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David's Lamentation (1778)
Richard Crawford:
"... Emmaus and David's Lamentation, [both] from Billings' most successful tunebook, The Singing Master's Assistant (1778; three later editions), show his command of somber concision, the latter setting the Old Testament elegy with impressive weight and dignity."
Text for David's Lamentation:
II Samuel 18:33 from The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments (1814)
David, the King, was grieved and moved; He went to his Chamber and wept; and as he went, he wept and said, O my Son, would to God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my Son!
William Billings (1746-1800) is considered one of the first significant composers of the United States. He composed and published over 340 choral pieces during his lifetime, and was a well-known singing master in and around his native Boston, Massachusetts. From his many published writings Billings manifested a strong personality:
"For my own Part, as I don't think myself confin'd to any Rules for Composition laid down by any that went before me, neither should I think (were I to pretend to lay down Rules) that any who came after me were any ways obligated to adhere to them, any further than they should think proper: So in fact, I think it is best for every Composer to be his own Carver."
The work of Billings and other composers of the period formed the foundation of what would later become shape-note or Sacred Harp singing, a tradition that migrated to the southern and western United States and continues to the present day.
The son of a Boston shopkeeper, Billings had a limited education, likely receiving musical instruction at local singing schools; he is believed to have been largely self-taught in composition. Billings was 13 when his father died, and supported his family by working as a tanner, converting animal hides into leather, a trade which he practiced throughout his life. He began teaching in singing schools in 1769, and over the next decade became a highly-respected and successful singing master in leading Boston churches. Billings had a striking appearance: he was blind in one eye, had a withered arm, a short leg, and a loud voice, and inhaled large quantities of snuff (powdered tobacco).
In 1770 Billings published The New England Psalm-Singer, the first collection of entirely original pieces written by a composer in the United States. It included a cover engraved by Billings' friend Paul Revere (one of the major figures of the US War of Independence), an essay on the rudiments of music by the composer, and over 120 psalm and hymn tunes. Several of these tunes were widely published and performed, including "Brookfield" and the popular Revolutionary War song "Chester." In the early 1770's Billings taught at singing schools in nearby Weymouth and Stoughton, Massachusetts (where he met and married singer Lucy Swan) as well as in Providence, Rhode Island.
Billings' next tunebook, The Singing Master's Assistant (1778), was his most successful: it went through four editions and saw nearly two-thirds of its songs appear in later collections. Published during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), it contained another lengthy instructional preface, many psalm and hymn tunes, and nine long-form compositions. Billings followed it soon after with two additional works: Music in Miniature (1779), a tune supplement aimed for use in church congregations, and The Psalm-Singer's Amusement (1781), written for more advanced singers. The latter contains his most experimental work, the concert piece "Modern Music."
Billings continued to teach in singing schools, published several literary pamphlets and occasional pieces including his enduring An Anthem for Easter (1787), and edited the first issue of the Boston Magazine (1783). Important tunebooks of the time, The Chorister's Companion (1782) and The Worcester Collection (1786), featured more works by Billings than any other composer. His fifth collection The Suffolk Harmony (1786), included the popular song "Jordan." By the late 1780's Billings fortunes had turned, forcing him to work in a number of Boston municipal jobs in addition to his musical and tanning trades: hogreeve (officer in charge of impounding stray hogs), scavenger (trash collector), and sealer of leather (leather inspector). A benefit concert was held for him in 1790, and his final tunebook The Continental Harmony (1794) was published as an act of charity through the advance subscription of citizens of Boston. Billings died in 1800 and was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave.
related websites
http://www.amaranthpublishing.com/billings.htm
The Chicago-based choral ensemble His Majestie's Clerkes was founded by countertenor Richard Childress in 1982 to perform music of the English Tudor period. Since then the group has expanded its repertoire to include a wide range of music from the Middle Ages to new commissioned works, moved from a volunteer to a fully professional ensemble, fostered collaborations with other ensembles, and changed its name to Bella Voce (in 2001). Bella Voce has worked with guest conductors Paul Hillier, Alice Parker, Simon Preston, and David Willcocks. The group's association with Paul Hillier included the US premiere of Arvo Pärt's Passio (1982) with the Hilliard Ensemble and two recordings on harmonia mundi of the music of William Billings and other early composers of the United States. The group has also recorded for the Centaur, Cedille, and Narada labels. Bella Voce's current artistic director, Anne Heider, was a founding singer in the group and became its leader in 1989.
related websites
http://www.bellavoce.org
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