This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Coventry
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
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Coventry by Jacob French — Lyrics
Man has a soul of vast desires,
He burns within with restless fires;
Tossed to and fro, his passions fly
From vanity to vanity.
In vain on earth we hope to find
Some solid good to fill the mind;
We try new pleasures, but we feel
The inward thirst and torment still.
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About Coventry
Jacob French's anthem Coventry is written for SATB choir and sets an English text reflecting on the restlessness of the human soul. The lyrics describe humanity's insatiable desires and the futility of seeking fulfillment in earthly pleasures, which ultimately fail to quell an inward torment. The composer vividly portrays this spiritual unease through music. The text then turns to prayer, asking for divine intervention to subdue worldly passions and satisfy the soul with spiritual joys. This sacred work offers a profound meditation on spiritual longing and the search for lasting contentment, rendered with effective vocal writing for a mixed choir.
