This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Dartmouth
Staff Notation • Sacred, Set pieces
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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|TrCTB · Barry Johnston
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Dartmouth by William Billings — Lyrics
Let every mortal ear attend,
And every heart rejoice;
The trumpet of the gospel sounds
With an inviting voice.
Lo! all ye hungry, starving souls.
That feed upon the wind,
And vainly strive with earthly toys
To fill an empty mind.
Eternal Wisdom has prepared
A soulreviving feast,
And bids your longing appetites
The rich provision taste.
Ho! ye that pant for living streams,
And pine away and die,
here you may quench your raging thirst
With springs that never dry.
Rivers of love and mercy here
In a rich ocean join;
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About Dartmouth
William Billings, a self-taught American composer of the late 18th century, is known for his distinctive and often robust musical style. Dartmouth is a sacred anthem for SATB choir with divisions in the tenor and treble parts (TrCTB). The text, in English, reflects the fervent evangelical spirit of its time, calling listeners to accept the spiritual nourishment offered by the gospel. It employs vivid imagery of feasting and flowing rivers to convey the abundance of divine grace and salvation, urging the 'hungry, starving souls' and 'naked poor' to partake in this eternal provision. Billings's setting would likely feature direct, powerful melodic lines and harmonic progressions characteristic of his individualistic approach to sacred music.
