Modern Musick (William Billings)

From ChoralWiki

Music files

• CPDL #4152: Finale-2001.
  

Editor: Rafael Ornes (added 2002-11-05).   Score information: 6 pages, 216 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Modern Musick
Composer: William Billings

Number of voices: 4vv  Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Anthems
Language: English
Instruments: none
Published: Psalm-Singer's Amusement, The (1781)

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text

We are met for a concert of modern invention;

To tickle the ear is our present intention.

The audience are seated expecting to be treated

With a piece of the best, with a piece of the best.

And since we all agree to set the tune on E,

The author's darling key he prefers to the rest

[Next four lines simultaneously]

Let the bass take the lead and firmly proceed till the parts are agreed to fuge away. To

Let the tenor succeed and follow the lead till the parts are agreed to

Let the counter inspire the rest of the choir inflam'd with desire to

Let the treble in the rear no longer forbear, but expressly declare for a

fuge away.

Then change to brisker time and up the ladder climb,

And down again; then mount the second time

And end the strain

Then change the key to pensive tones

And slow in treble time the notes exceeding low

Keep down a while then rise by slow degrees;

The Process will surely not fail to please.

Thro' common and treble we jointly have run

We'll give you their essence compounded in one

Altho' we are strongly attached to the rest

Six-four is the movement that pleases us best, that pleases us best.

Six-four is the movement that pleases us best.

And now we address you as friends to the cause;

Performers are modest and write their own laws.

Altho' we are sanguine and clap at the bars,

'Tis part of the hearers to clap their applause, to clap their applause.

'Tis part of the hearers to clap their applause.