The Continental Harmony (William Billings)
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General information
Title: The Continental Harmony
Full title: The Continental Harmony, containing a number of anthems, fugues, and choruses, in several parts, never before published
Editor – Composer: William Billings
Publication date and place: 1794 by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews in Boston.
Description: 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. 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'.
External websites:
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.
List of works
| 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 | Lyricist | First Line | Genre | Subgenre | Vo. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Isaac Watts | To spend one sacred day | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| An Anthem for Christmas | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Bellingham | Isaac Watts | Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme | Sacred | 4 | |
| Broad Cove | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Clarimont | Joseph Stephenson | Sacred | Carols | 4 | |
| Cobham | Isaac Watts | Teach me the measure of my days | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Cohasset | Isaac Watts | Life is the time to serve the Lord | Sacred | 4 | |
| Connection | Hail! Sacred music, hail! | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Creation | Isaac Watts | When I with pleasing wonder stand | Sacred | Anthems | 4 |
| Cross-Street | Joseph Addison | The Lord my pasture shall prepare | Sacred | 4 | |
| Dedham | Isaac Watts | Rejoice, ye shining worlds on high | Sacred | 4 | |
| Deliverance | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| East Sudbury | Isaac Watts | Ye tribes of Adam, join | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Egypt | Isaac Watts | Come, see the wonders of our God | Sacred | 4 | |
| Gilead | Isaac Watts | Salvation! O, the joyful sound | Sacred | 4 | |
| Great-Plain | Isaac Watts | Ye slumb'ring saints, a heav'nly host | Sacred | 4 | |
| Hear, hear, O heavens | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Hopkinton | John Cennick | Lo, he cometh; countless trumpets | Sacred | 4 | |
| I am come into my garden | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Invocation | Majestic God, our muse inspire | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | |
| Lewis-Town | 3 | How vast must their advantage be | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Morning Hymn | Isaac Watts | Once more, my soul, the rising day | Sacred | 4 | |
| Mourn, mourn | Sacred | Motets | 4 | ||
| Norfolk | Isaac Watts | Let the old heathen tune their song | Sacred | 4 | |
| O God, my heart is fixed | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| O Lord, our fathers oft have told | Tate and Brady | Sacred | Set pieces | 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 | Isaac Watts | Let all the heathen writers join | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Rochester | Charles Wesley | Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim | Sacred | 4 | |
| Rocky-Nook | Isaac Watts | Those glorious minds, how bright they shine | Sacred | 4 | |
| Sanctify a fast | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Sing praises to the Lord | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| South Boston | Isaac Watts | Join all the glorious names | Sacred | 4 | |
| St. Enoch | Tate and Brady | Sing to the Lord a new-made song | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| St. John's | Isaac Watts | Where are the mourners, saith the Lord | Sacred | 4 | |
| St. Thomas | Isaac Watts | Methinks I see my Savior dear | Sacred | 4 | |
| St Andrew's | Isaac Watts | Sacred | 4 | ||
| Sublimity | The heavens declare the glory of God | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | |
| Sudbury (1794) | John Peck | What if the saint must die | Sacred | 4 | |
| The dying Christian's last farewell | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | ||
| Thomas-Town | Mather Byles | Great God, how frail a thing is man | Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Variety, without method | O God, Thou hast been displeased | Sacred | Anthems | 4 | |
| Victory | Isaac Watts | To thine almighty arm we owe Ye sons of men, a feeble race |
Sacred | Psalm-tunes | 4 |
| Washington-Street | Isaac Watts | Now shall my inward joys arise | Sacred | 4 | |
| West-Sudbury | John Peck | Here is a song, which doth belong | Sacred | 4 | |
| Weymouth | Isaac Watts | Shall we go on to sin | Sacred | Set pieces | 4 |
| When the Lord turned again | Sacred | Anthems | 4 |