Psalm 104 by Brian Blume

Psalm 104 by Brian Blume
Multi-percussion Solo
Performed by Michael Memmott

Brian's Notes on the piece
Psalm 104 for Multiple Percussion is a challenging work written in the fall of 2007. The idea was to use a multi-percussion setup of drums and cymbals to depict some of the characteristics of God. Psalm 104 reflects on several traits of God, such as His greatness and majesty, His care and perfect precision in His creation, and His provision and ability to satisfy man's heart.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind;
4 He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.
5 He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains.
7 At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away.
8 The mountains rose; the valleys sank down To the place which You established for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass over, So that they will not return to cover the earth.
10 He sends forth springs in the valleys; They flow between the mountains;
11 They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; They lift up their voices among * the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth,
15 And wine which makes man's heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man's heart.
16 The trees of the LORD drink their fill, The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17 Where * the birds build their nests, And the stork, whose home is the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; The cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim.
19 He made the moon for the seasons; The sun knows the place of its setting.
20 You appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.
21 The young lions roar after their prey And seek their food from God.
22 When the sun rises they withdraw And lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes forth to his work And to his labor until evening.
24 O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.
25 There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Animals both small and great.
26 There the ships move along, And Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it.
27 They all wait for You To give them their food in due season.
28 You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire And return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.
31 Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; Let the LORD be glad in His works;
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth And let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

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