Resources

Jazz Psalms CD: Music from Jazz Vespers at Calvin College,
featuring Daniel Richardson and Angel Napieralski (Calvin College, 2004)

CICW Connection
The Worship Institute is eager to promote psalm-singing in numerous forms and in many cultural contexts so that these ancient, inspired texts may deepen and transform our worship.  As we sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, may the Word of God dwell in us richly.

Basic Description
Every week at Calvin College, on Thursday evening, in the coffee shop known as the "Cave," students gather to walk through an ancient prayer service in a contemporary, creative, informal, improvisational, and multi-sensory way.  It's called Jazz Vespers.  A bold Kuyperian experiment, it combines music, poetry, art, scripture, prayer, and live jazz.  A key piece of this time is the evening Psalm—a song of faith or doubt, praise or lament (or all of the above)—offered responsively:  singing, speaking, singing, speaking.  The tracks on this CD were built upon the Psalms prepared for these prayer services. 

You are permitted, even encouraged to use these Psalms in your own worship. 

Listen to samples:
Psalm 63: My Soul Thirsts for God
Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light and My Stronghold
Psalm 107: Praise the Name of the Lord
Psalm 98: Sing, Sing a New Song to the Lord God

Also, sheet music (lead-sheet format) and performance suggestions are available.

Order CD or sheet music from Calvin Campus Store.

Jazz Vespers: A Contemporary Riff on an Ancient Prayer Service by Ron Rienstra (Reformed Worship)

Publisher Information
This project is made possible by support from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship at Calvin College.  See related publication Music of the Genevan Psalter.