This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Birmingham
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Birmingham by Samuel Holyoke — Lyrics
Canticum Psalmi, filiis Core, in finem, pro Maheleth ad respondendum. Intellectus Eman
Ezrahitae.
Domine, Deus salutis meae, in die clamavi et nocte coram te.
Intret in conspectu tuo oratio mea, inclina aurem tuam ad precem meam.
Quia repleta est malis anima mea, et vita mea inferno appropinquavit.
Aestimatus sum cum descendentibus in lacum, factus sum sicut homo
sine adjutorio,
inter mortuos liber; sicut vulnerati dormientes in sepulchris,
quorum non es memor amplius, et ipsi de manu tua repulsi sunt.
Posuerunt me in lacu inferiori, in tenebrosis, et in umbra mortis.
Super me confirmatus est furor tuus, et omnes fluctus tuos induxisti super me.
Longe fecisti notos meos a me; posuerunt me abominationem sibi.
Traditus sum, et non egrediebar;
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About Birmingham
Samuel Holyoke's Birmingham is a hymn setting with a sacred character. Composed for STB voices, it features a text that moves between Latin and English. The Latin opening draws from Psalm 88, a lament detailing a soul in distress, crying out to God in the day and night, feeling abandoned and close to death. This intense plea for divine attention and help is then explored further, perhaps transitioning to an English expression of faith or resolution. This substantial work offers rich harmonic and contrapuntal opportunities for a choir looking for a contemplative and powerful sacred piece.
