This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Golgotha
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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Golgotha by William Billings — Lyrics
Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound;
My ears, attend the cry;
"Ye living men, come view the ground
Where you must shortly lie.
"Princes, this clay must be your bed,
In spite of all your towers;
The tall, the wise, the reverend head
Must lie as low as ours!"
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About Golgotha
William Billings' Golgotha is a powerful SATB setting of a deeply reflective English text. Sung as a contemplation on mortality, the words urge listeners to consider their inevitable end and the shared fate of all humanity, from princes to the wise. The music echoes this solemnity, moving towards a hopeful plea for divine grace. The text asks whether we are truly prepared for the afterlife, seeking strength to transcend earthly life and find salvation. It is an anthem for introspection, encouraging a mindful preparation for eternity. The composer's distinctive American sacred style imbues the work with a direct and earnest devotional quality, making it suitable for reflective services or concerts.
