Three masonic anthems (James Oswald)
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- (Posted 2023-10-17) CPDL #76415:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-10-17). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 260 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Three masonic anthems
Composer: James Oswald
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 3vv Voicings: ATB or TTB
Genre: Sacred, Masonic music
Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard
First published: 1740
Description: Thus mighty eastern kings - Lord, judge my cause - Grant me, kind heaven, what I request. Published in Edinburgh, 1740, before Oswald's removal to London. The first and third items are Oswald's own settings; Lord, judge my cause is his arrangement of a piece of unknown provenance (perhaps Henry Lawes), at that time popularly attributed to Henry VII.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
1. (Anon)
Thus mighty eastern kings, and some
Of Abram's race, and monarchs good
Of Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome
True architecture understood.
No wonder then if masons join,
To celebrate those mason kings
With solemn note and flowing wine,
Whilst ev'ry brother jointly sings.
Who can unfold the royal art,
Or sing us secrets in a song?
They're safely kept in mason's heart,
And to this ancient lodge belong.
2. (Psalm 26 v. 1)
Lord, judge my cause:
Thy piercing eye
Beholds my soul's integrity.
How can I fall, when I and all
My hopes on thee rely?
3. (Anon)
Grant me, kind Heaven, what we request,
In masonry let me be blest;
Direct me to that happy place
Where Friendship smiles in ev'ry face:
Where Freedom and sweet Innocence
Enlarge the mind and cheer the sense.