Great God, How Frail A Thing Are We

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Composer
William Billings
Arranger
Thomas Gibbs, Jr.
Difficulty
Easy radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked
Season
Lent
Voicing(s)
SATB
Instruments
Keyboard [organ/piano] Unaccompanied [a cappella]
Category
Anthems
Instrumental Only?
No
Description

SATB a cappella (optional organ). Billings' tune Thomas-Town, edited by Thomas Gibbs, Jr. Text (altered) attributed to Mather Byles. Typical Billings style: open harmonies, vigorous rhythms, and a resolute style throughout.

Audio
Lyrics

Great God, how frail a thing are we!
How swift our minutes pass!
Our age contracts within a span:
we bloom and die like grass.

And must my moments thus decline,
and must I sink to death?
To thee my spirit I resign,
thou maker of my breath.