Psalms for All Time
Psalms for All Time equips parishes and schools with a core repertoire of prayerful, memorable, contemporary settings of the psalms for every Mass and liturgical celebration.
The responses are instantly singable by the entire assembly, yet bear the weight of repeated singing. In each psalm setting, the response and verses form a single integrated song, drawing the assembly into the experience of the whole psalm. The sprung metre verses of the Grail text are set to attractive melodies using contemporary composition techniques for melodic, harmonic and rhythmic prosody and contrast.
The psalms are suitable for singing unaccompanied, or accompanied by piano, guitar or organ. SATB choir parts are also provided, as well as some instrument parts. The music is easy to learn, with help on this website for learning verses and choir parts.
The songbook contains guitar chord diagrams. Page layout is designed so that no page turns are required when using two songbooks side by side. Extensive liturgical and topical indices help in selecting the right psalm for the occasion. Historical and performance notes for each psalm help bring these ancient songs to life in today’s liturgy. Order here.
Sample Recordings
Click on the buttons next to the track titles to hear sample recordings:
All the Ends of the Earth - Psalm 97 (98)
Be With Me, Lord - Psalm 90 (91)
My God, My God - Psalm 21 (22)
Let Us Go Rejoicing - Psalm 121 (122) (example of adaptation to Revised Grail Psalter translation)
The recordings are by WYSPERS, the youth band from Wahroonga parish, featuring cantor Alex Knight; vocalists, Alex Knight, Claire Edmunds, Paul Mason, Myfanwy Painter, Amanda O'Brien; keyboard, Paul Mason; Flute, Myfanwy Painter; Trumpet, Daniella Ciaglia; Clarinet, Kelly Edmunds; Saxophone, Ian Edmunds; Bass, Richard Alessi; Drums, Claire Edmunds. Recording Engineer, Pul Mason; Producer, Paul Mason.
These four recordings are included on the Mass of Glory and Praise Audio CD. Order Here.
Sample PDFs
Click on the links below to open samples from the Music book for Psalms for All Time:
Lord, You Have the Words - Psalm 18 (19)
Lord, Send Out Your Spirit - Psalm 103 (104)
This Is the Day - Psalm 117 (118)
Recommended by Pastoral Liturgy and other leading liturgical music journals and music selection guides.
Review of Psalms for All Time
Quotes from
Pastoral Liturgy
Music in the Eucharistic Liturgy: A Priority not an Extra
(Reviews Bob Hurd's Communion and Gasthering and Paul Mason's Psalms for All Time)
Vol 40, 4-5
July - November 2010
Review by Angela Bendotti
"Of particular interest to me when selecting a psalm setting is whether the gathered assembly will be able to sing the response after hearing it only once or twice. I am always presently surprised when I come across a collection where this happens repeatedly! Paul Mason's Psalms for All Time, particularly the responses, can be sung after only one or perhaps two rehearsals."
"The melodies are rich, simple, contemporary and beautiful - always appropriate in style to the text they are bringing to life."
"With careful attention to detail - including background information on every psalm text used, explanations of the different types of psalms, tips for choosing the right psalm, performance notes, backup support and additional bibliography, a liturgical index, a topical index, a list of guitar chords together with clearly printed musical arrangements for each psalm, this collection is one of the most appropriate and applicable psalm collections I have seen in recent times, AND all in the one book, spiral bound - so it sits beautifully on your music stand! Bravo!"
"This truly is a collection of psalms for all time and one that will become a treasured favourite in your parish/school for many years to come!"