2

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

Psalm 104:1, 24, 2930, 31, 34

Stephen Lay

INTRO Slow gospel style (q. = ca. 66)

Piano

E b/F

j
b ... b

(accompaniment ad lib.)
j
.
.
B b maj7/C

F/C

& b

j j

? .
b

Bb

% REFRAIN: 1st time: Cantor, All repeat; thereafter: All

f
& b .. .

Cantor

F
& b .. . ..

Lord, send out your

Lord, send out your

Lord,

Soprano
Alto

.
? b .. . .
Bass
F
Tenor

Bb

j j

j
.

Spir - it,

.. b b j .
J .

b.
.

E b/F

& b .. ... ... b ...

. .
.
? b .. .
.
.

...
.

b.

j
.

j
.
.
J

b j .

..
.

G 7

b ....

...

and re - new

Spir - it,

Bb

G 7

SAMPLE

12
& b 8 ...

F
? 12 .
b 8
F

the

j
j

J
J

re - new

F/C

...
.

the

j
j

J
J
j
j

Refrain text 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Verse text 1970, 1997, 1998, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. (CCD). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music 2011, Stephen Lay. Published by OCP, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

Edition 30130412

j j

face

of

& b
face

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b

B b maj7/C

?b

J
j

VERSE 1: Cantor

& b .

Bb

1. Bless

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.
? b .

&b

Bb

& b

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earth.

1. O LORD,

..
J .

earth.

w ..

1
Bb

...

.
J

the LORD,

.
J ...
j
.

.
F

...
.

soul!

my God, you are great

j
.

.. w ..
2
Bb

to Verses

...

in - deed!

..

...

.
.. .

...

to Verses

earth.

my

J
Gm7

..
w ..
2

w ..

the

to Verses

earth.

..
w.

w.

the

J
of
j

SAMPLE

&b

& b

...

.
A7/C #

.
# ...

j
#.

...
.
.

Note: Verses 13 may be sung as a duet in which a tenor sings the first four measures and an alto or soprano sings the next four.
Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

&b

&b

Dm7

1. How man - i - fold

& b ...

j
.

j
.

1. earth
F/C

...

...
.

is

of

B b maj7/C

...

...
.

VERSE 2: Cantor

F
& b J

2. May the glo - ry

2. may the LORD

Bb

& b ..
.

? b .

..
.

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

...

crea

...
.
.

of the LORD

be glad
Gm7

j
.

in

all

Bb

..
...
& b

j
?b .

.

&b

Bb

your

Bb

...

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.

...

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full

are your works,

Dm7/C

N ...
.

& b .

?b

SAMPLE

?b

j
.

his

tures.

G/B

.
n ..

j
n.

The

D.S.

D.S.

...

en - dure

j
j

for ev - er;

j
j

.
.

works!

LORD!

j
j

..
.

.
A7/C #

.
# ...

j
#.

...
.
.

2. Pleas

j
.

ing

to

Dm7

...
.
.

& b ...

?b

glad

in

B b maj7/C

...

j .

VERSE 3

F
&b
Cantor

3. If you take a - way

&b
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S
A

Bb

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b

...

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n ..

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n.

D.S.

LORD.
Bb

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their

G/B

be

w.

the

will

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.

...
.

.
..

D.S.

f j

f j n
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breath,

...

if you take a - way

their

J
f
B o 7/A b

n
J
f
b
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3. If you take a - way

their

s.
glis

..
& b

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Bb

theme;

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my

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.

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be

.
...

2. glad,
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him

Dm7/C

& b Nn .
...
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.
& b .

SAMPLE

&b

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

&b

.
3. breath,

..
3. breath,

..

Gm7

& b Ab ....
?b

&b

&b

p
w ..

J J J

they per - ish

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j j

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they per - ish

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3. when you

send

forth

& b n ...
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p
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.

...
.

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

Dm7/C

...

j
.

J J

and re - turn

and re - turn

your

j
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Nn ww ..
Dm7

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j

3. Oo

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to

SAMPLE

&b

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spir - it

their

dust;

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j
# ..
J

j j

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to

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their

dust;

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..

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j
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they are cre - at - ed,

..

Bb

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n ..

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n.

and you re -

and you re -

f
f

& b .

j j j

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3. new

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the face

the face

&

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Lord,

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O

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G

&

of

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the

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FINAL REFRAIN

&

of

..

w.

earth.

..

SAMPLE

3. new

earth.

w.
w.

D7sus4

..

b.

.
.

..

Lord,

send out your

j
n
J

.
.

Spir - it,

F/G

D7

send out your

Lord,

n.
.

.
#.

Spir - it,

j


J

b ...
.

j
#

and

re -

.
.

A 7

.
.

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

&
&

#
#

.
new

J
j

the face

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j

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re - new

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&

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Lord,

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of

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& .

the face

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G/D

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..

Lord,

send out your

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n ...

F/G

.
.

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

earth.

w ..

the

earth.

send out your

n.
.

the

Lord,

..

w.

SAMPLE

w ..

..
..
.

j
n
J

..

molto rit.

b.

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.

Spir - it,

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molto rit.

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molto rit.

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A 7

molto rit.

&

# .
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new

j j

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re - new

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.

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face

face

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w.

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SAMPLE

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Composer Notes
Impassioned, fiery, full-of-wonder, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Blessing, praising, glorifying,
and rejoicing. These are descriptive words I used as a basis for this composition. They can help the
psalmist inherently understand the text of Psalm 104 and lovingly communicate it to the assembly.
The gospel style of accompaniment, harmonization, tempo, and dynamics can truly light a fire in
peoples hearts whether it is sung at confirmation, the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, or Pentecost
Sunday.
After the psalmist intones the refrain and the choir joins with the assembly, I suggest they sing
the melody that first time. Then, after the verses, they should sing the parts written for them. The
piano accompaniment is written merely as a suggestion and it provides a nod to true gospel style.
This song is written for SATB choir, piano, and guitar, and will work well with drums and bass.
Improvisation is expected and encouraged.
Stephen Lay

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

10

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

(Guitar/Vocal)
Psalm 104:1, 24, 2930, 31, 34

Stephen Lay
(E 7)
G 7

INTRO Slow gospel style (q. = ca. 66)

(D) (C/D)
F E b/F

& b 12
8 .

(Kbd)

(G)
Bb

(D/A)
F/C

SAMPLE

Capo 3:

. j . . .

% REFRAIN: 1st time: Cantor, All repeat; thereafter: All

(D)
F

(C/D)
E b/F

Lord,

Lord,

& b .. .

(G)
Bb

send out your Spir - it,

&b

face

of

(G)
Bb

the

&b .

.
J

1. Bless the LORD,

(A)
C

& b J .
1. deed!

(D/A)
F/C

&b .

1. earth

(F # 7/A#)
A7/C #

(D)
F

(Bm7)
Dm7

(G)
Bb

soul!

(Bm7/A)
Dm7/C

j
.

How man - i - fold

(Gmaj7/A)
B bmaj7/C

j
.

is

full

VERSE 2: Cantor

(G)
Bb

& b J

2. May the glo - ry

of

.
of

the LORD

crea

(D)
F

the

(D)
F

.. .

to Verses

earth.

(Em7)
Gm7

O LORD, my God, you are great

(G)
Bb

(G)
Bb

your

(D/A)
F/C

(G)
Bb

are your works,

(D)
F

and re - new

earth.

O my

(D)
F

VERSE 1: Cantor

(G)
Bb

(Gmaj7/A)
B bmaj7/C

j j j

(E 7)
G 7

(G)
Bb

(Gmaj7/A)
B bmaj7/C

en - dure

(E/G # )
G/B

tures.

LORD!

j
j

for

in -

j
. j

(D)
F

ev - er;

the

D.S.

Refrain text 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Verse text 1970, 1997, 1998, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. (CCD). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music 2011, Stephen Lay. Published by OCP, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

Note: Verses 13 may be sung as a duet in which a tenor sings the first four measures and an alto or soprano sings the next four.

(Em7)
Gm7

&b

2. may the LORD

(E/G # )
G/B

(G)
Bb

&b .

2. theme;

be glad

will

be

(G)
Bb

(Em7)
Gm7

&b .

a - way

3. breath,

(Bm7)
Dm7

(Bm7/A)
Dm7/C

&b

they per - ish

j
.

3. when you

(D/A)
F/C

&b .

send

3. new

the

(D/E)
F/G

Lord,

Lord,

#
& .

(Amaj7/B)
Cmaj7/D

#
&

face

(A)
C

# j
&

Spir - it,

of

your

face

send out your Spir - it,

(F # 7)
A 7

of

re - turn

spir - it

(A)
C

the

(E/B)
G/D

and re - new

LORD.

you take

a - way

(F # 7/A#)
A7/C #

their

(E/G # )
G/B

their

#.

dust;

they are cre - at - ed,

(B7sus 4)
D7sus4

earth.

(E/B)
G/D

and re - new

(Amaj7/B)
Cmaj7/D

the face

Lord,

j j

of

the

(D/E)
F/G

Lord,

and you re -

(B7)
D7

the

earth.

if

(E)
G

D.S.

(G # 7/F)
B 7/A b

to

(F # 7)
A 7

the

my

(D)
F

J J

j
j

(A)
C

(A)
C

(G)
Bb

forth

FINAL REFRAIN

(E)
G

and

(Gmaj7/A)
B bmaj7/C

breath,

be

o
o
j

their

J J J

in

(D)
F

.
J

&b
you take

glad

. .

to him

(G)
Bb

j j

glad,

j .

Pleas - ing

(Gmaj7/A)
B bmaj7/C

(Bm7/A)
Dm7/C

his works!

j
.

VERSE 3: Cantor

3. If

. .
J

(D/A)
F/C

j

I

in all

(F # 7/A#) (Bm7)
A7/C #
Dm7

(A)
C

SAMPLE

(G)
Bb

11

the

send out your

(A)
C

earth.

(E)
G

Psalm 104: Lord, Send Out Your Spirit

12

Assembly Edition
PSALM 104: LORD, SEND OUT YOUR SPIRIT

Stephen Lay

&b .

Lord,

new

Verses

Lord,

SAMPLE

Refrain
& b 12
8 .

send out your Spir - it,

the

face

1. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
The earth is full of your creatures.
2. May the glory of the LORD endure for ever;
may the LORD be glad in all his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad, glad in the LORD.

j j

of

the

and re -

w.

earth.

..

3. If you take away their breath,

if you take away their breath,
they perish and return to their dust;
when you send forth your spirit
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

Text: Psalm 104:1, 24, 2930, 31, 34. Refrain text 1969, 1981, 1997,
International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Verses text 1970, 1997, 1998, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. (CCD). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music 2011, Stephen Lay. Published by OCP, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.

For reprint permissions, please visit LicenSingOnline.org or contact us at 1-800-452-9805.