Writing Music Based Off a Psalm Every Day - Psalm 2

Welcome to the series where I write a piece of music based off of a Psalm every day until I make it through all 150 Psalms. Today is Psalm 2. ---------- For this psalm I focused on the contrast between the rage of the nations and the power that they think they have, and the wrath of God and the infinitely greater power that He has. The piece is set up as the nations raging, followed by God laughing and showing what power truly looks like. The tremolo roll and horn line that start off the piece are a weak display of power by humans. The high violin line is almost the God theme that was the bass line in the first piece. However instead of the descending fourth that is an emblem of the theme, the violins play a descending tritone. This slight alteration turns what is usually a consonant sound into the most dissonant interval. This represents us as humans trying to play God. Are attempts at godhood are only sinful, twisted shadows of what God truly is. The second half of this violin line, though, rights itself and is exactly identical to the God theme. This is accompanied by a rising staccato bassoon line in the second half of the measure, representing God laughing. We can try to be him, but our attempts are futile (and this could be heretical, but probably rather humorous from God’s perspective). However he still rights the wrongs that we do and uses even the worst of our actions for his good. The horns interject again, this time a minor third higher than before. They try even further to reach the height of God, but fail and fall once again. The bassoon line goes on for longer as the Lord laughs at our futility. There is then a true display of power as the entire orchestra comes together to play a resounding F major chord. The trumpet calls announcing the presence of the true king. Nothing will stand in his way when his wrath is kindled. After this display of power and lordship, people still don’t listen. There is still rebellion and attempts at being God. However the cellos and basses, who are now playing the horn line from earlier, are much quieter than the horns were before, and quickly fall off as a clarinet is heard laughing. This is followed by a hymnlike section where the melody is the God theme. This section also features the same harmony that served as the basis for the first piece. Those who rightly fear the Lord and are rooted in him are worshipping and praising him. They are offering him the reverence he deserves. This is followed by one last triumphant and resounding display of God’s power to end the piece. -------------- Made in Muscore 4