Stravinsky's faith was in full bloom when he wrote the Symphony of Psalms. This was attested by the fact that he was a regular communicant of the Orthodox Church in 1926.
The Symphony of Psalms was wrenched from the author’s soul. It represented his efforts to explicitly express his faith and desire to pay tribute to God. The resulting effect was a highly dramatic work that evoked man’s inner longings for the everlasting arms of God. The fact that he was a pious believer did not imply that the work should be viewed as a personal confession of faith. Symphony of Psalms is the projection of Stravinsky's own faith which typifies the faith of a devoted congregation. Because of that, Symphony of Psalms never lost its sense of drama.
In the Symphony of Psalms, Stravinsky used three of David's Psalms, in the Latin version of the Vulgate. He presents them in consonance with the spirit exhibited in the Old Testament. Before Christ came and earned salvation for men, man's relation to God, as shown in the sacred Mosaic texts, is incomplete. The grace which comes from God can only be won for the Christians through the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. --Taken from Hodge Podge.
Savour Psalm 38 through Stravinsky. If you enjoy a different rendition and the story behind it, consider posting it.
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