Our Father: Musical Settings of the Lord’s Prayer
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To round off our commentary on the Our Father, we come to the ways it has been set to music. Prayer rightly inspires and nourishes theological reflection, but it’s always important to come back to prayer. Singing is an excellent way to pray, because it can give voice to the deepest desires of our hearts, and these will lead us to a greater love of God. As St Augustine says, ‘Singing is a lover’s thing’!
There are many beautiful musical settings of the Lord’s Prayer, which vary in many ways. Here is just a small selection which may inspire your own prayer.
1. Roman Missal chant in English (Our Father), adapted from the Latin tone:
2. Roman Missal chant in Latin (Pater Noster, Tonus Solemnis), based on a very ancient melody:
3. Josquin des Prez, early C16th polyphony:
4. Rimsky-Korsakov (Otche Nash, English version), C19th:
5. A modern setting from the Philippines (Ama Namin):
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
– fr. Matthew Jarvis OP and fr. Richard Steenvoorde OP
