This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Illinois
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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Illinois by Andrew Johnson — Lyrics
Joseph Hart, 1762
1. O for a glance of heavenly day,
To take this stubborn heart away,
And thaw, with beams of love divine,
This heart, this frozen heart of mine!
2. The rocks can rend; the earth can quake;
The seas can roar; the mountains shake:
Of feeling, all things show some sign,
But this unfeeling heart of mine.
3. To hear the sorrows thou hast felt,
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About Illinois
This SATB anthem sets words by Joseph Hart from 1762, expressing a profound yearning for spiritual awakening. The music likely begins with a direct and earnest musical statement, reflecting the plea for divine light to penetrate a 'frozen heart'. As the text progresses, contrasting images of nature's power and the melting of 'adamant' by sorrow are explored. The composer navigates these expressions, potentially using varied textures and dynamics to convey the inner struggle and the perceived 'stupid heart' that remains unmoved by God's judgments or goodness. The piece culminates in the hope that the Spirit alone can achieve the desired transformation.
