The Nooksack River is the principal river in Whatcom County, Washington State. From high
in the Cascades, the Nooksack flows westerly through the county before emptying into
Bellingham Bay.
The nature of this river is unpredictable. At times it can run dry, at other times it can
fiercely overrun its banks and engulf fertile farmland with an insatiable voracity. At all
times it serves as a source of life which binds the mountains to the sea in the restless climate
of the Pacific Northwest.
The Nooksack River Psalms draw their inspiration from the personality and presence of the
river in the region. Whether exuberant, somber, or pensive each setting serves as a
reflection on the selected lines from the psalter with the natural splendor of the river in its
banks in the background.
The settings for organ are intended for a modest instrument of two manuals and pedal. The
registrations for each movement are suggested below:
Psalm 87: Bright principals 8´, 4´, 2´ (IV)
Psalm 42:
I: Solo reed, or cornet
II: celestes, or 8´ flute
Pedal: 8´ flute
At ms 22, begin with a principal 8´, adding a 4´, 2´, and mixture in the next
three successive measures. At ms 35, return to the 8´ flute as in the beginning.
Psalm 143: for P dynamics use 8´ and 4´ flutes coupled, for p dynamics use 8´ only.