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Performance to performance: Reading Psalm 145 through a 'performance lens, and presenting the psalm using African performance features

Details

Author: June Dickie

Year: 2021

Track(s):
  • Theory & Practice

Abstract

Psalm 145 has been described as both ‘an example of sophisticated poetic art’ and as ‘poetically worthless.’ Reading the Hebrew text as performance literature reveals a compelling responsorial structure. This paper examines the call-response format as used in West and South Africa and presents an empirical study with South African youth performing the psalm.

About the Author

SIL Global; Wycliffe South Africa

June Dickie has been working on the Psalms for ten years. She is part of the ‘Psalms that Sing’ team, and while working with three African communities, she has been able to study rhythm patterns with keen interest.