Columbia - Alexander Johnson

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"First published in 1818 in D minor; reprinted in William Walker's ''Southern Harmony'', 1835. Arranged by James P. Carrell in 1821, in C Major, re-titled ''Melody''. Possibly this is a folk hymn, source for both Johnson and Carrell – see Southern Harmony (1845), 154 Columbia. Original words by Timothy Dwight, poem entitled "Columbia", in six stanzas. Johnson used the sixth stanza of Dwight's poem in his composition."

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre → Secular

♯ Key D minor

⁄ Time Signature 2/4

♬ Voicing → STB

◆ Difficulty

Elementary

↕ Range A2 – A5

♩ Tempo andante moderato (85)

◷ Duration ~51 sec

¶ Language → English

Measures 36

Texture mixed texture

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 1

CPDL # 43562

Editor Barry Johnston

Posted 2017-03-15

License Public Domain

♫Pitch Ranges

Tr.

F4 – A5

D3 – B-4

A2 – D4

¶Lyrics / Text

:Timothy Dwight, ''Columbia'', 1789 1. Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise, The queen of the world, and the child of the skies! Thy genius commands thee; with rapture behold While ages on ages thy splendors unfold. Thy reign is the last, and the noblest of time, Most fruitful thy soil, most inviting thy clime; Let the crimes of the east ne'er encrimson thy name, Be freedom, and science, and virtue thy fame. 2. To conquest and slaughter let Europe aspire; Whelm nations in blood, and wrap cities in fire; Thy heroes the rights of mankind shall defend, And triumph pursue them, and glory attend. A world is thy realm: for a world be thy laws, Enlarged as thine empire, and just as thy cause; On freedom's broad basis, that empire shall rise, Extend with the main, and dissolve with the skies. 3. Fair science her gates to thy sons shall unbar, And the east see thy morn hide the beams of her star. New bards, and new sages, unrivaled shall soar To fame unextinguished, when time is no more; To thee, the last refuge of virtue designed, Shall fly from all nations the best of mankind; Here, grateful to heaven, with transport shall bring Their incense, more fragrant than odors of spring.