Chanting the Psalms: A Practical Guide with Instructional CD
Average Rating: out of 4 Reviews
Price: $24.95
Sale: $14.20
Manufacturer: New Seeds
EAN (European Article Number): 9781590302576
Number of Items: 1
Binding: Paperback
Author: Cynthia Bourgeault
Publisher: New Seeds
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.294
Publication Date: 2006-11-14
Reading Level: 240
Description: Chanting the psalms, or psalmody, is an ancient practice of vital importance in the Christian spiritual tradition. Today many think of it as a discipline that belongs only in monasteries—but psalmody is a spiritual treasure that is available to anyone who prays. You don’t need to be musical or a monk to do it, and it can be enjoyed in church liturgical worship, in groups, or even individually as part of a personal rule of prayer. Cynthia Bourgeault brings the practice into the twenty-first century, providing a history of Christian psalmody as well as an appreciation of its place in contemplative practice today. And she teaches you how to do it as you chant along with her on the accompanying CD in which she demonstrates the basic techniques and easy melodies that anyone can learn. “Even if you can’t read music,” Cynthia says, “or if somewhere along the way you’ve absorbed the message that your voice is no good or you can’t sing on pitch, I’ll still hope to show you that chanting the psalms is accessible to nearly everyone.”
Customer Reviews
Review Summary: Chanting the Psalms: A Practical Guide with Instructional CD
Date: 2008-07-16
Details: As a person revisiting chanting after an absence of 50yrs I found this to be an excellent book on the meaning of psalmody and how we can incorporate it into our lives. Learing to Chant in the vernacular using the 30+ demonstrated methods and very clear written explanations of how to was just what the doctor ordered. Highly recommended for people like myself who grew up with Gregorian in our mouths.
Review Summary: A compendium on chant
Date: 2008-02-27
Details: I used this book for a class at church last year, and it actually had so much information that I had to select readings and provide overviews for some sections. The most valuable aspect for my class was that Bourgeault is not a trained singer: her 'normal person's voice' on the CD was what encouraged several of the non-singers in the class to take a chance and sing - something they had previously been afraid to try. The historical information is far-reaching. In my opinion, the last chapters of the book that try to bring in all types of modern chants are less effective than the first half of the book.
Review Summary: Ways to God
Date: 2007-06-28
Details: The book and CD are crystal clear and helpful and persuasive. Of all the ways to God, psalmody is surely one of the most ancient and powerful and is therefore of especial value to those of us who realize that the ancient knowledge of God is to be understood and incorporated right along with our other understandings. That Jesus also did this makes it far more important for those of us who would "follow" Him as He commanded and not just "worship" him. C. de Fontenay
Review Summary: Bring the Psalms into your daily life
Date: 2007-02-10
Details: This book is a great follow-on to the author's CD set called Singing the Psalms. Take this book and CD into your heart, follow her wisdom, and combine it with Phyllis Tickle's trilogy of The Divine Hours. These two great teachers are all you need in order to do your own Divine Office every single day - and transform your heart and life in the process.
out of 4 Reviews
