This edition was prepared by Tim Henderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
How hast thou, Lord, from year to year
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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How hast thou, Lord, from year to year by William Croft — Lyrics
How hast thou, Lord, from year to year,
Our land with plenty crowned!
And generous fruit and golden grain
Have spread their riches round.
But we thy mercies have abused,
To more abounding crimes;
What heights, what daring heights in sin,
Mark and disgrace our times!
Equal, though awful is the doom
That fierce descending rain
Should into inundations swell,
And crush the rising grain.
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About How hast thou, Lord, from year to year
William Croft’s How hast thou, Lord, from year to year is a hymn for SATB choir, setting an English text of penitence and appeal. The music moves with a dignified solemnity, reflecting the gravity of the text’s confession and lament. The choir’s four parts are treated with independence, creating a rich but clear texture. The text contrasts past blessings with present sinfulness, leading to a desperate plea for divine mercy to avert deserved punishment. The composer’s setting captures the shifting emotional landscape, from expressions of shame and fear to fervent hope for deliverance. It is a powerful example of English sacred music of its era, suitable for reflection and earnest congregational support.
