Quick question for my Orthodox readers who regularly attend or chant Matins — what do you do for Psalm 50 (i. e., read, intone, chant, skip altogether), and what informs this practice? Are you aware of an “official” or “authoritative” rubric being one thing and your parish practice being something else? Are you aware of your parish practice being either standard or deviating from your diocesan or jurisdictional norm? If you could answer along with your parish location and jurisdiction, that would also be great to know. I am just trying to get a sense of the range of what is done out there — in other words, this is strictly a matter of data-gathering. Thank you in advance!
Straw poll regarding local liturgical practice
Published 4 July 2010 General , The Orthodox Faith 2 CommentsTags: liturg, liturgical adventures, liturgical music, liturgical texts and translation, liturgy, matins, orthros, psalm 50
Leitourgeia kai Qurbana: Contra den Zeitgeist 
Hi, We chant Psalm 50 on Sunday, during the week days, the Orthros book usually says to read it. Even on some Sundays it is suppose to be read.
St. Gregory of Nyssa, G.O.C., El Cajon, CA
Hi,
I’m the lambadarios at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, in New York City.
There is indeed a standard practice for this. According to the rubric of the Great Church (i.e., the practice of the Patriarchate of Constantinople,) the psalm is read on weekdays and feasts of the Lord (including those that fall on Sundays), but chanted otherwise on Sundays in the Second Tone. Obviously we observe this practice.
I am aware of some communities where the chanters sing this in the tone of the week, rather than Second Tone; but I’m not sure if this local variation is sanctioned by the Typicon.
And I’ve participated in some weekday services where I’ve been instructed to skip this or that for time reasons, but Psalm 50 is NEVER omitted.
Best regards,