Let the Peoples Praise You is a diverse, accessible and joyful collection of twenty psalms for general use throughout the church year. These psalms are available in a singable range, with memorable melodies, for cantor and keyboard, often augmented with parts for SATB choir and optional additional instrumentation such as guitar, handbells, flute, violin and cello. Some are set with through-composed verses, others with metrical verses, and a few are available in gospel style. They were written with prayer, praise, and proclamation in mind for weddings, funerals, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Holy Week, Easter, Morning and Evening Prayer, Ecumenical Prayer Services and Sundays through the Church Year. Printable refrains for worship aids are available for download on litpress.org and through OneLicense.
Karen Schneider Kirner has been a liturgical musician, working in Campus Ministry and serving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, for over two decades. At the University of Notre Dame, she currently directs the Notre Dame Bronze Handbell Ensemble and serves as Assistant Director and Organist for the Notre Dame Folk Choir. Karen is classically trained, with an organ performance degree from Ball State University, an M.M./M.A.R. from Yale University as a student in their Institute for Sacred Music, Worship and the Arts, and pursued further studies in Vienna, Austria. She has served as a full-time musician in Connecticut, New York, and Ohio, in addition to Indiana. She is supported in her vocation by her husband Scott, twin daughters Emma and Claire, and son Joseph.
"When Karen Kirner writes a piece, she utilizes a sonic palette that is lively, vast and engaging. The settings in this collection are richly constructed and variegated, illustrating Scripture with evocative sounds and surprises . . . and the assembly, as a result, is brought ever closer to the power of the Word of God in their midst." "My own choir has enjoyed Ms. Kirner's wonderful choral pieces for years and these settings are presented at the same high standard. Her melodies are elegant and singable; the accompaniments are playable on piano or organ; the beautiful text settings flow logically and easily . . . These wonderful pieces deserve a place in parish libraries everywhere." "Karen's apposite musical expressions of faith, including a fresh setting of Psalm 128: Blest Are Those Who Fear the Lord (from The Order of Celebrating Matrimony), help to convey the transcendent dignity of our liturgies, and are sure to inspire the voice of the faithful church at prayer." "This collection of Psalms set to original melodies will be a welcome addition to the repertoire of any music ministry. The psalms are among the most popular for liturgy and the melodies are crafted with both a prayerful and singable intent. A wonderful collection."
Catholic Media Association