Psalm 84 and E major

Speaking of things that can go well together, I was inspired from a stirring choral-music-related conversation with a few friends last night to present yet another example. Somehow we were in the midst of discussing Anglican psalm chants when a particular psalm came to mind:

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

--Psalm 84:1-4,10-12, King James Version [“http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2084&version=KJV”]

The chant that goes really well with this particular Psalm was written by Charles Hubert Parry. A stirring, harmonically and melodically-rich chant in E major, it delicately highlights the beauty of God's house/court, and for at least a shining moment makes one want to choose it -- even for only a day -- over a thousand anywhere else.

Not surprisingly, Matt Redman's "Better is One Day" [“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIq1j59R6tI”] evokes a lot of the same sentiments in both similar and different ways. They're both in the same key (E major again), have a similarly beautiful melody, and even some juice in each of their harmonies (Parry's is more noticeable in the harmonic progressions more than the chords, Redman's is more for the chords than the progressions).

Of course, the primary differences are that Redman's composition has guitars and drums and a solo singer whereas Parry's has a choir occasionally accompanied by a pipe organ. But having spent chunks of my life in each camp, I've been fortunate to have experienced both inward and outward spiritual experiences from these. I mean, I'm not going to rock out to Parry, for instance, but I can sit still and meditate; for Redman, I'll probably more likely to bob my head and/or dance. But still... beautiful words, and beautiful music all around.