Bless the Lord, O My Soul

A prolific composer of music in many genres, Richard Toensing (b. 1940) converted to the Orthodox faith in 1997, and has since devoted his energies to composing works on Orthodox liturgical texts. This setting of the “Psalm of Creation” (Ps. 103 [104]), the Introductory Psalm of Orthodox Vespers, is inspired by the practice of antiphonal singing, which, tradition tells us, goes all the way back to St. Ignatius of Antioch in the first century A.D.  In the present instance, however,  the “antiphony” is between choir and congregation, rather than between two choirs. The serene and joyful character of the setting makes it particularly appropriate for festive celebrations of Vespers, as well as general anthem use.