Thomas Clark

Alias: Thomas Clark of Canterbury

Life

Born: 1775

Died: 1859

Biography

Thomas Clark was "conductor of the music at the Wesleyan Chapel, Canterbury, and latterly of the Unitarian Chapel, Canterbury". He was a boot and shoe maker by trade, but became one of the most prolific English psalmodists of the early nineteenth century.

His early musical works include nine sets of psalm tunes 'with symphonies and an instrumental bass', and twelve sets of 'psalm and hymn tunes'. In later years he edited the Union Tune Book for the Sunday School Union. He is also credited by William Marsh for his 'kind assistance in correcting the HARMONY' of Marsh's collection A Set of New Psalm and Hymn Tunes (London: 1816).

An obituary published on p448 of The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review in 1859 (vol. 15) reads:

'May 30, at Canterbury, aged 84, Mr. THOMAS CLARK, well known throughout the Nonconformist body, and beyond it, as a composer of sacred music. He was by trade a shoemaker, and worked at his business till about twenty years since. He had received but a scanty education, but was an incessant reader, especially in history and theology. Both his taste and his passion for music were extraordinary. While hammering at the lapstone or lying awake in the night, melodies were suggested to him which, casting aside the implements of his trade or leaping directly out of bed, he at once committed to paper, and added the harmonies when he had greater leisure. It would almost seem as if this love for one of the most delightful of all arts, and capability of excelling in it, were literally born with him; for he never received a lesson on the theory of music in his life. He published at various times nearly twenty volumes of anthems and hymns, besides editing various collections; and has left behind him a great store of MS. music, among which it is not unlikely that some of his best compositions may be found. In private as in public life, Mr. Clark bore a blameless character; and died with the respect, not only of his co-religionists, but of all his fellow-citizens. He was a member of the Unitarian congregation assembling in the Blackfriars' chapel, Canterbury, where he had conducted the music for more than half a century.'

View the Wikipedia article on Thomas Clark.

List of choral works

• For works at CPDL sorted alphabetically by title, see Thomas Clark compositions

L E G E N D

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Anthems (including collect settings) Almighty God, who hast given Almighty God, who through thy only begotten Son Awake up my glory, awake lute and harp   (   Sibelius 3 ) Behold, God is my salvation Come unto me, all ye that labour God, who as at this time Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness Hear my prayer, O God I will arise and go to my Father   (   Sibelius 6 ) In that day shall this song be sung   (   Sibelius 7 ) Lord, how are they increased O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands   (   Sibelius 7 ) Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous The Lord liveth, and blessed be his name This is the day which the Lord hath made Why do the heathen rage

Set-pieces (through-composed settings of metrical texts) Firm was my health, my day was bright Guide me, O thou great Jehovah Hear me, O Lord, in mercy hear I will extol thee, Lord, on high Mortals awake, with angels join   (   Sibelius 7 ) My hiding place, my refuge tower O praise the Lord in that blest place Sing to the Lord a new-made song When I can read my title clear Ye nations round the earth rejoice Canticles Magnificat   (   Sibelius 6 ) Nunc dimittis   (   Sibelius 6 )

Other works

• Chants
• Responses to the Commandments
• Sanctus

Metrical psalm and hymn tunes

Ah me, wretched sinner; ah, where shall I go All laud and praise with heart and voice All people that on earth do dwell   (   Sibelius 6 ) And let this feeble body fail Arise and hail the happy day   (   Sibelius 6 ) Arise, ye people, clap the hand Awake and sing the song   (   Sibelius 7 ) Awake my joy, awake I say from A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes   (   Sibelius 3 ) from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes (no edition hosted yet) Awake my soul, awake mine eyes   (   Sibelius 7 ) Awake, my soul, in joyful lays   (   Sibelius 7 ) Be light and glad, in God rejoice Behold and have regard   (   Sibelius 7 ) Behold the morning sun Behold the path that mortals tread Blest who with generous pity glows   (   Sibelius 6 ) Blow ye the trumpet, blow to the tune Dunstable, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) to the tune Ceylon, from An Eighth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (no edition hosted yet) Come and let us sweetly join Come, come, ye happy, happy saints   (   Sibelius 7 ) Come, Holy Spirit, come Come, Lord, from above, the mountains remove Come sound his praise abroad Come, thou fount of ev'ry blessing   (   ) Come ye that love the Lord Consider all my sorrows, Lord Dismiss us with thy blessing, Lord Dread Sovereign, let my evening song Early, my God, without delay Enquire, ye pilgrims, for the way   (   Sibelius 7 ) Eternal source of every joy   (   Sibelius 7 ) Eternal wisdom, thee we praise to the tune Battel, from A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (no edition hosted yet) to the tune Borden, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) Father of all, in whom alone to the tune Ringwood, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Ryton, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Flow fast, my tears, the cause is great For ever here my rest shall be to the tune Guildford, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) to the tune Elstow, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes (no edition hosted yet) Give laud unto the Lord Give praises unto God the Lord God in his earthly temples lays God in the great assembly stands God is our refuge in distress God's temple crowns the holy mount Grace, 'tis a charming sound   (   ) Great shepherd of thine Israel Hark from the tombs a doleful sound He that hath made his refuge God to the tune Langport, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) to the tune Safety, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) Hearken to the solemn voice, the awful midnight cry   (   ) Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness How blest is he who ne'er consents from A Fourth Set of Psalm Tunes from An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes How good and pleasant must it be   (   Sibelius 7 ) How long wilt thou conceal thy face How long wilt thou forget me, Lord?   (   Sibelius 3 ) How pleased and blest was I to the tune 'Worship', from A Second Set of Psalm & Hymn Tunes from A Sixth Set of Psalm Tunes How sweet the name of Jesus sounds I lift my heart to thee I love the Lord, because the voice I send the joys of earth away   (   Sibelius 7 ) I set the Lord still in my sight I will give laud and honour both I will give thanks to thee, O Lord   (   Sibelius 7 ) In God the Lord I put my trust In one harmonious cheerful song   (   ) Jehovah reigns; let therefore all Jerusalem, my happy home Jesu, Redeemer, Saviour, Lord Jesu, thy blood and righteousness   (   Sibelius 7 ) Jesus, our Lord, ascend thy throne Judge me, O Lord, for I the paths Leader of faithful souls and guide Let all the just to God with joy Let all the lands with shouts of joy   (   Sibelius 7 ) Let all the listening world attend Let every creature join Let God arise, and then his foes Let Sion in her King rejoice Lift up your heads in joyful hope   (   Sibelius 7 ) Lo, from the hills my help descends Lo, he comes with clouds descending   (   Sibelius 7 ) Lo, what an entertaining sight Long did the patient peasants toil   (   ) Look back, my soul, with grateful love   (   Sibelius 7 ) Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing   (   ) Lord, hear the voice of my complaint Lord, in thy wrath, reprove me not Lord of the worlds above Lord, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand Lord, thou hast searched and seen me through Mortals awake, with angels join   (   Sibelius 7 ) My God, in whom are all the springs My God, my God, why leav'st thou me My God, my King, thy various praise My heart and flesh cry out for thee   (   Sibelius 7 ) My saviour and my king My shepherd is the living Lord from A Set of Psalm Tunes from A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes My shepherd will supply my need My shepherd's mighty aid   (   Sibelius 7 )

My soul, how lovely is the place   (   Sibelius 7 ) My soul, thy great Creator praise No change of times shall ever shock Now begin the heavenly theme Now to the Lord a noble song to the tune Ramsgate, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) to the tune Mersham, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) O all ye people, clap your hands O come, let us lift up our voice O come, loud anthems let us sing from A Second Set of Psalm Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) from A Seventh Set of Psalm Tunes (no edition hosted yet) O God, my heart is fully bent   (   Sibelius 6 ) O God, my strength and fortitude O God our Lord, how wonderful O God, thou art my righteousness O God, thy faithfulness I plead O Lord, our fathers oft have told O Lord, send out thy light and truth O praise the Lord, and thou, my soul O praise the Lord in that blest place O praise the Lord with one consent O praise ye the Lord: prepare your glad voice O render thanks and bless the Lord   (   Sibelius 3 ) O render thanks to God above   (   Sibelius 7 ) O that thou wouldst the heavens rent O the delights, the heavenly joys O thou to whom all creatures bow   (   Sibelius 7 ) O 'twas a joyful sound to hear Of mercy's never-failing spring Once more, my soul, the rising day Praise God from whom all blessings flow to the tune Newark, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Doxology, from Clark's Seventh Book of Hymn Tunes Praise, O praise the name divine Praise ye the Lord, 'tis good to raise to the tune Thornbury, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Inverness, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Raise your triumphant songs   (   Sibelius 7 ) Regard, O Lord, for I complain   (   Sibelius 7 ) Rejoice evermore with angels above Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord Rise up, my spouse; thy bridegroom waits Since I have placed my trust in God from A Set of Psalm Tunes   (   Sibelius 3 ) from An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes Sing to the Lord Jehovah's name from A Set of Psalm Tunes (no edition hosted yet) to the tune Deddington, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes   (   Sibelius 7 ) Sing to the Lord, ye distant lands   (   Sibelius 6 ) Sing ye unto the Lord our God Sing ye with praise unto the Lord Sinners, obey the gospel word Sweet is the memory of thy grace Sweet is the work, my God, my king to the tune Tenbury, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (no edition hosted yet) from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes (no edition hosted yet) Sweet to rejoice in lively hope   (   ) Talk with us, Lord, thyself reveal   (   Sibelius 6 ) To celebrate thy praise, O Lord   (   Sibelius 7 ) The earth for ever is the Lord's The festal morn, my God, is come   (   Sibelius 7 ) The God of glory sends his summons forth The great Archangel's trump shall sound to the tune St. Peter's, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Berlin, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes The heavens declare thy glory, Lord The Lord descended from above The Lord hath spoke: the mighty God The Lord himself, the mighty Lord The Lord is both my health and light The Lord my shepherd is The man is blest that hath not lent The singers go before with joy   (   Sibelius 7 ) Then open wide the temple gates This spacious earth is all the Lord's Thou friend of sinners, hear my cry Through all the changing scenes of life   (   Sibelius 3 ) Thy mercy, Lord, to me extend Thy suppliant's voice attentive weigh 'Tis by thy strength the mountains stand To bless thy chosen race To God, our never-failing strength To God, the mighty Lord To my complaint, O Lord my God To Sion's hill I lift my eyes Unshaken as the sacred hill Upward I lift mine eyes   (   Sibelius 7 ) We soon shall hear the midnight cry Weary souls, that wander wide When God arose my part to take When, overwhelmed with grief   (   Sibelius 6 ) When shall thy love constrain When we, our wearied limbs to rest While shepherds watched their flocks by night   (2 editions available) Why do we mourn departing friends?   (   Sibelius 6 ) With cheerful notes let all the earth With one consent let all the earth With restless and ungoverned rage With reverence let the saints appear to the tune Malden, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (no edition hosted yet) from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes (no edition hosted yet) Within thy tabernacle, Lord Ye boundless realms of joy   (   Sibelius 6 ) Ye children come, my precepts hear Ye children which do serve the Lord Ye people all with one accord Ye princes that in might excel Ye tribes of Adam join Ye virgin souls, arise   (   Sibelius 7 ) Yield unto God the mighty Lord

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Publications

• A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [1805].
• A Set of Psalm Tunes, [1805].
• Stand still, refulgent orb. An Ode to the New Year, [1805?]
• A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, (1806).
• A Second Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1807].
• A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [1807].
• [A New Ode for the Spring - entered at Stationers' Hall by James Peck on 14 Mar 1807]
• A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1808].
• A Third Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1809].
• A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1809].
• [God is Gone Up. An Anthem from the 47th Psalm - entered at Stationers' Hall by the composer on 10 Aug 1809].
• [A Te Deum and Jubilate, adapted for a Double Choir - entered at Stationers' Hall by the composer on 10 Aug 1809].
• A Fourth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1810].
• Twelve Tunes in Peculiar Measures, [c1810].
• Clark’s Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes, [c1811].
• A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1813].
• Clark’s Seventh Book of Hymn Tunes, [1813-15].
• A Sixth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1814].
• An Eighth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1817].
• A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1818].
• An Eleventh Set of Hymn Tunes, [c1820].
• A Twelfth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1821].
• The Congregational Harmonist, or Clerk's Companion, [1828?].
• A Seventh Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1830].
• An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1830].
• A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1830].
• The Union Harmonist, 1841.
• The Union Tune Book, 1842.
• David's Harp, 1843.
• The Juvenile Harmonist, 1843.
• British Psalmody, [1844]

External links

• Obituary in The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review, 1859
• Thomas Clark of Canterbury, (1775-1859)
• West Gallery Music Association article outlining Clark's biography by Tony Singleton