Okay, so here’s some clarification on the rules for the Psalm-Off. What we are looking for is contemporary arrangements and instrumentation that leave the lyrics whole and entire and the melody line basically intact. New arrangements of these melodies could alter rhythms or harmonies, but we would like it to be recognizably the same song — as in the samples I linked to.
Now here is where the leeway comes in. We are not against, and do not harbor dark feelings toward, those who might send in recorded psalms that are 1. Reformation psalms not found in the Cantus, 2. Reformation psalm lyrics from the Cantus with a new melody line entirely, or 3. a combination of 1 & 2, that being a new melody for a Reformation psalm not found in the Cantus. We love you all in the Lord. But the initial round of judging will be of psalms from the Cantus with lyrics intact and melodies recognizable.
Now, there are a few things that could happen. Suppose we get twenty entries that fit the bill, and enough of them are good enough to go on this album. We go with them, and use the good outlier entries as a jump start on a second album project. Suppose we get twenty entries that fit the bill but seventeen of them are stinkers, and seven of the outliers are fantastic. Well, making an album of what we have that is good is better than the option of scratching the whole thing. If we get 10 great entries that fit the bill, and one great outlier, then we just add a bonus track. But, everything else being equal, we are going for lyrics and melodies out of the Cantus for Reformation-era psalms.
Sorry for anything confusion I may have caused. I think it was my understanding of “arrangement” that did it.