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PaperclipPerfector  4d ago (text post)   2362 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for December 19, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I find Anglican Chant underrated. It descends from traditional European liturgical chant, the Gregorian chant, but adds harmony and new melodies. The text used is often an old rendering of the psalms in 17th century English or earlier. It is the music of America’s beginnings: not only was the first song ever sung in America from an Anglican psalter (a song of thanksgiving, which you could still sing today if you so desired), but more than half of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Anglican and three of the first five presidents.

Sometimes the chants sound like they would fit well in a supernatural and dramatic RPG like Bloodborne, if you were to slow them and add reverb some effects. (Some imagination required). They can be delightfully pitiful, and few music settings can capture this spirit well, certainly no settings still in use today outside of well-endowed Cathedrals.

Turn thee, O Lᴏʀᴅ, and deliver my soul;

O save me, for thy mercy’s sake.

For in death no man remembereth thee;

and who will give thee thanks in the pit?

Other settings are glorious and joyful, of course:

He hath made the round world so sure,

that it cannot be moved.

Ever since the world began, hath thy seat been prepared:

thou art from everlasting.

The floods are risen, O Lᴏʀᴅ, the floods have lift up their voice;

the floods lift up their waves.

The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly;

but yet the Lᴏʀᴅ who dwelleth on high is mightier.

My favorite is from the Queen’s funeral, I think.

Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? • or whither shall I go then from thy presence? • If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; • if I go down to hell, thou art there also. • If I take the wings of the morning, • and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea; • Even there also shall thy hand lead me, • and thy right hand shall hold me. • If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me; • then shall my night be turned to day. • Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day; • the darkness and light to thee are both alike. • For my reins are thine

Now a lot of the musical settings are bad, sadly, but when they’re good they’re really good. And it’s an acquired taste, as they insist on fitting each line of variable size into the same steady melody.

The psalms are interesting because they’re so… self-absorbed. Almost narcissistic. “For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear is on every side; while they conspire together against me, and take their counsel to take away my life.” So dramatic! It’s like the most dramatic teenager telling you about drama in their school (they all hate me… they want me dead…). The psalms were always designed to be communally-sung, even if ascribed to David, so this is interesting to dwell on — songs that are communal while conveying so much individualistic conceit. But I guess this isn’t unusual in popular music, where people rap along to gangster rap about opps and triumphing against them.

Pslams are great for the drama, which can really come out with modern translations/settings:

Psalm 2:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain….

You will rule them with an iron scepter
You will dash them to pieces like Pottery
Therefore you kings be wise, be warned
You rulers of the Earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling!

Psalm 6:

Lord, I am weary with my groaning.
Lord, I drench my couch with tears.
I waste away from grief.

Psalm 7:

Or they'll devour my soul, like a lion
Tearing me to pieces while my screams ring out in vain!

Psalm 10:

For the wicked in their pride
Refuse to seek Him
All of their thoughts are,
"There is no God."

And his ways seem to prosper all the time
Your judgements are too high
They're out of his sight!

Psalm 14:

As if they were bread, they consume
They devour my people
They never call on the Lord
Too busy doing wrong

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