This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
And I Saw a Mighty Angel
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems
Preview
0
0
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
And I Saw a Mighty Angel by William Billings — Lyrics
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice,
Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seal thereof?
And no man in heaven or earth was able to open the book,
Neither to look thereon.
And I wept, because no man was found worthy to open the book,
Neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, weep not,
For behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and root of David,
Hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne stood a lamb as it had been slain,
Having seven horns, and having seven eyes,
Which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.
And He came and took the book out of the hand of Him who sat upon the throne.
And when He had taken the book, the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb.
The angels were mute as they listened with wonder,
Read full lyrics
About And I Saw a Mighty Angel
William Billings crafts a powerful SATB anthem from the apocalyptic vision of the Book of Revelation. The music opens with a dramatic declamation of the angel's cry, "Who is worthy to open the book?" The four voices build in intensity, portraying the despair of finding "no man" capable, before finding solace in the elder's pronouncement of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." The texture shifts, reflecting the text's dramatic arc from fear and weeping to the triumphant revelation of the Lamb. This setting is a compelling exploration of faith and divine power, delivered with Billings's characteristic bold harmonic language and direct text setting.
