A musical contribution - June 2010

Published on June 1, 2010

Dear organist, This time I am sending you a Psalm arrangement, as requested by many of you. I visited Canada for the first two weeks of May for concerts. I received several nice reactions to the arrangements which appear on the Johannus website every month. And they also specifically asked for arrangements for Psalms. I will continue to bear this in mind.

Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm in the Bible.  The Psalm even has a nickname in this region: “A hay harvester”.  When the farmers harvested the grass in the summer – and there was little time to eat and read from the Bible – they would read this short Psalm at the table.

I hope this Psalm will be used in worships again a great deal as the summer is now approaching.  Not because it takes up little time, but because of its rich content.

O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you an excellent harvesting time. Also in Canada.

André van Vliet.