Suffolk (William Billings)
Music files
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- (Posted 2014-12-25) CPDL #33853:
- Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-12-25). Score information: Letter, 1 page, 32 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Oval note edition.
- (Posted 2014-12-25) CPDL #33854:
- Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-12-25). Score information: Unknown, 1 page, 73 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Note shapes added (4-shape).
General Information
Title: Suffolk
First Line: Bright King of glory, dreadful God
Composer: William Billings
Lyricist: Isaac Watts
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn Meter: 88. 88 (L.M.)
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
Published: 1770, revised 1778
Description: First published in The New-England Psalm-Singer, 1770, p. 17; revised 1778. Words chosen by Billings in 1778 are by Isaac Watts, his Hymn 51 of Book 2.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Bright King of glory, dreadful God!
Our spirits bow before thy seat,
To thee we lift an humble thought,
And worship at thine awful feet.
Thy power hath formed, thy wisdom sways,
All nature with a sovereign word;
And the bright world of stars obeys
The will of their superior Lord.
Mercy and truth unite in one,
And smiling sit at thy right hand;
Eternal justice guards thy throne,
And vengeance waits thy dread command.
A thousand seraphs, strong and bright,
Stand round the glorious Deity;
But who amongst the sons of light
Pretends comparison with thee?
Yet there is one of human frame,
Jesus, arrayed in flesh and blood,
Thinks it no robbery to claim
A full equality with God.
Their glory shines with equal beams,
Their essence is for ever one,
Though they are known by diff'rent names,
The Father God, and God the Son.
Then let the name of Christ our King
With equal honors be adored;
His praise let every angel sing,
And all the nations own their Lord.