Psalm 25.
Ad te, Domine, levavi

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Plainchant from the St. Dunstan’s Plainsong Psalter
Anglican chant setting by John Goss
Anglican chant setting by Cyril Musgrave and James Dear
Ad te levavi animam meam, by G. P. da Palestrina
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam, by Alessandro Scarlatti

Plainchant setting

The recording below is based on the Sarum Psalm tones as presented in the St. Dunstan’s Plainsong Psalter. It is chanted to Tone I A 9.

Anglican chant setting by John Goss

While parishioners may not recognize his name, they have almost certainly sung some of his music. Sir John Goss (1800–1880) wrote the hymn tune LAUDA ANIMA, to which we sing “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” (#282). Another of his much loved hymn tunes (sadly not in our Hymnal) is HUMILITY, to which is often sung the Christmas carol “See, amid the winter’s snow.” He served as organist it St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, from 1838 until his retirement in 1872, the year he was knighted by Queen Victoria.

Below Psalm 25 is sung to an Anglican chant setting composed by Goss. The singers are the Rochester Cathedral Choir conducted by Roger Sayer with Barry Ferguson at the organ.

Anglican chant setting by Cyril Musgrave (1887–1921) and James Dear (1870–1953)

The recording below features settings by organists Cyril Musgrave and James Dear. It is sung by the Salisbury Cathedral Choir, conducted by David Halls. Daniel Cook is at the organ.

Ad te levavi animam meam, by G. Palestrina (1525–1594)

The first two verse of Psalm 25 are sung as the Introit on the First Sunday in Advent, so many composers have set it to music. Below is a setting by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina sung by the Gesualdo Six, conducted by Owain Park.

Ad te Domine levavi animam meam by A. Scarlatti (1660–1725)

Our choir has frequently sung the first two verse of Psalm 25 as set by Alessandro Scarlatti. That motet is sung below by the choir of Saint Luke’s Ordinariate Parish, Washington D.C..