The Bible and Music

This chant has an overall pensive feeling sung with lyrics to praise God in deep voices from both males and females. There is a sturdy, lower undertone that is usually a static, single note with a more harmonious bridge playing on top that drives the melody of the chant. The different tones compliment each other to create a chant that sounds both like a song and like a war march. When the women voices come in the feeling of the chant is more song-like, but still solemn and steady. It is interesting to read the lyrics with the music because if I had not read the lyrics I would have assumed this is a chant for mourning or something sad due to the slow, melancholic tones. However, the Old Slavonic Psalm 134 is actually a chant of praise with lyrics like, “For I know the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all the gods, Hallelujah!”  This line of adoration and exclamation contrasts the solemn chanting.  The chant gradually builds up to more intense notes and contrasts towards the end while still maintaining the main theme of reverence. I am assuming the language is Arabic or Hebrew due to the translation at the bottom of the video, but I can still understand when they are repeating Hallelujah.