Psalm 122
Psalm 122 (Laetatus sum or commonly I Was Glad) is one of 15 psalms from the Book of Psalms that begin with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot).
Uses in Judaism
- Is recited following Mincha between Sukkot and Shabbat Hagadol.[1]
Psalm 122 is recited to the Mishnah, and the Sabbath between sukkot Hagadol, and on the Sabbath following Tisha B'Av in some traditions. Verses 7-9 are part of the Talmud Berachos 64a4.
- Is recited on Shabbat Nachamu (the Shabbat after Tisha B'Av) in some traditions.[2]
- Verses 7-9 are part of Talmud Berachos 64a.[3]
Catholics
According to the rule of St. Benedict set to 530, this Psalm was traditionally performed during the third act of the week, that is to say Tuesday - Saturday after Psalm 120 (119) and Psalm 121 (120).[4]
In the Liturgy of Hours today, Psalm 122 is recited or sung at Vespers on Saturday the quatrième6 week. In the liturgy of the Mass, he read the Christ the King feast, the first Sunday of Advent time of year A7 and the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time of the year C.
Settings in music
- Monteverdi set the Latin (Vulgate) text, Laetatus sum, at least three times, in his Vespers of 1610 and twice as a stand-alone motet in 1643.
- Charpentier set the same text in 1671, again as a motet, catalogued as H161.
- Jommelli did the same, in 1743.
- The Book of Common Prayer version, I was glad, is used in Parry's 1902 coronation anthem of that name.
- The same English text was used for coronation music by Purcell and others.
- Herbert Howells set verses 6 and 7 in his anthem "O, pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
- In 1676 Biber conceives a name piece (C.9) to Salzburg. In 1693, Michel-Richard Delalande wrote his grand motet (S.47), but unfortunately, today lost.
- More recently in the twentieth century Hubert Parry made an English version, I Was glad for the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglicans. The composer Purcell, but others, also used the English text.
