This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Blue Hill
Staff Notation • Sacred
Preview
0
0
2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
Preview
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
Blue Hill by Daniel Belknap — Lyrics
Isaac Watts, Horae Lyricae, 1706
1. Eternal power! whose high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God;
Infinite length! beyond the bounds
Where stars revolve their little rounds.
2. The lowest step about thy seat
Rises too high for Gabriel's feet:
In vain the tall archangel tries
To reach thy height with wondering eyes.
3. Thy dazzling beauties while he sings,
He hides his face behind his wings;
And ranks of shining thrones around
Fall worshipping, and spread the ground.
Read full lyrics
About Blue Hill
Daniel Belknap sets a text by Isaac Watts, a seminal figure in English hymnody. This sacred anthem for SATB voices explores the unfathomable majesty of God, contrasting divine omnipotence and infinite transcendence with humanity's humble origins. The lyrics move from describing God's exalted dwelling place, beyond the reach of even angelic beings, to the earthbound plea of mortals to acknowledge their Creator. The setting is in English, reflecting the congregational and devotional context of Watts's poetry. This work offers a powerful musical interpretation of profound theological themes, suitable for a choir seeking to convey both awe and reverence.
