Plainchant setting
Anglican chant settings by G. R. Woodward (1848–1934), H. Smart (1813–1879), and L. Flintoft (1680–1727)
Anglican chant settings by J. Bertalot (1931–2026), A. Surplice (1906–1977), and P. Buck (1871–1946)
Anglican chant settings by A. H. Mann (1850–1929), C. F. South (1850–1916), T. A. Walmisley (1814–1856), and W. Wolstenholme (1865–1931)
Anglican chant settings by Joseph Barnby (1838–1896) and C. Hubert Parry (1848–1918)
Plainchant setting
The recordings below are based on the Sarum Psalm tones as presented in the St. Dunstan’s Plainsong Psalter. Verses 1–15 use Tone I B 1. Verses 16–30 use Tone V 3. Verses 31–51 use Tone IV 12.
Anglican chant settings by G. R. Woodward (1848–1934), H. Smart (1813–1879), and L. Flintoft (1680–1727)
Since Psalm 89 has 51 verses, it is often chanted to multiple settings. In the recording below — from a Choral Evensong at the chapel at King’s College, Cambridge — the choir sings verses 1–19 to a setting by G. R. Woodward. Then verses 20–30 employ a chant by Henry Thomas Smart. When in verses 31 and 32 the mood of the text darkens, a much older chant by Luke Flintoft is used. The Smart chant returns for verses 33–36. Since the tone of the text from verses 37 to the end of the Psalm invite the use of a chant in a minor key, the Flintoft chant is used through the Gloria Patri to conclude the psalm. Stephen Cleobury conducts this expressive rendition of the Psalm and Christopher Hughes accompanies at the organ.
Anglican chant settings by J. Bertalot (1931–2026), A. Surplice (1906–1977), and P. Buck (1871–1946)
The Wakefield Cathedral Choir sings Psalm 89 with chants by John Bertalot, Alwyn Surplice, and Percy Buck. The conductor is Thomas Moore and the organist is Simon Earl.
Anglican chant settings by A. H. Mann (1850–1929), C. F. South (1850–1916), T. A. Walmisley (1814–1856), and W. Wolstenholme (1865–1931)
To convey the changes in mood in all 51 verse of Psalm 89, the Gloucester Cathedral Choir uses chants by four different composers: Arthur Henry Mann, Charles Frederick South, Thomas Attwood Walmisley, and William Wolstenholme. The conductor is John Sanders and the organist is Mark Lee.
Anglican chant settings by Joseph Barnby (1838–1896) and C. Hubert Parry (1848–1918)
In this recording of a Choral Evensong at Guildford Cathedral in 1968, the Choir is directed by Barry Rose as they sing all of Psalm 89 with settings by Joseph Barnby and C. Hubert Parry.