This edition was prepared by Ian Haslam — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Awake, put on thy strength
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems
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Awake, put on thy strength by Frederick Greenish — Lyrics
1. Awake, Awake, put on thy strength, O Zion,
arise, O Jerusalem, put on thy strength,
2 Shake thyself from the dust;
7 How beautiful, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.
O that Birth for ever blessed! When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Saviour of our race,
Whom the voices of the Prophets Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the longexpected; Let creation praise its Lord.
8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing:
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About Awake, put on thy strength
Frederick Greenish's anthem, Awake, put on thy strength, is a powerful setting for SATB voices in English. Drawing on rich biblical imagery from Isaiah, the text proclaims a message of spiritual awakening and renewal for Zion and Jerusalem. The music moves from a declaration of strength and resurrection from dust to the exultant announcement of good tidings and the reign of God. The latter part of the text shifts to a joyous contemplation of the Nativity, celebrating the Virgin's conception and the birth of the Saviour, a moment long promised by prophets. This anthem is ideal for services focusing on Advent, Christmas, or moments of spiritual revival, building to a climactic affirmation of creation praising its Lord.
