O God, our help in ages past (William Croft)

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• (Posted 2020-12-06)  CPDL #61856:      

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2020-12-06).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 35 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn with four-part harmony and underlaid words in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard.

• (Posted 2020-12-06)  CPDL #61855:      

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2020-12-06).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 87 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard, melody with words.

• (Posted 2020-01-27)  CPDL #56807: 

Editor: Henk Vogel (submitted 2020-01-27).   Score information: A4, 1 page   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Descant for 'O God, our help in ages past' (or in Dutch: 'O God, die droeg ons voorgeslacht') with organ accompaniment.

• (Posted 2011-12-14)  CPDL #25148:       

Editor: Ross Jallo (submitted 2011-12-14).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 75 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Original key. This edition uses the original setting of the hymn tune "St. Anne", with the melody in the tenor, to be sung a cappella.

• (Posted 2009-12-02)  CPDL #20530:   

Editor: Tim Blickhan (submitted 2009-11-25).   Score information: Octavo, 13 pages, 313 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Arranged by Tim Blickhan. Arranged for SATB, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones and organ. This arrangement copyright © 1986 Charles Timothy Blickhan.

• (Posted 2013-05-04)  CPDL #29028:     

Editor: Arjen Bax (submitted 2013-05-04).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 41 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Setting as found in the New English Hymnal #417. LilyPond source included.

General Information

Title: O God, our help in ages past
Composer: William Croft
Tune name: St. Anne's, or St. Ann's

Lyricist: Isaac Watts

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn   Meter: 86. 86 (C.M.)

Language: English
Instruments:

First published: 1708 in A Supplement to the New Version
    2nd published: 1983 in Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard, no. 99
Description: William Croft's tune St. Anne's was first published in 1708, in the 6th edition of A Supplement to the New Version of Psalms, as a setting of 'As pants the hart for cooling streams' (Psalm 42). It was widely re-used with a number of texts before being republished with 'O God, our help in ages past' (Isaac Watts' paraphrase of Psalm 90) in The Psalm and Hymn Tunes, used at St Johns Chapel, Bedford Row, a collection compiled by Theophania Cecil, who was the organist at St. John's Chapel and the daughter of Richard Cecil, who was the minister there. It is now frequently sung with this text. Hymn Tune Index tune number 664. A descant to the hymn can be found here.

Original text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at Psalm 90.