This edition was prepared by Edmund Gooch — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews by Thomas Clark — Lyrics
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews,
And nobler speech than angels use,
If love be absent, I am found,
Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
Were I inspired to preach and tell
All that is done in heaven and hell;
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
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About Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews
Thomas Clark’s setting of this hymn text for SATB voices is a powerful musical reflection on the centrality of love. The music begins with a sense of earnestness, the voices intertwining to express the profound truth that even the most eloquent speech or fervent faith is meaningless without love. Clark skillfully guides the listener through the verses, building intensity as the text explores hypothetical acts of great charity and sacrifice. The composition emphasizes the ultimate futility of all actions, however noble, if not motivated by genuine love for God and humanity. The rich SATB texture provides a full and resonant sound, ideal for conveying the solemnity and importance of this message.
