The dying Christian to his soul (Vital spark) (William Billings)
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CPDL #15672:
- Editor: Michael Lauer (added 2007-12-14). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 103 kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: The dying Christian to his soul (Vital spark)
Composer: William Billings
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Anthems
Language: English
Instruments: none, a cappella
Published: 1781
Description:
External websites: http://www.mrlauer.org/music/
Original text and translations
English text
Vital spark of heav’nly flame!
Quit, O quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.
Hark! they whisper; angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away!
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?
The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav’n opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy victory?
O Death! where is thy sting?
