Chanting the Psalms: A Practical Guide [With CD (Audio)]

I have not receive this book or the CD which I am so much looking forward to enjoying

Wish I'd found it years ago. First half is an excellent section on the value of daily Psalm chanting; second half is nuts and bolts -- including extremely basic, anyone-can-do-it starting tones. Accompanying CD is very helpful. If you want to chant the Psalms, don't waste your time reading anything else first. Start with this, then move on to other supporting works after you set up your practice.

This book fills a needed spot for me. It is everything that it's title promises, being very practical and very good at guiding the reader to whatever level of involvment you want. The material on the history of Gregorian Chant satisfied my curiosity about that. I chose not to bother with the details of that form of notation, but there is enough in the book to make a good start at learning how to read it. The CD is all that is promised, being of good quality.

I used this book for a class at church last year, and it actually had so much information that I had to select readings and provide overviews for some sections. The most valuable aspect for my class was that Bourgeault is not a trained singer: her 'normal person's voice' on the CD was what encouraged several of the non-singers in the class to take a chance and sing - something they had previously been afraid to try. The historical information is far-reaching. In my opinion, the last chapters of the book that try to bring in all types of modern chants are less effective than the first half of the book.

The book and CD are crystal clear and helpful and persuasive. Of all the ways to God, psalmody is surely one of the most ancient and powerful and is therefore of especial value to those of us who realize that the ancient knowledge of God is to be understood and incorporated right along with our other understandings. That Jesus also did this makes it far more important for those of us who would "follow" Him as He commanded and not just "worship" him. C. de Fontenay

This book is a great follow-on to the author's CD set called Singing the Psalms. This book and CD, combined with Phyllis Tickle's trilogy of The Divine Hours, will give you everything you need in order to pray the Divine Office every day. Recommended for all lay contemplatives who long to practice the monastic path of prayer while still living in the world.