Composer

:

John Goss

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Psalm

Average_duration

:

2:28

Psalm 23, also known as "The Lord is my shepherd," is a popular biblical passage that has been set to music by many composers throughout history. One of the most famous musical settings of this psalm is by John Goss, an English composer who lived in the 19th century. Goss composed his setting of Psalm 23 in 1872, and it was first performed at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on May 5th of that year. The piece is written for a four-part choir and organ accompaniment, and it is divided into three movements. The first movement begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the choir, accompanied by a simple organ accompaniment. The text of the psalm is sung in a straightforward manner, with the choir emphasizing the words "The Lord is my shepherd" and "I shall not want." The movement builds to a climax on the words "He restoreth my soul," before subsiding back into the gentle opening melody. The second movement is more dramatic, with the choir singing in a more forceful and declamatory style. The text of the psalm is sung in a more fragmented manner, with the choir emphasizing individual words and phrases such as "rod," "staff," and "table." The organ accompaniment is also more complex, with the use of dissonant chords and chromatic harmonies adding to the sense of tension and drama. The final movement returns to the gentle, flowing melody of the first movement, with the choir singing the text of the psalm in a more peaceful and contemplative manner. The organ accompaniment is also simpler, with a gentle arpeggio pattern providing a soothing backdrop to the choir's singing. The piece ends with a quiet, peaceful cadence on the words "and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Overall, Goss's setting of Psalm 23 is a beautiful and moving piece of music that captures the sense of comfort and peace that is conveyed by the psalm's text. The use of simple melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, combined with the expressive singing of the choir and the sensitive organ accompaniment, creates a sense of serenity and tranquility that is both uplifting and inspiring.

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