Samuel the priest gave up the ghost - Billings, William

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"This anthem first appeared in ''The Suffolk Harmony'', 1786. At some point it was altered by Billings, who removed the first phrase (from 1 Samuel 2:1) and rearranged the rest: the result appears in the ''Massachusetts Historical Society Ms. S-290'' manuscript, ca. 1790, with first words "Have pity on me, O ye my friends". This altered version was first published by Billings' student, Jacob French, posthumously in 1802. Words adapted by Billings "from sundry Scriptures," portions of 1 Samuel, Job, and the Psalms."

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre → Anthems

♯ Key A minor

⁄ Time Signature 4/4

♬ Voicing → SATB

◆ Difficulty

Beginner

↕ Range A2 – F5

♩ Tempo animato (120)

◷ Duration ~2 min 19 sec

¶ Language → English

Measures 70

Texture mixed texture

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 2

CPDL # 78203

Editor Barry Johnston

Posted 2023-12-14

License CPDL License

♫Pitch Ranges

Tr.

G4 – F5

D4 – A4

E3 – E4

A2 – A3

¶Lyrics / Text

Samuel the priest gave up the ghost, And all Israel mourned. (1 Samuel 2:1) Have pity on me, O ye my friends, For the hand of God hath touched me. (Job 19:21) Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness. (Psalm 88:18) I am weary with my groaning all the night, Make I my bed to swim, I water my couch with my tears. (Psalm 6:6) My soul cleaveth unto the dust, My soul melteth for heaviness. (Psalm 119:25) Naked I came out of my mother's womb, And naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away. And blessed be the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21)