Sappho (William Billings)

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• CPDL #15317: 

Editor: Tim Henderson (submitted 2007-11-04).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 253 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Taken from Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music 2nd ed 1820

General Information

Title: Sappho
Composer: William Billings
Lyricist: Isaac Watts

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Hymn

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published:

Description: Text set is Isaac Watts' Sapphick Ode "When the fierce North wind, with his airy forces, Rears up the Baltic to a foaming fury"

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text

When the fierce North-wind with his airy forces
Rears up the Baltic to a foaming fury;
And the red lightning with a storm of hail comes
Rushing amain down;

How the poor sailors stand amazed and tremble,
While the hoarse thunder, like a bloody trumpet,
Roars a loud onset to the gaping waters
Quick to devour them.

Such shall the noise be, and the wild disorder
(If things eternal may be like these earthly),
Such the dire terror when the great Archangel
Shakes the creation;

Stop here, my fancy: (all away, ye horrid
Doleful ideas!) come, arise to Jesus,
How He sits God-like! and the saints around Him
Throned, yet adoring!

O may I sit there when He comes triumphant,
Dooming the nations! then ascend to glory,
While our Hosannas all along the passage
Shout the Redeemer!