Welcome To
"Billings Alive!"
Lift Up Your Voice
| The Music of William Billings with Full Orchestra |
|
|
William Billings (1746-1800) wrote music that inspired an entire generation of settlers to defend their newly found freedom, draft a Constitution, a Bill of Rights, a Document of Independence and to establish a new nation. It was a call to arms and a call to worship during a turbulent time in American history. |
|
Only ten years older than Mozart (1756-1791) and fourteen years younger than Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), he was a total departure from established European culture. Self taught in music, he had a lot in common with everyday men and women who loved to sing. He helped define the very spirit of independence taking shape in the colonial society of his day. If Mozart or Haydn had visited Boston, they would certainly have suggested building a concert hall or an opera house. And they most definitely would have told Billings to get himself an orchestra.
This project brings to life his music in a way he may have only dreamed of, - with a full orchestra! Our "historically-informed" presentation of this music incorporates a breadth of interpretation definitely allowed in Early American Music. Our purpose is to create a new freshness and vitality for a contemporary audience. |
The History
|
William Billings, historically considered the First American Composer,
wrote hundreds of songs in his own distinctive style, set exclusively to
"sacred" texts, and had them published in six-plus volumes during his
lifetime. His songs then appeared in hundreds of other compilations as well. His own published collections include: |
|
The New-England Psalm-Singer, 1770 The Singing Master’s Assistant, 1778 Music In Miniature, 1779 The Psalm-Singer’s Amusement, 1781 The Suffolk Harmony, 1786 Independent Publication, 1787. The Continental Harmony, 1794 |
For more of Billing's history, click here.
Listen to the CD!
Click here for text samples of the lyrics or,
use this player to hear the actual recordings.
You need to have the REAL Player browser plugin installed on your computer to listen to these samples.
You may download the installer program from the webmaster's site for free
REAL Player v. 10
|
|
The Music
Newly created and easy-to-read Vocal Scores are
available for the music in this collection..
Click here for a page full of linked scores.
The Playlist
The Orchestra
New Full Orchestra Scores and parts are available for the music in this collection.
This music is scored for a 35 to 50-piece Orchestra.
Click here for the Orchestra Instrumentation.
The Producer:
click here for a short biography