The sacred quire of angels (Richard Allison)
Music files
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- (Posted 2022-07-11) CPDL #69960:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-07-11). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 212 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. This edition includes the separate string (originally viol) parts together with a keyboard reduction of those parts for practice purposes.
General Information
Title: The sacred quire of angels
Composer: Richard Allison
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATTB
Genre: Sacred, Consort song
Language: English
Instruments: String ensemble
First published: 1606 in An Howres Recreation in Musicke, no. 24
Description: "A thanksgiving for the deliverance of the whole estate from the late conspiracy." A consort song written, for solo and short chorus, to celebrate the frustration of the Gunpowder Plot, 1605. Probably intended for domestic rather than liturgical use.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
The sacred quire of angels sings
The praises of the living Lord,
That is the God and King of kings,
Protecting those that keep his word.
O well of grace, O spring of life
To those that thirst thy truth to taste;
But unto them that live in strife
A terror that will ever last.
'Tis thou, O Lord, through strength of thy right hand alone,
That Satan's secrets hast reveal'd, and bloody treasons overthrown.
We'll tune our voices to the lute
And instruments of sweetest sound;
No tongue shall in thy praise be mute,
That dost thy foes and ours confound;
Who hast preserv'd our king and state
From ruin that was near at hand;
While all good men rejoice thereat
Thy will no power can withstand.
Tis thou, O Lord, through strength of thy right hand alone,
That Satan's secrets hast reveal'd, and bloody treasons overthrown.