Simple Psalter for Year C

Michael Joncas's newSimple Psaltersynthesizes elements of previous styles of psalm-singing into a new pattern of engaging these sacred texts. Using the newAbbey Psalms and Canticles, Joncas sets every responsorial psalm in the three-year Lectionary in settings that work equally well a cappella or with keyboard accompaniment. The antiphon for each setting may be sung in unison or enhanced with optional voiceor instrument parts, and the verses are set to a Gelineau-inspired "pulsed" psalm tone, notated in proposed speech-rhythm. Additionally, the tones of theSimple Psalter respect form-critical studies of psalms, assigning them to particular categories (e.g., different tones for hymns of praise, songs of thanksgiving, communal laments, etc.). TheSimple Psalteris divided into four volumes: one for solemnities, feasts, and other celebrations, and one each for years A, B and C.