Black Psalmody Database
Choral Settings of the Psalms by Black Composers
About the Psalter
The Psalter is the first book of the final section of the Tanakh, or the Torah-Hebrew Bible. It is also the longest book of the Christian Bible with 150 Chapters. The word "Psalm" comes from the Greek work psalmoi which means "songs sung to a harp or instrument." Psalms were typically sung by an individual or a group and was accompanied by an instrument.
Types of Psalms
(As classified by Herman Gunkel)
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Hymns
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Communal Laments
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Individual Laments
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Royal Psalms
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Psalms of Thanksgiving
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Prophetic
Walter Bruggemann's Classification
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Psalms of Orientation
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Psalms of Disorientation
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Psalms of New Orientation
Authorship
King David authored 73 psalms. There are approximately 76 additional psalms attributed to him but its authorship cannot be confirmed.
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Asaph authored a dozen psalms.
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The Korahites authored 11 and have 12 attributed to them.
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Moses authored Psalm 90.
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Two are authored by the Ezrahites:
Psalm 88 (Herman) and Psalm 89 (Ethan).
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The rest of the psalms have no author or attributor.
DEFINING BLACK PSALMODY
​Black Psalmody is a framework within the Afrocentric paradigm that helps us interrogate, interpret, and embody the Psalms in our daily lives.