Musical contribution - May 2018

Psalm 47 Marcel van de Ketterij (LiVE sample set: Stockport, Forster & Andrews).

This month, our thoughts turn to the Ascension of the Lord Jesus. Psalm 47 is sung in many churches. This is also why I asked my colleague Marcel van de Ketterij to create an adaptation of this psalm.

Marcel is an organist affiliated with the Eben-Haëzerkerk in Apeldoorn. In that capacity, he is intimately involved with the psalms, which is why he did not have to think twice when I asked him to create an arrangement for you.

The opening is a trio: a trumpet as the leading stop surrounded by a - virtually - frolicking accompaniment in the right hand and continuous pedal.

The second half of the psalm is meditative in the parallel B flat key. Marcel probably came up with this while sitting at the church console, using the muted strings with the Swell cabinet closed. If the flute 2’ is not too strong, you can create a lovely effect by opening it as well. This combination works beautifully in the Eben-Haëzerkerk and you can achieve it on your own Johannus too.

Finally, a few measures to invite the congregation to sing along: “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.”

With musical regards,

André van Vliet