Recordings of the Psalms in their original style

[rakovsky]

It's interesting to consider what the Psalms sounded like in their original style. They often are subtitled with instructions on how they should be played. As Alon pointed out on another thread, David's playing the harp with Saul's audience got Saul's attention. Psalm 22 makes a point that it should be played on the "Star of the Morning" or the "Doe of the Morning", and I've read different guesses as to whether this refers to a stringed instrument or to a melody. The instrument or melody helps set the tone for the Psalm. I suppose that it also gives additional implicit meaning to the Psalm. To give an example, in the Song of Solomon, there is a part about a doe looking out to her lover (or the other way around) through the window lattice. I suppose that this implicitly refers to the doe being trapped in a cage and the lover frees her. And so if David had in mind this song when writing his subtitle for Psalm 22, it could imply that Psalm 22 is a Psalm about liberation (which Psalm 22 in fact is).

The Psalms were in a Middle Eastern dialect of Hebrew (like Sephardic), so the pronunciation and chanting style could be different somewhat from modern Ashkenazi pronunciation and chanting. Further, the Psalmists used instruments of his time and culture (like harps, lyres, and cymbals), rather than of modern Western culture (eg. pianos and guitars) or of acappella synagogal chanting (although I suppose that some Psalms were chanted acappella). The melodies also were different from modern Western styles of melodies.

Are there some Hebrew recordings online that you recommend to give a sense of the ancient Middle Eastern performances of the Psalms?

[alon]

May 30, 2019 15:56:00 GMT -8 rakovsky said:

It's interesting to consider what the Psalms sounded like in their original style.... The Psalms were in a Middle Eastern dialect of Hebrew (like Sephardic), so the pronunciation and chanting style could be different somewhat from modern Ashkenazi pronunciation and chanting. Further, the Psalmists used instruments of his time and culture (like harps, lyres, and cymbals), ... . The melodies also were different from modern Western styles of melodies.

Are there some Hebrew recordings online that you recommend to give a sense of the ancient Middle Eastern performances of the Psalms?

Ahskenazi is very different from Sephardic pronunciation, and their musical styles are somewhat different as well. There are a lot of Youtube videos of songs that will give you a flavor of what the contemporary styles are. Not Psalms, but good to familiarize yourself with their music:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOo2HbNESNo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq5cAJuUjAE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS9-Uaf_re8

Here's a modern interpretation of what a Psalm might have originally been sung like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=--UABwqW9Sg

A search will likely turn up a lot more.

Dan C

[rakovsky]

For Psalm 3, here is the Hebrew and Phonetic text with an English translation: www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Ketuvim/Psalms/Psalm_3/psalm_3.html

PSALM 3 in Hebrew(WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES) ( youtube.com/watch?v=gSe_IpIZcXc ), I find it relevant because it uses stringed instruments, although it has a piano too.

Psalms 3 Hebrew Picture Bible ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R3Ot30cacQ ) I like that it has biblical pictures for the different lines of text.

Psalm 3:6 Sung by Cantor Shoshana Brown ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kRW66FNB5A ) is from a Conservative Jewish congregation where the cantress sings acapella. But it sounds largely or at least partly Irish Celtic in melody.

Psaume 3 Chanté et phonétique
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoZD3W5eYZ8&list=PLJMS6FXxmozjqsyBY7trz8GfAN2HXc0Id&index=2

Psalm 3 Jewish Yemen by Aharon Amram
youtu.be/RVtzfkl60Os

Псалом 3 на иврите (Psalm 3 in Hebrew, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSM0DXrW-Dg) is by the Russian "Kitezh" musical agency. It reminds me of a mix of Byzantine and Aramaic chanting.

תהלים ג' מוסיקלי - מזמור לדוד בברחו מפני אבשלום בנו ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUoEqogBKgg ) This is a Yemenite performance of Psalm 3 with accompaniment.

Tehilim 3 ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7etHnCS02Y ) This sounds like it has a strong Ashkenazi pronunciation with guitar accompaniment.

יחיאל שרעבי תהילים פרק ג מזמור לדוד בניגון תימני ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGKJprBvlFY ) is another Yemenite melody performance.

The Hebrew for Christians webpage on Psalm 3 says that "Selah" comes from the word for rise or build up, and that one explanation for the word in the Psalm could be that the singer is supposed to treat it as a musical mark for a crescendo. That makes sense to me because the Middle Eastern musical style seems to use crescendos on words that end sections. In Psalm 3, there is a Selah after the multitude say that there is no help in God, another Selah after the narrator calls to God, and the last Selah is at the end where the Lord's blessing is on His people. Another theory, compatible with this, is that the Selah words can in effect separate sections like a comma or pause.

[rakovsky]

May 30, 2019 16:27:15 GMT -8 alon said:

There are a lot of Youtube videos of songs that will give you a flavor of what the contemporary styles are. Not Psalms, but good to familiarize yourself with their music:

Here's a modern interpretation of what a Psalm might have originally been sung like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=--UABwqW9Sg

Thanks for sharing. I like their performance of Psalm 104.

[rakovsky]

I like how the Hebrew4Christians website has the Hebrew in phonetics above the English for Psalm 5 so that you can learn its sounds. Unfortunately, the webpage doesn't have the last 3 verses (10-12), which I will post below.

www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Ketuvim/Psalms/Psalm_5/psalm_5.html

האשימם אלהים יפלו ממעצותיהם ברב פשעיהם הדיחמו כי מרו בך׃

ha-’ă-šî-mêm    ’ĕlō-hîm,   yip-pə-lū    mim-mō-‘ă-ṣō-w-ṯê-hem   bə-rōḇ    piš-‘ê-hem   had-dî-ḥê-mōw;    kî- mā-rū   ḇāḵ.

10. Pronounce them guilty God, let them fall   by their own counsels      in the multitude of their transgressions Cast them out; for they have rebelled against You.

וישמחו כל חוסי בך לעולם ירננו ותסך עלימו ויעלצו בך אהבי שמך׃

wə-yiś-mə-ḥū     ḵāl     ḥō-w-sê    ḇāḵ    lə-‘ō-w-lām   yə-ran-nê-nū    wə-ṯā-sêḵ    ‘ā-lê-mōw;   wə-ya‘-lə-ṣū   ḇə-ḵā,  

’ō-hă-ḇê      šə-me-ḵā.

11. But let rejoice   all   those who put their trust   in You   ever    let them shout for joy   and because You defend them; and Be joyful    in You     let those who love    Your name 

כי אתה תברך צדיק יהוה כצנה רצון תעטרנו׃

kî-’at-tāh    tə-ḇā-rêḵ     ṣad-dîq    Yah-weh;    kaṣ-ṣin-nāh,    rā-ṣō-wn    ta‘-ṭə-ren-nū.

12. For you      will bless     the righteous    YHWH            as with a shield     with favor   You will surround Him.

These are recordings of Psalm 5:

Psalm 5, Jewish Yemen Tradition ( youtu.be/JoEmlpIhfkM )

Psalms 5 Hebrew Picture Bible youtu.be/b5F7ptKQyUI
I like how it has pictures.

Tehilim Chapter 5 youtu.be/-s5lkkh81hM?list=PLfsEQti0EtEBlBdhEHlhJiXwrlY0p4-aF  It is Moroccan and is sung acapella.

Psalm 5, Moroccan Tradition, youtu.be/EOHECMIB6fk sung acapella.

Psaume 5 en Hebreu www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BeeSHumJC8  is sung with stringed instrument accompaniment.

Psalm 5, Sfarad Jerusalem, youtu.be/ycZyynhPUQM is sung acapella

Tehilim 5 ( youtu.be/UfI-IY05keE ) is sung acapella, but I cant tell the origin of the melody. Is it Ashkenazi?

Psalm 5:12 Hebrew language. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaLLM7GWGrA  It has guitars



Psalm 5 says that it is on Nehiloth, which has been interpreted to mean on flutes or on wind instuments.

[rakovsky]

Here is what I found for Psalm 16:

I started putting transliterated text here:
theloveofgod.proboards.com/thread/4743/psalm-16-hebrew

Rav Elbaz "מכתם לדוד" (Middle East melody with accompaniment)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTN9FBsM4_g&list=RDXTN9FBsM4_g

Psaume 16- Pour découvrir un voleur
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkVJUICnD6c&list=PLJMS6FXxmozjqsyBY7trz8GfAN2HXc0Id&index=15

Psalm 16 youtu.be/LulN85iN2z4. by Rabbi Chay Amar
Or: m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=LulN85iN2z4

Psalms 16 Hebrew Picture Bible youtu.be/oyJyHOX6J4A

 מכתם לדוד - אמיל זריהן, הרב אברהם סולטן, ויוסף חרר הי"ו
By Emil Zrihen, Rabbi A. Sultan and J. Harrar It's long, 12:32, because of the way that they sing.
It starts at 2:40 here:
An Evening of Inspiration and Music
youtu.be/MJ8_k3PWuUM
Or:
m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=MJ8_k3PWuUM

Mikhtam Ledavid Moshé Look מכתם לדוד בנוסח מרוקו משה לוק
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3KSyBl-zqM

מכתם לדוד בנוסח מרוקו עם אמיל זריהן ומשה לוק
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AVZ7-ZfVcg

Psalm 16 Jewish Yemen Tradition youtu.be/R_kOTNbs6f8?list=PLW6tQSLJ3_Vknn6PvFdOIgFwy-YpBjpCO

מכתם לדוד נוסח מרוקו עם גדולי הפייטנים בארץ ובעולם
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0X3E63D9LQ

This performance of Psalm 16 starts at 2:35 (with accompaniment):
Tehilim, תהילים, SALMOS: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105,137 e 150 Tradução.
youtu.be/yXm2xajUt5k

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for posting all these rakovsky!

[rakovsky]

I made a Playlist:
Psalms in Middle Eastern Hebrew
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Yd8pK8_mXYffxRaqa2EFZm3aXVmi6_k

[rakovsky]

Here is Psalm 21:

Psaume 21 en hébreu chanté et phonétique-Avant d'aller vers une autorité.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMKaRmCDUv0&list=PLJMS6FXxmozjqsyBY7trz8GfAN2HXc0Id&index=20

Psalm 21, Jewish Yemen Tradition by Aharon Amram - תהלים כא' – למנצח מזמור לדוד, תימן, אהרן עמרם
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxTZrElMtj8&list=PLW6tQSLJ3_Vknn6PvFdOIgFwy-YpBjpCO&index=21

Psalms 21 Hebrew Picture Bible
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdBHT4l50U0

Ruma Adonai / Be Exalted O LORD Psalm 21:13 (Guitar, mixed with English)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUUYrXjYsv4

1. למנצח מזמור לדוד׃ יהוה בעזך ישמח־מלך ובישועתך מה־יגיל מאד׃
Lamnatseah, mizmor lə-Dawid. Adonai bəazzəka yismah melek; ubishuatəka mah yagel məod.
To the Chief Musician, a Psalm of David. Lord, in Your strength shall have joy the king; and in Your salvation how shall he rejoice greatly.

2. תאות לבו נתתה לו וארשת פתיו בל־מנעת סלה׃
Ta'awat libbow natatah low; wa'areset pātāw, bal-mā-na'tā. Selah.
Desire of his heart You have given him; and the request of his lips Not have withheld. Selah.

Here is Psalm 22:

Psaume 22- en hébreu chanté et phonétique (Simon bar Moshe)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7idwBffKpp4

Psalm 22, Jewish Yemen Tradition by Aharon Amram - תהלים כ"ב –למנצח על אילת השחר, תימן, אהרן עמרם
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QIZcBDvQD4

תהלים כ"ב תימני Psalm 22 yemenite
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rK__w8vFAs

Psalm 22, Sfarad Jerusalem, Moshe Havusha
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXLaoZhNn20

מגדלית אלי אלי למה עזבתני 1962 מעלה דודי פטימר (I believe that it is Ashkenazi, but it sounds maybe Middle Eastern)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0J3TIHpF-o

Psalms 22 Hebrew Picture Bible
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrlBrZErGE8

Psalm 22 (Tehillim 22) (by Rabbi Chay Amar)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILJofABHT0U

Hebrew Word Study: Psalm 22:8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdmo_FxfLKg

Tehilim 22 - תהלים כב
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RocT5eU-9S4

Tehilim 22 21 Frédéric Tavernier Vellas
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVMiZBgz7PI

אלי, אלי, למה עזבתני? (Violin and piano)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPcQ4-pKi5c

1. למנצח על־אילת השחר מזמור לדוד׃ אלי אלי למה עזבתני רחוק מישועתי דברי שאגתי׃
Lamnatseah al-ayyelet hashahar, mizmor la-Dawid. Eli, Eli, lamah azabtani; rahowq mishuati, dib-re sha-agati?
To the Chief Musician, On the Doe of the Dawn, a Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me, so far from helping me, the words of my groaning?

2. א‍להי אקרא יומם ולא תענה ולילה ולא־דומיה לי׃
Elohay, eqra yowmam wəlo taaneh; wəlaylah, wəlo dumiyah li.
My God, I cry in the daytime but not You do hear; and in the night, and not am silent to.


Here is Psalm 30:

תהילים ל - החזן ציון פלאח (Psalm 30), (accompaniment and Middle east melody)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6_OxeZRFs0

Mizmor Shir Hanukat Habayit (Live) (From: Songs of the Sephardim)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AvDhwJ_898

מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית לדוד - תהלים ל' תימני עתיק
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFn8wG91lUM

Psalm 30, Jewish Yemen Tradition by Aharon Amram
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oQzYLCHGBI&list=PLW6tQSLJ3_Vknn6PvFdOIgFwy-YpBjpCO&index=30

מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית | הרב יוסף עראקי | חנוכת בית (Yemeni)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgrm9Qphqys

Psalm 30, Sfarad Jerusalem, Moshe Havusha - תהלים ל'- מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית, ספרד ירושלים, משה חבושה
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTX-j7C2OjM

Psalms 30 Hebrew Picture Bible
www.youtube.com/watch?v=83BioVv5TDg

SING & LEARN - PSALM 30 הפכת מספדי למחול לי
www.youtube.com/watch?v=naWInLvXvUc

ארוממך ה' שולי נתן (reminds me of modern Slavic melody and acommpaniment)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRi3uOAaJFI

Mizmor Shir Hanukkat Habayit (Psalm 30) (piano)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=13zahzmwJtU

אנסמבל סירנות - ארומימך ה' כי דיליתני
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GK1Cy3HAmg

ארוממך ה' - תהלים ל' - א' וברמן - שירי חנוכה Aroymimkhu Hashaym - Psalm 30 - A. Veyberman
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVHZ3GbyvTw

מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית - חסידות וויז'ניץ Mizmor Shir Chanukkat Habayit Ledavid -Vizhnitz melody
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YNIIxRwEE8

Mizmor Shir (It sounds like Italian Opera)
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=7aA_60jrXW0&feature=emb_logo

Mizmor Shir - Cantor Moshe Oysher
m.youtube.com/watch?v=KRQ8IWxGA_4

LaBoker Rinah (Psalm 30) by Micha'el BenDavid
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vH7fi7x2Aw


1. מזמור שיר־חנכת הבית לדוד׃ ארוממך יהוה כי דליתני ולא־שמחת איבי לי׃
Mizmor shir ha-nukkat hab-bayit lə-Dawid. Arowmimka Adonai ki dillitani; wəlo shimmahta oyəbay li.
A Psalm a Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol You Lord for You have lifted me up and not have let rejoice my foes over me.

2. יהוה אלהי שועתי אליך ותרפאני׃
YHWH Elohay Shiwwati eleka wattirpaeni.
YHWH my God I cried out to you and you healed me.

3. יהוה העלית מן־שאול נפשי חייתני [מיורדי־ כ] (מירדי־בור׃ ק)
YHWH he'elita min sheol napshi; hiyitani, miyurdik bowr.
YHWH you brought up from the grave my sou; you kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4. זמרו ליהוה חסידיו והודו לזכר קדשו׃
Zammeru YHWH hasidaw; wə-howdu, lə-zeker qadəšōw.
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.