This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Great-Plain
Staff Notation • Sacred
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Great-Plain by William Billings — Lyrics
When shall thy lovely face be seen?
When shall our eyes behold our God?
What lengths of distance lie between,
And hills of guilt. A heavy load!
Our months are ages of delay,
And slowly every minute wears.
Fly, winged time, and roll away
These tedious rounds of sluggish years,
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About Great-Plain
William Billings' Great-Plain is a stirring anthem for SATB choir, setting a deeply devotional English text. The lyrics express a fervent longing for divine presence, articulating the pain of separation and the burden of sin. The choir's voices will convey the desperate pleas for time to accelerate and for heaven to open, ushering in the Savior. This sacred work builds towards a powerful climax, a unified cry from the saints awaiting judgement and the ultimate arrival of Christ, the desire of all nations. It is a profound musical expression of yearning and faith, suitable for times of spiritual reflection or intense devotion.
