La música cristiana es de origen judío: la liturgia musical de la sinagoga, en particular el canto psalmódico de los judíos como unidad poética musical, fue un legado preciado transmitido del Israel antiguo al cristianismo primitivo, como forma de manifestar tanto a nivel personal como comunitario las creencias religiosas y la fe en Dios.
My thoughts trouble me and I'm distraught
At the voice of the enemy
At the stares of the wicked;
For they bring down suffering upon me
And revile me in their anger
Confuse the wicked O Lord,
Confound their speech,
For I see violence and strife in the city.
Threats and lies never leave its streets.
"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove
I would fly away and be at rest"
My heart is in anguish within me;
The terrors of death assail me.
Fear and trembling have beset me;
Horror has overwhelmed me
and revile me in their anger
[Ps. 55]