Great God and just, Z 186 - Purcell, Henry

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"Titled "A Penitential Hymn." Although Purcell adds a second soprano and a bass voice in the chorus, this song can also be performed with solo voice and continuo only, with minor alterations in mm. 48-51."

⌛ Period → Baroque ◈ Genre / Form → Sacred songs

♯ Key F major

⁄ Time Signature 4/4

♬ Voicing → Solo high|add=with chorus (ad lib.) {{Cat|SSB

◆ Difficulty

Intermediate

↕ Range C2 – A-5

¶ Language → English

Measures 62

Texture Homophonic

Parts 5

Instruments A cappella

Pages 4

CPDL # 55514

Editor Raymond Nagem

Posted 2019-10-04

License Personal

♫Pitch Ranges

Soprano

D4 – G5

MusicXML Part

F2 – D4

Continuo

C2 – D4

¶Lyrics / Text

Great God, and Just! How can'st thou see, Dear God, our Misery, And not in Mercy set us free? Poor, miserable Man! How wert thou born? Weak as the dewy Jewels of the Morn! Wrapt up in tender Dust, Guarded with Sins and Lust; Who, like Court-Flatterers, wait, To serve themselves in thy unhappy Fate: Wealth is a Snare, and Poverty brings in Inlets for Theft, paving the way for Sin; Each perfum'd Vanity doth gently breathe Sin in thy Soul, and whispers it to death: Our Faults, like ulcerated Sores, do go O'er the sound Flesh, and do corrupt that too. Lord! we are sick, spotted with sin, Thick as a crusty Leper's Skin; Like Naaman, bid us wash, yet let it be In streams of Blood, that flow from thee. Then will we sing, Touch'd by the heav'nly Dove's bright Wing, Hallelujahs, Psalms, and Praise, To God, the Lord of Night and Days, Ever good, and ever just, Who ever must Thus be sung, is still the same, Eternal Praises crown his name.