Experimental

Woven wove three passages together; Wayfaring set a story to a song. These are seven more forms, each with two samples, made to be tried in a real room and judged plainly. Voice — and, where the form asks for it, silence. The Dwell and Nightwatch samples now rest on a quiet human-played bed, mixed low; that, too, is in trial. King James Version.

Psalm 23Psalm 23 · read three times, with silence between — 3 minutes · DwellThe Shepherd psalm, read three times through — listen for a word, then for what it asks of you.Isaiah 40:28–31Isaiah 40:28–31 · read three times, with silence between — 3 minutes · DwellThey that wait upon the LORD — the promise read three times, slowly, with room to hear it.Psalm 136Psalm 136 · for his mercy endureth for ever — 2 minutes · AnsweredThe great thanksgiving, read as it was made to be read — a voice, and the answer that never changes.Psalm 24Psalm 24 · Who is this King of glory? — 1 minute · AnsweredThe earth is the LORD's — question and answer at the gates, in two voices.BethlehemMicah 5:2 · Matthew 2:1–6 — 1 minute · Promise KeptThe prophecy of the little town, and the wise men asking where the King is born — the promise, and the promise kept.Behold, Thy KingZechariah 9:9 · Matthew 21:1–9 — 1 minute · Promise KeptRejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion — the King foretold, riding into Jerusalem, and the King arriving, lowly, on a donkey.Psalm 91Psalm 91 · for the night hours — 2 minutes · NightwatchHe that dwelleth in the secret place — read whole, slowly, in one low voice, for the hours when comfort is needed most.Psalm 121Psalm 121 · for the night hours — 1 minute · NightwatchI will lift up mine eyes unto the hills — the Keeper who neither slumbers nor sleeps, read whole and slow.The Aaronic BlessingNumbers 6:24–26 — 1 minute · The BlessingThe blessing God gave Aaron to speak over the people — spoken whole, as a service ends.To Him That Is AbleJude 24–25 — 1 minute · The BlessingNow unto him that is able to keep you from falling — Jude's benediction, spoken whole.MagnificatMary · Luke 1:46–55 — 1 minute · In Their Own WordsMy soul doth magnify the Lord — Mary's own words, in the first person, as she spoke them.Psalm 51David · Psalm 51:1–12 — 2 minutes · In Their Own WordsHave mercy upon me, O God — David's confession in his own words, after Nathan came to him.Ruth 1Ruth · chapter one — Naomi and Ruth — 3 minutes · The Whole StoryThe whole first chapter, read straight through — famine, loss, and whither thou goest, I will go.Ruth 2Ruth · chapter two — the field of Boaz — 4 minutes · The Whole StoryThe whole second chapter — Ruth gleaning in the field, and the kinsman who took knowledge of her.

These pieces also live at The Holland Press: thehollandpress.com/experimental