This edition was prepared by Denis Mason — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Burial Service
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems, Burial / Funeral Hymns
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Joachim Kelecom
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Burial Service by William Croft — Lyrics
I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord :
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand
at the latter day upon the earth.
And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
yet in my flesh shall I see God:
whom I shall see for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
We brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the Name of the Lord.
Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live,
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About Burial Service
William Croft's Burial Service for SATB voices sets a profound English text, drawn from scripture and the Book of Common Prayer, offering solace and assurance in the face of mortality. The music opens with a direct, declamatory setting of "I am the resurrection and the life", reflecting the solemnity of the occasion. Croft’s skill in imitative counterpoint and rich harmonic language supports the theological weight of the words, particularly in the confident affirmation "I know that my Redeemer liveth". The setting moves seamlessly between passages of comforting reassurance and stark realism, as in the poignant "We brought nothing into this world". This anthem provides a dignified and moving musical framework for a funeral, acknowledging human frailty while asserting eternal hope.
