Part 4: Psalm

John Coltrane (tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). From the album A Love Supreme (1965).

In this theme, it is best to listen without preambles, without knowing its meaning. Coltrane’s saxophone sounds serene and peaceful, without anguish or confusion. The melodies remember the divinity and human defects are gone. Coltrane has already met with God. If the first three themes described the trinity and the internal conflicts of Coltrane, the fourth is a praise of God as supreme being. No more piano, double bass or drum solos, just the saxophone.

But there’s a secret in this album that Coltrane didn’t reveal. In the album folder was a poem written by Coltrane himself in the form of a prayer. But some experienced listeners found that the melodies of this theme corresponded to the phrases of the prayer printed in the folder. Each note belonged to a syllable. Therefore, the theme is the musical interpretation of prayer to show his faith. He first spoke to us about God on the first theme, but now he speaks directly to Him.

It is not necessary to belong to any religion to appreciate the content of this message. For Coltrane, this album contained a religious truth that was the most important thing in life and anyone can benefit from this artistic legacy. It is a work that stands out for its different approach: it is spiritual as well as musical.