Calvary (Daniel Read)

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• (Posted 2015-05-19)  CPDL #35464:  MusicXML

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2015-05-19).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 87 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Oval note edition. The other eight stanzas of Watts' poem added below.

• (Posted 2015-05-19)  CPDL #35463: 

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2015-05-19).   Score information: Unknown, 1 page, 93 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Note shapes added (4-shape). Three selected additional stanzas added below.

General Information

Title: Calvary
First Line: My thoughts, that often mount the skies
Composer: Daniel Read
Lyricist: Isaac Watts

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Hymn   Meter: 86. 86 (C.M.)

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1785

Description: First published in The American Singing-Book, 1785, p. 44; revised 1794. Words by Isaac Watts, 1706, Lyric Poems, entitled Death and Eternity, nine stanzas.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text 1. My thoughts, that often mount the skies, Go search the world beneath, Where nature all in ruin lies, And owns her sovereign, death. 2. The tyrant, how he triumphs here! His trophies spread around! And heaps of dust and bones appear Through all the hollow ground. 3. These skulls, what ghastly figures now! How loathsome to the eyes! These are the heads we lately knew So beauteous and so wise.

4. But where the souls, those deathless things, That left this dying clay ? My thoughts, now stretch out all your wings, And trace eternity. 5. O that unfathomable sea! Those deeps without a shore! Where living waters gently play, Or fiery billows roar. 6. Thus must we leave the banks of life, And try this doubtful sea: Vain are our groans and dying strife To gain a moment's stay.

7. There we shall swim in heavenly bliss, Or sink in flaming waves, While the pale carcass thoughtless lies Among the silent graves. 8. Some hearty friend shall drop his tear On our dry bones, and say, "These once were strong, as mine appear; "And mine must be as they." 9. Thus shall our moldering members teach What, now our senses learn: For dust and ashes loudest preach Man's infinite concern.

Death and Eternity by Isaac Watts, 1706