: Thank you Sr. for this lesson.
Which is the best in singing psalm...
Single soloist or duet?
ANSWER: Come to think about it, if the response is sung in duet how will
the congregation respond? The verse can be sung in duet but
won't that be distracting?
QUESTION: Sr., Please what's your take on dueting a psalm? Don't you
think it's going to look more like a show?
ANSWER: True. and that is why I don't encourage it.
QUESTION: 1) Is it bad to use modern instruments to accompany the Psalm?

2) doing lord have mercy, is it right to use accompliment

weather solemn or not.. I know this is not part of the lecture
today but it's causing serious issue somewhere.
ANSWER: Let us leave your second question for another lecture. To
answer your first question. Think about using violins, trumpets,
drums etc. to accompany a psalm; will it be distracting the
people of God form the text of the psalm or not?
QUESTION: Does the season of the Church have influence on the Psalm?
ANSWER: Yes. This is very evident in the Graduate Romanum. in fact, the
text of the psalm should drive and guide the mode of its
composition.
QUESTION: What is the Church's take on using secular or worldly tunes on
Psalms.
ANSWER: It is wrong and should not be encouraged at all. Think about it;
using Buga tune for a responsorial psalm.
QUESTION: What of Psalms that the "Words" implies that they be danced.
For example:
Praising and Thanking the Lord,
Let us praise Him and thank him the giver of life.

God has gone up with shouts of Joy, the Lord goes up with
trumpet sound.

The 4th abi 3rd psalm of Holy Saturday something about

Moses and Miriam clapping and singing...
I will sing to the Lord he has triumph gloriously???
ANSWER: Do you cry when you sing Psalm 51?
QUESTION: Please are you saying Psalms are never to be
"Joyous/Danceable"??? Does it mean the psalm is not
danceable?
ANSWER: Leave the psalm and dance the alleluia as much as you want.
QUESTION: During the Psalm, which is most appropriate and in order, the
whole choir standing or the soloist alone standing in a situation
the soloist is singing from the choir stand and not from the
alta?
ANSWER: All should stand. As to where the soloist should stand, it
depends on the Church. in my Chaplaincy, the soloist sings
from the Altar. S/he goes up with the first reader, waits there
for the second reader, sings the alleluia and returns to their sits
with the second reader.
QUESTION: Is it advisable to use a secular tune for singing Psalm? Like
some persons using CELINDION TUNE and other secular
musician tune. (Answered)
QUESTION: Is it wise to sing the psalm from choir stand? (Answered)
QUESTION: Is it appropriate to Sing the psalm on a Sunday in casual
wears?
ANSWER: Always robe so as not to call attention to yourself but rather the
attention should be on the WORD of God.
QUESTION: Is it appropriate to skip some words of the psalm or use a
different vocabulary to complement simply because the original
text doesn't rhyme with the tempo.
ANSWER: Always keep to the text as is in the lectionary so you don't
confuse the people of God. It is all about helping the people of
God to pray and not a show.
QUESTION: Is the Psalmist to follow the instrument and choir or are they to
follow the psalmist???
ANSWER: The instruments MUST only accompany not just the psalmist
but the choir too.
QUESTION: Can a responsorial Psalm be recited or it must be sung?
ANSWER: It can be recited too.

KEY POINTS TO TAKE HOME

1. The responsorial psalm functions as a complement and serve like a melodic
bridge between the readings.
2. like the readings, the psalm is scriptural and must be performed/chanted in
such a way that it is heard clearly by the Faithful.
3. The response to the psalm and Alleluia must always be simple for the
faithful to grasp at one hearing; Complicated tunes should be avoided.
4. Responses to the psalm should not be repeated.
5. The text for the verses should be comprehensible by the faithful.
6. Do not use the same tune for the psalm also for the acclamation; they are
two different chants with two different liturgical meanings.
7. The alleluia heralds the Gospel so it is joyful, and should be accompanied
with musical instruments; when the verse is being sung, the instruments
should be soft so the text is heard clearly and the instruments come back in
full at the alleluia.
8. The psalm should be accompanied by the organ alone. However, if a choir
wants to use other instruments, I suggest traditional instruments which are
soft so that the text is clearly heard.
9. When composing in the vernacular, the tonal contour of the language must
be taken into consideration or else there will be confusion.

Compiled by…
Chinam Augustine Bomboy
Courtesy…
Catholic Sunday Psalms (C.S.P) 08038806066

Facilitator: Rev. Sr. Dr. Marie Agatha Ozah +234 806 727 1747