Thomas Clark

Life

Born: 1775

Died: 1859

Biography

Thomas Clark was "conductor of the music at the Wesleyan Chapel, Canterbury, and latterly of the Unitarian Chapel, Canterbury". He was a boot and shoe maker by trade, but became one of the most prolific English psalmodists of the early nineteenth century.

His early musical works include nine sets of psalm tunes 'with symphonies and an instrumental bass', and twelve sets of 'psalm and hymn tunes'. In later years he edited the Union Tune Book for the Sunday School Union. He is also credited by William Marsh for his 'kind assistance in correcting the HARMONY' of Marsh's collection A Set of New Psalm and Hymn Tunes (London: 1816).

An obituary published on p448 of The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review in 1859 (vol. 15) reads:

'May 30, at Canterbury, aged 84, Mr. THOMAS CLARK, well known throughout the Nonconformist body, and beyond it, as a composer of sacred music. He was by trade a shoemaker, and worked at his business till about twenty years since. He had received but a scanty education, but was an incessant reader, especially in history and theology. Both his taste and his passion for music were extraordinary. While hammering at the lapstone or lying awake in the night, melodies were suggested to him which, casting aside the implements of his trade or leaping directly out of bed, he at once committed to paper, and added the harmonies when he had greater leisure. It would almost seem as if this love for one of the most delightful of all arts, and capability of excelling in it, were literally born with him; for he never received a lesson on the theory of music in his life. He published at various times nearly twenty volumes of anthems and hymns, besides editing various collections; and has left behind him a great store of MS. music, among which it is not unlikely that some of his best compositions may be found. In private as in public life, Mr. Clark bore a blameless character; and died with the respect, not only of his co-religionists, but of all his fellow-citizens. He was a member of the Unitarian congregation assembling in the Blackfriars' chapel, Canterbury, where he had conducted the music for more than half a century.'

View the Wikipedia article on Thomas Clark.

List of choral works

• For works at CPDL sorted alphabetically by title, see Thomas Clark compositions

Anthems (including collect settings) Almighty God, who hast given Almighty God, who through thy only begotten Son Awake up my glory, awake lute and harp Behold, God is my salvation Come unto me, all ye that labour Daughter of Zion God, who at this time Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness Hear my prayer, O God Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts I will arise and go to my Father In that day shall this song be sung Lord, how are they increased O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous The Lord liveth, and blessed be his name The Lord's name be praised for this and every favour This is the day which the Lord hath made Why do the heathen rage Canticles Magnificat Nunc dimittis Other works Chants Praise God from whom all blessings flow (canon) Responses to the Commandments Sanctus

Set-pieces (through-composed settings of metrical texts) Adieu, my friend, accept the starting tear At anchor laid, remote from home Awake, our souls, and bless his name Awake our souls, away our fears Down headlong from their native skies Firm was my health, my day was bright Guide me, O thou great Jehovah Happy the heart where graces reign Happy the man prepared to reign He comes, he comes, the Judge severe Hear me, O Lord, in mercy hear I come, ye messengers of love, I come I will extol thee, Lord, on high In Babylon their harps they hung In God's own house pronounce his praise Is Jesus mine? I'm now prepared Jehovah, 'tis a glorious name Lord, what a wretched land is this Mortals awake, with angels join My Captain sounds th'alarm of war My hiding place, my refuge tower My soul, triumphant in the Lord O praise the Lord in that blest place Our souls shall magnify the Lord Salvation, O the joyful sound Shall the kind mother's gentle breast Sing to the Lord a new-made song The year of jubilee is come We sing his love who once was slain When God arose my part to take When God is nigh, my faith is strong When I can read my title clear Ye nations round the earth rejoice Yes, the Redeemer rose

Metrical psalm and hymn tunes

A glory gilds the sacred page A voice was heard near Jordan's streams Absurd and vain attempt to bind Against the God who rules the sky Ah me, wretched sinner; ah, where shall I go Alas, what is this world All-conquering Lord, whom sinners adore All hail the power of Jesu's name All laud and praise with heart and voice All people that on earth do dwell Almighty Father, gracious Lord And let this feeble body fail And will the great eternal God Angel, roll the rock away Arise and hail the happy day Arise, great Sun of righteousness Arise, ye people, clap the hand Awake and sing the song Awake, my heart; arise, my tongue Awake my joy, awake I say from A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes Awake my soul, and with the sun Awake my soul, awake mine eyes to the tune Ivybridge, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Morning Hymn, from A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Awake, my soul, in joyful lays Awake our drowsy souls Awake, our souls; away, our fears Awake, ye saints, each tuneful string Be gone, unbelief; my Saviour is near Be light and glad, in God rejoice Behold and have regard Behold the morning sun from A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes to the tune Bingley, from The Congregational Harmonist Behold the path that mortals tread Behold the throne of grace Behold what wondrous grace Blessed are the sons of God Blest are the souls that hear and know Blest who with generous pity glows Blow ye the trumpet, blow to the tune Dunstable, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Ceylon, from An Eighth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Children of the heavenly King Come, all harmonious tongues Come and let us sweetly join Come, angels, seize your harps of gold Come, brethren, and sing our saviour and king Come, come, ye happy, happy saints Come, desire of nations, come Come hither, all ye weary souls Come, Holy Spirit, come Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove Come, let us anew our journey pursue to the tune Honiton, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Tenham, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Come let us join in one glad theme Come, let us join our cheerful songs to the tune Lime, from A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Melody, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Wigton, from A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Rothbury, from The Congregational Harmonist Come let us lift our joyful eyes Come, let us ascend, my companion and friend  Come, Lord, from above, the mountains remove Come, our indulgent Saviour, come Come sound his praise abroad to the tune Charing, from A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes Come, thou celestial Spirit, come Come, thou fount of every blessing to the tune Queenborough, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Ebenezer, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Come, we (ye) that love the Lord to the tune Sunderland, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Wormley, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes to the tune Morley, from An Eighth Set of Psalm & Hymn Tunes to the tune Burgundy, from The Congregational Harmonist Consider all my sorrows, Lord Day of judgment, day of wonders Descend from heaven, immortal Dove Descend, immortal Dove Dismiss us with thy blessing, Lord Dread Sovereign, let my evening song Early, my God, without delay Enquire, ye pilgrims, for the way Eternal power, whose high abode to the tune Exaltation, from A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Canada, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Eternal source of every joy Eternal wisdom, thee we praise to the tune Battel, from A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Borden, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Fantastic delights no more I desire Father, in whom we live Father of all, in whom alone to the tune Ringwood, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Ryton, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Flow fast, my tears, the cause is great For ever here my rest shall be to the tune Guildford, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Elstow, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Forgiveness, 'tis a joyful sound Fountain of blessing, ever blessed From pole to pole let others roam Give laud unto the Lord Give praises unto God the Lord God in his earthly temples lays God, in the gospel of his Son God in the great assembly stands God is our refuge in distress God's temple crowns the holy mount Grace, 'tis a charming sound Great Former of this various frame Great God, amid the darksome night Great God, the heavens' well-ordered frame Great God, thy dread decrees Great shepherd of thine Israel Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews Happy soul, thy days are ended Hark from the tombs a doleful sound Hark, ten thousand harps and voices Hark the glad sound, the Saviour comes to the tune Stockholm, from A Twelfth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Northumberland, from The Congregational Harmonist Hark the voice of my beloved He comes, the royal conqueror comes He that hath made his refuge God to the tune Langport, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Safety, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Hear what the voice from heaven proclaims Hearken to the solemn voice, the awful midnight cry Heavenly Father, sovereign Lord High in the shining courts above High let us swell our tuneful notes Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness Holy wonder, heavenly grace Hosanna, with a cheerful sound How blest is he who ne'er consents from A Fourth Set of Psalm Tunes from An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes How charming is the place How cheerful the field and the mead How did my heart rejoice to hear How free the fountain flows How good and pleasant must it be How happy are the little flock How heavy is the night How long wilt thou conceal thy face How long wilt thou forget me, Lord? How pleasant, how divinely fair How pleased and blest was I to the tune Worship, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from A Sixth Set of Psalm Tunes How sad our state by nature is How sweet the name of Jesus sounds I ask not wealth, nor pomp, nor power I lift my heart to thee I love the Lord, because the voice I love the sons of grace I send the joys of earth away I set the Lord still in my sight I sing my Saviour's wondrous death I will give laud and honour both I will give thanks to thee, O Lord I would, but cannot sing I'll praise my maker while I've breath I'm not ashamed to own my Lord In God the Lord I put my trust In one harmonious cheerful song In sweet exalted strains Indulgent sovereign of the skies It is my Father's voice Jehovah reigns, his throne is high Jehovah reigns; let therefore all Jerusalem, my happy home Jesu(s), lover of my soul to the tune Marshfield, from A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Leveland, from The Congregational Harmonist Jesu, Redeemer, Saviour, Lord Jesu, thy blood and righteousness Jesus, faithful to his word Jesus, I love thy charming name to the tune Caston, from A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Broad-Oak, from W. J. White's The Sacred Herald Jesus invites his saints Jesus, my Lord, how rich thy grace Jesus, our Lord, ascend thy throne Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Judge me, O Lord, for I the paths Just are thy ways and true thy word King of Salem, bless my soul Leader of faithful souls and guide Let all the just to God with joy Let all the lands with shouts of joy Let all the listening world attend Let every creature join Let every mortal ear attend Let God arise, and then his foes Let others boast their ancient line Let party names no more Let Sion in her King rejoice Lift up your heads in joyful hope Like sheep we went astray to the tune Detling, from A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Netherfield, from The Congregational Harmonist Lo, from the hills my help descends Lo, he comes with clouds descending to the tune Driffield, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Burland, from The Congregational Harmonist Lo, what an entertaining sight Long as I live I'll bless thy name Long did the patient peasants toil Look back, my soul, with grateful love Look round, O man, survey this globe Look up, ye saints, direct your eyes Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing Lord, hear the voice of my complaint Lord, I am thine: forsake me not Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear Lord, in thy wrath, reprove me not Lord of the Sabbath, hear our vows Lord of the worlds above to the tune Temple, from A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from A Third Set of Psalm Tunes to the tune Newingate, from A Twelfth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Lord, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand Lord, thou hast searched and seen me through Lord, we adore thy vast designs Lord, when I count thy mercies o'er Lord, when thou didst ascend on high Loud let the tuneful trumpet sound Loud to the prince of heaven Man has a soul of vast desires Meet and right it is to sing Mighty God, while angels bless thee Mortals awake, with angels join to the tune Incarnation, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Verona, from A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes

My dear Redeemer and my Lord My former hopes are fled My God, assist me while I raise My God, in whom are all the springs My God, my God, why leav'st thou me My God, my King, thy various praise My God, permit me not to be My God, permit my tongue My heart and flesh cry out for thee My saviour and my king My shepherd is the living Lord from A Set of Psalm Tunes from A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes My shepherd will supply my need to the tune Waldershare, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes My shepherd's mighty aid My soul, how lovely is the place My soul, let all thy nobler powers My soul praise the Lord, speak good of his name My soul, thy great Creator praise My soul with joy attend My times of sorrow and of joy My wakened soul, extend thy wings No change of times shall ever shock Not with our mortal eyes Now begin the heavenly theme to the tune Burton, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Barham, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Baltistan, from The Congregational Harmonist Now in a song of grateful praise Now in the heat of youthful blood Now let my soul with transport rise Now let our souls on wings sublime Now let our voices join Now let us raise our cheerful strains Now shall my inward joys arise Now to the Lord a noble song to the tune Ramsgate, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Mersham, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes O all ye people, clap your hands O come, let us lift up our voice O come, loud anthems let us sing from A Second Set of Psalm Tunes from A Seventh Set of Psalm Tunes O could I lift this heart of mine O could I sing like the bright train O for a shout of sacred joy O God, my heart is fully bent O God, my strength and fortitude O God our Lord, how wonderful O God, thou art my righteousness O God, thy faithfulness I plead O Lord, my rock, to thee I cry O Lord, our fathers oft have told O Lord, send out thy light and truth O love, I languish at thy stay O my soul, what means this sadness O praise the Lord, and thou, my soul O praise the Lord in that blest place O praise the Lord with one consent O praise ye the Lord: prepare your glad voice O render thanks and bless the Lord O render thanks to God above O that I, first of love possessed O that I knew the secret place to the tune Harborough, from A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Orford, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Hillington, from A Eleventh Set of Hymn Tunes O that thou wouldst the heavens rent O the delights, the heavenly joys O thou to whom all creatures bow O 'twas a joyful sound to hear O Zion, tune thy voice O'er the gloomy hills of darkness Of mercy's never-failing spring On wings of faith, mount up my soul and rise Once more, my soul, the rising day One there is above all others Open the gates of Zion now Our life is but an idle play Praise God from whom all blessings flow to the tune Newark, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Doxology, from Clark's Seventh Book of Hymn Tunes Praise, O praise the name divine Praise ye the Lord: my heart shall join Praise ye the Lord, 'tis good to raise to the tune Thornbury, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Inverness, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes Raise your triumphant songs Regard, O Lord, for I complain Rehearse his praise with awe profound Rejoice evermore with angels above Rejoice for a brother deceased Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord Rise, my soul, adore thy Maker Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings Rise up, my spouse, thy bridegroom waits Saviour, prince of Israel's race See how the morning sun Seek we pure and lasting joy Shine, mighty God, on Britain, shine Since I have placed my trust in God from A Set of Psalm Tunes from An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes Sing to the Lord aloud Sing to the Lord in joyful strains Sing to the Lord Jehovah's name from A Set of Psalm Tunes to the tune Deddington, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Sing to the Lord with joyful voice Sing to the Lord, ye distant lands Sing ye unto the Lord our God Sing ye with praise unto the Lord Sinners, obey the gospel word Soft be the gently breathing notes Some put their trust in chariots Some seraph, lend your heavenly tongue Sovereign of nature, all is thine Stay, thou insulted spirit, stay Stretched on the cross the Saviour dies Sweet as the shepherd's tuneful reed Sweet is the memory of thy grace Sweet is the work, my God, my king to the tune Tenbury, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes Sweet to rejoice in lively hope Talk with us, Lord, thyself reveal Teach me the measure of my days That awful day will surely come The earth for ever is the Lord's The festal morn, my God, is come to the tune Aldham, from A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Palermo, from Clark's Seventh Book of Hymn Tunes from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes The God of glory sends his summons forth The great Archangel's trump shall sound to the tune St. Peter's, from A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Berlin, from Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes The heavens declare thy glory, Lord The Lord declares his will The Lord descended from above The Lord hath spoke: the mighty God The Lord himself, the mighty Lord The Lord, how rich his comforts are The Lord is both my health and light The Lord is my shepherd, my guardian and guide The Lord Jehovah reigns The Lord my shepherd is The Lord of sabbath let us praise The man is blest that hath not lent The prince of peace is come The singers go before with joy The voice that speaks Jehovah near The weary traveller lost in night The wonders, Lord, thy love has wrought Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength Then let our songs abound Then open wide the temple gates There is a fountain filled with blood to the tune Fountain, from Clark's Seventh Book of Hymn Tunes to the tune Stillington, from W. J. White's The Sacred Herald There is a house not made with hands There is a land of pure delight This God is the God we adore This is the field, the world below This spacious earth is all the Lord's Thou friend of sinners, hear my cry Thou sweet gliding Kedron, by thy silver stream Thou whom my soul admires above Though ease and plenty, fruits of wealth Through all the changing scenes of life Thus saith the high and lofty one Thy mercy, Lord, to me extend Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song Thy suppliant's voice attentive weigh 'Tis a point I long to know 'Tis by thy strength the mountains stand To bless thy chosen race To celebrate thy praise, O Lord To God, our never-failing strength To God, the mighty Lord To my complaint, O Lord my God To praise the ever-bounteous Lord To Sion's hill I lift my eyes Triumphant Lord, thy goodness reigns to the tune Munificence, from A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Bounty, from The Congregational Harmonist Unshaken as the sacred hill Upward I lift mine eyes We soon shall hear the midnight cry Weary souls, that wander wide Welcome, sweet day of rest to the tune Thanet, from A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes to the tune Renville, from A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes What mighty man or mighty God What shall I render to my God When any turn from Zion's way When Christ to judgment shall descend When I with pleasing wonder stand When, overwhelmed with grief to the tune Aylesford, from A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from A Seventh Set of Psalm Tunes When shall thy love constrain When strangers stand and hear me tell When we, our wearied limbs to rest Where for safety shall I fly Where shall we sinners hide our heads While I am banished from thy house While beauty clothes the fertile vale While God my Father's near While shepherds watched their flocks by night Who has believed thy word Why do we mourn departing friends? Why droops my soul with grief oppressed? Why, O my soul, why weepest thou? With cheerful notes let all the earth With one consent let all the earth With pity, Lord, thy servant view With restless and ungoverned rage With reverence let the saints appear to the tune Malden, from A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes from A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes With what delight, great God, I trace Within thy tabernacle, Lord Ye boundless realms of joy Ye children come, my precepts hear Ye children which do serve the Lord Ye dying sons of men Ye glittering toys of earth, adieu Ye humble souls, rejoice Ye little flock whom Jesus feeds Ye people all with one accord Ye princes that in might excel Ye servants of God, your master proclaim Ye tribes of Adam join Ye virgin souls, arise Yield unto God the mighty Lord Your harps, ye trembling saints Zion, lift thy drooping head

 
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Publications

A Sett of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [1805]. A Set of Psalm Tunes, [1805]. Stand still, refulgent orb. An Ode to the New Year, [1805?]. A Second Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, (1806). A Second Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1807]. A Third Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [1807]. A New Ode for the Spring, [1807]. A Fourth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1808]. A Third Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1809]. A Fifth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1809]. God is Gone Up. An Anthem from the 47th Psalm, [1809].

A Te Deum and Jubilate, adapted for a Double Choir, [1809]. A Fourth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1810]. Twelve Tunes in Peculiar Measures, [c1810]. Clark's Sixth Set of Hymn Tunes, [c1811]. A Fifth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1813]. Clark's Seventh Book of Hymn Tunes, [1813-15]. A Sixth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1814]. An Eighth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1817]. A Ninth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1818]. An Eleventh Set of Hymn Tunes, [c1820]. A Twelfth Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, [c1821].

The Congregational Harmonist, or Clerk's Companion, [1828-1837]. A Seventh Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1830]. An Eighth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1830]. A Ninth Set of Psalm Tunes, [c1830]. The Union Harmonist, 1841. The Union Tune Book, 1842. David's Harp, 1843. The Juvenile Harmonist, 1843. The Seraphim, or Sacred Harmonist, [1843?] British Psalmody, [1844]

External links

• Obituary in The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review, 1859
• Thomas Clark of Canterbury, (1775-1859)
• West Gallery Music Association article outlining Clark's biography by Tony Singleton