Organ Tutorial Series
Psalm 24: “The earth is the Lord’s” (Domini est terra)

With Ralph Allwood, Mark Shepherd, and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir.

Psalm 24 is a splendid and relatively short psalm, sung here to a chant by Barnby in the “bright” key of E major. Rather like Psalm 150, featured last month, this is one of a small number of psalms that lends itself to relatively bold organ accompaniment in places, perhaps because of its declamatory nature.

During the tutorial you’ll be able to see Ralph Allwood teaching the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir about the subtleties of performance, and get some ideas about organ accompaniment from the playing of Mark Shepherd.

Psalm 24 to Chant by Joseph Barnby

Sir Joseph Barnby, the composer of this rousing chant, was an eminent musician during the Victorian period. He was responsible for introducing London society to some of Bach’s choral music. Among other posts he was a predecessor of Ralph Allwood’s as Precentor and Director of Music at Eton College.

The chant is one of those in which the first half of each verse is sung in unison, while the second half is sung in harmony. This gives emphatic emphasis to the first half, particularly in the question and answer sections towards the end, such as “who is the King of glory? Even the Lord of hosts…”.

As Ralph suggests, there is a tradition dating from Barnby’s time that gives the organist some freedom to harmonise the unison sections with some juicy chords, although this is probably best restricted to the last four verses where it gets particularly exciting. For the earlier verses the organist will usually accompany these sections in unison.

In this case Ralph suggests that the choir could omit the Gloria, as (again rather like Psalm 150) the last verse itself is conclusive. The tradition of adding a Gloria, in any case, was only introduced by the early church, and wasn’t a formal part of the original psalms.

1. The earth is the LORD’S, and all that therein is; * the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein.
2. For he hath founded it upon the seas, * and stablished it upon the floods.
3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? * or who shall rise up in his holy place?
4. Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; * and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour.
5. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, * and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6. This is the generation of them that seek him; * even of them that seek thy face, O God of Jacob.
7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
8. Who is the King of glory? * It is the LORD strong and mighty, even the LORD mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
10. Who is the King of glory? * Even the LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Francis Rumsey

I’m a retired academic, with a background in music and audio engineering. I’m currently a consultant for Viscount & Regent Classic Organs, as well as being a freelance organist, including a role as organist/choirmaster at St Mary’s, Witney. I sing bass with Oxford Pro Musica Singers and the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford.