Audio Review: the Book of Psalms Read by Michael York

Michael York has a wonderful reading voice for theTestament read by Gregory Peck. Like Mr. Peck, Mr.
PsalmsYork has a distinct voice that shows he is a
In my imagination, I think that the Psalms read bynoteworthy voice of merit and offers an understanding
Michael York are read as if commissioned by Kingof what he is reading, without getting in the way of the
David. I can't say as if King David himself were readingwords or the text. To say that he is a man with a
the Psalms, for that isn't as accurate as the former, fortrained voice and excellent diction, like Mr. Gregory
the reading is clearly one spoken with eloquence fit forPeck, is to my way of thinking and listening accurate.
any hearer, even King David. High praise, are thoseI have a number of "recorded" readings of Biblical
remarks, and this collection of The Psalms are worthmaterial, including Gregory Peck, Sir Laurence Olivier,
such praise.Alexander Scourby, and the out of print "The Bible"
The style of the reading is clear, musical without(the Old Testament in King James Version) read by
musical background but punctuated by musical notesnumbers of actors with excellent voices. Michael
between readings. The imagination given by MichaelYork's reading of The Psalms is certainly a central part
York, and there is that high praise again for this readingof my collection of such audio recordings, and his voice
of 150 Psalms, comes through for these are rich andis as distinct and memorable as any, if not more so.
moving readings that involve the listener. I have had aHear him say, "Selah," and you will know there is quality
set of these tapes for many years, given one set as ato both the recording and his interpretation.
gift only to discover that they are to be found onlyFor a complete, unabridged reading of the King James
among the used category for sale. Sadly, there will beVersion of The Psalms, one can be pleased to own
a time when the set may go out of print. This is myand listen to this understandable and distinguished
second set of this collection.recording where Michael York reads memorably and
As a note of comparison, there is a collection ofso well these wonderful words of The Psalms.
readings of the King James Version of the Bible's New