The Continental Harmony (William Billings)
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General information
Publication
William Billings' book The Continental Harmony was published in 1794: the date of publication is given in the imprint, which states that the book was 'Printed, Typographically, at Boston, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews. Sold at their Bookstore, No. 45, Newbury Street; by said Thomas in Worcester; and by the Booksellers in Boston, and elsewhere.' The Hymn Tune Index notes that the book was advertised as 'just published' in the Columbian Centinel on 1 February 1794.
Publication date and place: 1794 by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews in Boston.
Description of contents
The book contains 17 anthems and 34 hymn or metrical psalm tunes. With the exception of one tune, 'Connection' (which is used as a frontispiece) these are preceded (on pages 3-34) by a lengthy preface, consisting of a page illustrating 'Musical Characters', an introduction to the rudiments of music addressed 'To the several Teachers of MUSIC, in this and the adjacent States' (which Billings recommends as a structure for teaching music), and 'A Commentary on the preceding Rules; by way of Dialogue, between Master and Scholar'.
List of works
- LIST A
| Pages | Title and Description from 1794 | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Frontispiece | Connection | Hail! Sacred music, hail! |
| 35-41 | An Anthem; for Thanksgiving. Psalm 148. | O praise the Lord of heaven |
| 42-47 | An Anthem, for Fast Day. Isaiah, Chap. 1st. | Hear, hear, O heavens |
| 47-48 | Great-Plain. Words from Dr. Watts. | Ye slumb'ring saints, a heav'nly host |
| 49 | Rocky-Nook. Words from Dr. Watts. | Those glorious minds, how bright they shine |
| 50 | West-Sudbury. Words from Mr. John Peck | Here is a song, which doth belong |
| 51 | Norfolk. Words by Dr. Watts. | Let the old heathen tune their song |
| 52-54 | Creation. Words by Dr. Watts. | When I with pleasing wonder stand |
| 55 | St. John’s. Words by Dr. Watts. | Where are the mourners, saith the Lord |
| 56 | Cross-Street. Words from Addison. | The Lord my pasture shall prepare |
| 57-58 | Invocation. | Majestic God, our muse inspire |
| 58-59 | Bellingham. Words by Dr. Watts. | Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme |
| 59-60 | Cohasset. Words by Dr. Watts. | Life is the time to serve the Lord |
| 61-62 | Egypt. Words by Dr. Watts. | Come, see the wonders of our God |
| 62-63 | Revelation. Words by Dr. Watts. | Let all the heathen writers join |
| 64-65 | Washington-Street. Words by Dr. Watts. | Now shall my inward joys arise |
| 66 | Thomas-Town. Words by Dr. Biles. | Great God, how frail a thing is man |
| 67 | St. Enoch. For a Thanksgiving, after a Victory. | Sing to the Lord a new-made song |
| 68 | Morning Hymn. Words by Dr. Watts. | Once more, my soul, the rising day |
| 69 | Sudbury. Words by Mr. John Peck. | What if the saint must die |
| 70-74 | An Anthem. For Thanksgiving Day Morning. | Sing praises to the Lord, O ye saints of his |
| 74-75 | Weymouth. Words by Dr. Watts. | Shall we go on to sin |
| 76-81 | An Anthem. Solomon’s Songs, Chap. 5th. | I am come into my garden |
| 81 | Rochester. Words by the Rev. George Whitefield. | Ye servants of God, your master proclaim |
| 82 | Gilead. Words by Dr. Watts. | Salvation! O, the joyful sound |
| 83 | South-Boston. Words by Dr. Watts. | Join all the glorious names |
| 84-94 | An Anthem. Psalm 44th. | We have heard with our ears |
| 95-96 | Dedham. Words by Dr. Watts. | Rejoice, ye shining worlds on high |
| 97-104 | Universal Praise: An Anthem, for Thanksgiving-Day, taken from Psalm 149, &c. | O praise God, praise him in his holiness |
| 105-116 | An Anthem for Ordination. Words from Tate & Brady, Scripture, &c. | O thou to whom all creatures bow |
| 117-127 | An Anthem for Christmas. Words from Luke 2d. and elsewhere. | Hark! Hark! hear you not |
| 127-129 | St. Thomas. Words from Dr. Watts | Methinks I see my Saviour dear |
| 129-130 | Broad Cove. Words from Dr. Watts | Time, what an empty vapor 'tis |
| 131-137 | Deliverance, An Anthem. Words from sundry scriptures, &c. | I will love thee, O Lord my strength |
| 138-143 | Variety, without Method. An Anthem. Psalm 60. | O God, thou hast been displeased |
| 144 | Hopkinton. Words from George Whitefield. | Lo, he cometh; countless trumpets |
| 145-151 | An Anthem, for Fast Day. Some of the words from scripture. | Mourn, mourn |
| 152 | East Sudbury. Words from Dr. Watts. | Ye tribes of Adam, join |
| 153 | Adams. Words from Dr. Watts. | To spend one sacred day |
| 154 | Clarimont. A Hymn for Easter. Words Anon. | Arise and hail the sacred day |
| 155-159 | An Anthem. Solomon’s Songs. | I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem |
| 160-164 | An Anthem. Psalm 126. | When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion |
| 164-168 | The dying Christian’s last farewell. Spoken in the tenor. | My friends, I am going a long journey |
| 169-170 | New-Plymouth. Words by Tate and Brady. | O Lord, our fathers oft have told |
| 170-171 | Victory. Words by Dr. Watts. | To thine almighty arm, we owe |
| 171-176 | Sublimity, an Anthem. Psalm 19. | The heavens declare the glory of God |
| 176-184 | An Anthem. Psalm 108. For Thanksgiving Day Morning. | O God, my heart is fixed |
| 184-185 | St. Andrew’s. Words by Dr. Watts. | Behold the glories of the Lamb |
| 185-186 | Cobham. Words by Dr. Watts. | Teach me the measure of my days |
| 186-197 | An Anthem. Joel, 1st and 2d Chap. Suitable for Fast. | Sanctify a fast |
| 198-199 | Lewis-Town. Words by Tate and Brady. | How vast must their advantage be |
- LIST B
| No. | Pg. | HTI* | Title | First Line | Author | Key | Meter | Time | Vo. | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 4007 | Connection | Hail, sacred music, hail | A | S.M. | 3:4 | 4 | ||
| 2 | 35 | An Anthem for Thanksgiving | O praise the Lord of heaven | F | Anthem | 3:4 | 4 | Psalm 148 | ||
| 3 | 42 | An Anthem for Fast Day | Hear, O heavens, and give ear | f | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Isaiah Ch. 1 | ||
| 4 | 47 | 6710 | Great-Plain | Ye slumbering saints, a heavenly host | Isaac Watts | a | L.M. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 5 | 49 | 6718 | Rocky-Nook | Those glorious minds, how bright they shine | Isaac Watts | G | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 6 | 50 | 6726 | West-Sudbury | Here is a song which doth belong | John Peck | f | C.M.D. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 7 | 51 | 6716 | Norfolk | Let the old heathen tune their song | Isaac Watts | E | L.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 8 | 52 | 4100b | Creation | When I with pleasing wonder stand | Isaac Watts | F | C.M.D. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 9 | 55 | 6721 | St. John's | Where are the mourners, saith the Lord | Isaac Watts | g | L.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 10 | 56 | 6705 | Cross-Street | The Lord my pasture shall prepare | Joseph Addison | C | 88.88.88. | 3:4 | 4 | |
| 11 | 57 | 6712 | Invocation | Majestic God, our muse inspire | William Billings | C | L.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 12 | 58 | 6700 | Bellingham | Begin my tongue some heavenly theme | Isaac Watts | E | C.M.D. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 13 | 59 | 6704 | Cohasset | Life is the time to serve the Lord | Isaac Watts | a | L.M. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 14 | 61 | 6708 | Egypt | Come see the wonders of our God | Isaac Watts | C | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 15 | 62 | 4123b | Revelation | Let all the heathen writers join | Isaac Watts | a | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 16 | 64 | 6725 | Washington-Street | Now shall my inward joys arise | Isaac Watts | F | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 17 | 66 | 6723 | Thomas-Town | Great God, how frail a thing is an | Mather Byles | g | C.M.D. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 18 | 67 | 6720 | St. Enoch | Sing to the Lord a new-made song | Tate & Brady | C | 8.6.8.6 | 2:2 | 4 | Thanksgiving after a victory. |
| 19 | 68 | 6714 | Morning Hymn | Once more, my soul, the rising day | Isaac Watts | C | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 20 | 69 | 6727 | Sudbury | What if the saint must die | John Peck | C | S.M.D. | 6:4 | 4 | |
| 21 | 70 | Anthem for Thanksgiving Day Morning | Sing praises to the Lord | C | Anthem | 3:2 | 4 | |||
| 22 | 74 | 6728 | Weymouth | Shall we go on to sin | Isaac Watts | g | S.M. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 23 | 76 | Anthem | I am come into my garden | a | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Song of Solomon Ch. 5 | ||
| 24 | 81 | 6717 | Rochester | Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim | Charles Wesley | C | 10 10.11 11. | 6:4 | 4 | |
| 25 | 82 | 6709 | Gilead | Salvation, O the joyful sound | Isaac Watts | C | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 26 | 83 | 6722 | South-Boston | Join all the glorious names | Isaac Watts | C | 66.66.88. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 27 | 84 | Anthem | We have heard with our ears | E | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Psalm 44 | ||
| 28 | 95 | 6706 | Dedham | Rejoice, ye shining worlds on high | Isaac Watts | C | L.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 29 | 97 | Universal Praise | O praise God, praise him in his holiness | C | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Thanksgiving Day, Psalm 149 | ||
| 30 | 105 | An Anthem for Ordination | O thou to whom all creatures bow | Tate & Brady | C | Anthem | 3:2 | 4 | ||
| 31 | 117 | An Anthem for Christmas | Hark! Hear you not a cheerful noise | C | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | |||
| 32 | 127 | 4099b | St. Thomas | Methinks I see my Savior dear | Isaac Watts | c | C.M.D. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 33 | 129 | 6701 | Broad Cove | Time, what an empty vapor tis | Isaac Watts | g | C.M. | 3:2 | 4 | |
| 34 | 131 | Deliverance | I will love thee, O Lord my strength | C | Anthem | 2:4 | 4 | |||
| 35 | 138 | Variety, without Method | O God, thou hast been displeased | B♭ | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Psalm 60 | ||
| 36 | 144 | 6711 | Hopkinton | Lo, he cometh; countless trumpets | Whitefield | B | 87.87.87. | 2:4 | 4 | |
| 37 | 145 | An Anthem for Fast Day | Mourn, Pharoah and Ahab prevail | c | Anthem | 3:2 | 4 | |||
| 38 | 152 | 6707 | East Sudbury | Ye tribes of Adam join | G | 66.66.88. | 2:2 | 4 | ||
| 39 | 153 | 6699 | Adams | To spend one sacred day | Isaac Watts | C | 66.66.88. | 6:4 | 4 | |
| 40 | 154 | 6702 | Clarimont | Arise and hail the sacred day | Joseph Stephenson | C | 886.886. | 6:8 | 4 | |
| 41 | 155 | An Anthem | I charge you, O ye daughters | C | Anthem | 3:4 | 4 | Song of Solomon | ||
| 42 | 160 | An Anthem | When the Lord turned again | F | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Psalm 126 | ||
| 43 | 164 | The Dying Christian's Last Farewell | My friends, I am going a long journey | g | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | |||
| 44 | 169 | 6715 | New Plymouth | O Lord, our fathers oft have told | Tate & Brady | C | C.M.D. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 45 | 170 | 6724 | Victory | To thine almighty arm | Isaac Watts | B | C.M.D. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 46 | 171 | Sublimity | The heavens declare the glory of God | C | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Psalm 19 | ||
| 47 | 176 | An Anthem | O God, my heart is fixed | G | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Psalm 108. | ||
| 48 | 184 | 6719 | St. Andrew's | Behold the glories of the Lamb | Isaac Watts | C | C.M. | 2:2 | 4 | |
| 49 | 185 | 6703 | Cobham | Teach me the measure of my days | Isaac Watts | a | C.M.D. | 6:8 | 4 | |
| 50 | 186 | An Anthem | Sanctify a fast | g | Anthem | 2:2 | 4 | Joel Ch. 1-2 | ||
| 51 | 198 | 6713 | Lewis-Town | How vast must their advantage be | Tate & Brady | C | C.M.D. | 2:2 | 4 |
Works at CPDL
| Title | First Line | Lyricist | Genre | Subgenre | Vo. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | To spend one sacred day | Isaac Watts | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| An Anthem for Christmas | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Bellingham | Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Broad Cove | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Clarimont | Joseph Stephenson | Sacred | Carols | 4 | |
| Cobham | Teach me the measure of my days | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Cohasset | Life is the time to serve the Lord | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Connection | Hail! Sacred music, hail! | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Creation | When I with pleasing wonder stand | Isaac Watts | Sacred | Anthems | 4 |
| Cross-Street | The Lord my pasture shall prepare | Joseph Addison | Sacred | 4 | |
| Dedham | Rejoice, ye shining worlds on high | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Deliverance | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| East Sudbury | Ye tribes of Adam, join | Isaac Watts | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Egypt | Come, see the wonders of our God | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Gilead | Salvation! O, the joyful sound | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Great-Plain | Ye slumb'ring saints, a heav'nly host | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Hear, hear, O heavens | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Hopkinton | Lo, he cometh; countless trumpets | John Cennick | Sacred | 4 | |
| I am come into my garden | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Invocation | Majestic God, our muse inspire | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | |
| Lewis-Town | How vast must their advantage be | 3 | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Morning Hymn | Once more, my soul, the rising day | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Mourn, mourn | Sacred | Motets | 4 | ||
| Norfolk | Let the old heathen tune their song | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| O God, my heart is fixed | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| O Lord, our fathers oft have told | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| O praise God, praise him in his holiness | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| O praise the Lord of heaven | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| O thou to whom all creatures bow | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Revelation | Let all the heathen writers join | Isaac Watts | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Rochester | Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim | Charles Wesley | Sacred | 4 | |
| Rocky-Nook | Those glorious minds, how bright they shine | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| Sanctify a fast | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Sing praises to the Lord | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| South Boston | Join all the glorious names | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| St. Enoch | Sing to the Lord a new-made song | Tate and Brady | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| St. John's | Where are the mourners, saith the Lord | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| St. Thomas | Methinks I see my Savior dear | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| St Andrew's | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Sublimity | The heavens declare the glory of God | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | |
| Sudbury (1794) | What if the saint must die | John Peck | Sacred | 4 | |
| The dying Christian's last farewell | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Thomas-Town | Great God, how frail a thing is man | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Variety, without method | O God, Thou hast been displeased | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | |
| Victory | To thine almighty arm we owe | Isaac Watts | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Victory | Ye sons of men, a feeble race | Isaac Watts | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Washington-Street | Now shall my inward joys arise | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | |
| West-Sudbury | Here is a song, which doth belong | John Peck | Sacred | 4 | |
| Weymouth | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | ||
| When the Lord turned again | Sacred | Anthems | 4 |
External links
- Hymn Tune Index details for source BillWCH
References
- Barbour, J. Murray. 1960. The Church Music of William Billings. 167 pp. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. [1]
- Kroeger, Karl, Editor. 1990. The Complete Works of William Billings, Volume 4: The Continental Harmony (1794). Madison, Wisconsin: American Musicological Society, 332 pp.