Grounded in the liturgical tradition and scholarship, the author explores what he calls the "new traditionalism" that notes the recent resurgence of interest in ancient forms of liturgy and spiritual practice. Everett communicates the seriousness with which he approaches his subject by offering a brief history of psalms and an exegesis of selected psalm texts. As a composer, he speaks clearly about the process of capturing the essence of each psalm in the brief, but beautiful antiphons that accompany them.

The psalter itself consists of musically notated antiphon melodies with chord symbols followed by the printed psalm text which is read aloud...

Many alternative and emerging church communities have begun exploring ancient music and liturgical traditions despite a lack of high-quality, published liturgical music, which does not require (or even desire) an organ and a four- part choir. The Emergent Psalter serves to provide that resource. Featuring music written for two emerging communities (Transmission in New York and Church of the Apostles in Seattle), this book is an excellent resource for anyone producing alternative worship service or thinking of starting one.

About the Author
Isaac Everett is an artist-in-residence at the Church of the Epiphany in New York, a company member of Storahtelling, and the co-founder of Transmission, an underground church in New York City.

Reviews

"One would expect a liturgical psalter with the word Emergent in the title to be a study in contrasts and it doesn't disappoint. Isaac is a scholar who understands and appreciates the tradition of psalm singing in the life of the church, but he is also eager to present psalmody in a style that is accessible. He is deeply aware of the interpretive power of musical sound but also wants tunes that worshipers will grasp intuitively. He respects the tradition of the liturgical use of psalms over the course of the Christian year but provides a resource that is flexible. Worship planners in a wide variety of cultural contexts will find The Emergent Psalter a very useful tool."
-The Rev. Dr. Clayton L. Morris, Former Staff Officer for Liturgical and Spiritual Resources, The Episcopal Church Center

"In keeping with many in the emerging church, Isaac has turned back to the tradition to bring something out of the treasure house of tradition and given it his own contemporary flavour. This Psalter is a huge piece of work, a labour of love. The Psalms continue to be a wonderful repertoire for worship covering a range of themes in liturgy and song that many modern song books simply avoid. I hope this Psalter helps them live again in many Christian communities."
-Jonny Baker

"Isaac Everett's Emergent Psalter is clearly a work of love. Springing from the life of a young, emergent congregation, it embodies the best of old and new, and it is a sign of maturity in our important movement."
-Tony Jones, author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier

"The Emergent Psalter invites lovers of liturgy and its renewal, regardless of their faith, to discover an ancient poem sung as a new song. Isaac Everett's passion for the psalms is matched by his careful attention to scholarly detail."
-Amichai Lau-Lavie, Executive Director, Storahtelling, Inc.

Book Information
ISBN 9780898696172
Author Isaac Everett
Format Paperback
Page Count 278
Imprint Church Publishing Inc
Publisher Church Publishing Inc