William Billings › Tunes

Short Name: William Billings
Full Name: Billings, William, 1746-1800
Birth Year: 1746
Death Year: 1800

William Billings (b. 1746; d. 1800) was an American choral composer, thought by some to be the father of American choral music. His father died when William was 14, and he was forced to drop all formal education and take up tanning to get by. With no formal musical training he began to compose, and his songs were well-loved and traveled quickly. However, due to unsubstantial copyright laws, Billings received hardly a penny from the publication of his music. After a period of fame and prosperity, his music was forgotten, and his last decade was one of decline. Married with six children, he died in poverty, though his music would be resurrected after his death and sung to this day.

Laura de Jong

Wikipedia Biography

William Billings (October 7, 1746 – September 26, 1800) is regarded as the first American choral composer, and leading member of the First New England School.
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Tunes by William Billings (64)sort ascendingAsInstancesIncipit
[Who is this that cometh from Edom] (Billings)William Bililngs (Composer)155517 17656 71551
WHEN JESUS WEPTWilliam Billings (Composer)2915456 73543 21117
WATER TOWNWilliam Billings (Composer)255171 54654 32212
WARREN (Billings)Billings (Composer)212123 45432 14322
WAREHAM (Billings)William Billings (Composer)111234 54321 23543
[Vital spark of Heav'nly flame]William Billings (Composer)115123 21751 76543
VERMONT (Billings)Billings (Composer)353151 71765 43454
UNION (Billings)Billings (Composer)351123 21223 21217
[Thou O God art Praised in Sion]William Billings (Composer)115123 43454 32223
[They that go down to the Sea in Ships]William Billings (Composer)153215 43456 56543
[The beauty of Israel is slain]William Billings (Composer)215436 54322 34551
SUDBURY (Billings)William Billings (Composer)451713 21765 12551
SHILOH (Billings)William Billings (Composer)351112 33334 55671
SHEFFIELD (Billings)Williiam Billings? (1746-1800) (Composer (attributed to))211322 34553 1432
RUTLANDWilliam Billings (Composer)115517 15165 55555
ROSE OF SHARON (Billings)Billings (Composer)415555 53135 43231
RESIGNATION (Billings)William Billings (Composer)155651 76545 55177
REDEMPTION (Billings)William Billings (Composer)153117 16553 14321
PHOEBUSWilliam Billings (Composer)215543 45567 76545
PETERSBURG (Billings)William Billings (Composer)251115 35172 72757
PARIS (Billings)William Billings, 1746-1800 (Composer)311234 35432 11323
[O praise the Lord! my soul is filled] (Billings)Wm. Billings (Composer)2
NORTH PROVIDENCEWm. Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)213332 12223 45143
MODERN MUSICKWilliam Billings (Composer)112334 51765 43423
MENDON (Billings)Billings (Composer)211751 71235 43211
MARYLAND (Billngs)William Billings (Composer)212543 22254 32112
MANCESTER (Billings)William Billings (Composer)156711 21765 51715
MAJESTY (Billings)William Billings (Composer)1151716 53143 11765
LEWIS-TOWNWilliam Billings, 1746-1800 (Composer)851321 53223 12512
[Let every mortal ear attend] (Billings)William Billings (Composer)111765 43232 12345
LEBANON (Billings)William Billings (Composer)313217 12345 56543
JUDEA (Billings)William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)211312 42312 13222
JORDAN (Billings)William Billings (Composer)1051132 12323 43232
JAMAICA (Billings)William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)256715 65553 51711
HULL (Billings)William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)213345 54332 13221
HATFIELD (Billings)William Billings (Composer (attributed to))111234 53112 34325
HARTFORD (Billings)William Billings (Composer)115132 72432 34531
GOLGOTHA (Billings)William Billings (Composer)151715 34555 45175
FUNERAL ANTHEM (Billings)Billings (Composer)515517 65543 45555
FRAMINGHAM (Billings)William Billings (Composer)151212 34345 53457
EMANUELWilliam Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)251312 42353 15131
EASTER ANTHEM (Billings)Billings (Composer)915675 17123 25434
[Down steers the Bass with grave majestic air]William Billings (Composer)115312 34551 51234
DAVID'S LAMENTATIONBillings (Composer)511232 32342 77112
CHESTER (Billings)William Billings, 1746-1800 (Composer)356715 61765 55556
CHARLSTONWilliam Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)213343 21556 54322
BROOKFIELD (Billings)William Billings (Composer)551323 21712 23217
BOSTON (Billings)William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)315555 17655 12343
[Blessed is he that considereth the poor] (Billings)William Billings (Composer)123156 17654 55555
BETHLEHEM (W. Billings)William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)351717 65434 32155
BERLIN (Billings)William Billings (Composer)155175 34543 21555
BENNINGTON (Billings)William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer)213213 21222 34321
BENEFICENCE (Billings)William Billings (Composer)251112 34321 22117
BEAR CREEKWilliam Billings (Composer)355517 12321 76512
BY THE WATERS (Jewish)William Billings (Composer (attributed to))417656 76545 65434
AURORA (Billings)William Billings (Composer)151354 32123 21717
ASSURANCE (Billings)William Billings (Composer)213332 13555 56717
ANDOVER (Bilings)William Billings (Composer)151717 65671 27115
[And I saw a mighty Angel proclaiming with a loud voice]William Billings (Composer)115123 23155 13214
AN ANTHEM: PSALM 42William Billings (Composer)217151 23732 15534
AMHERST (Billings)William Billings (Composer (melody))513543 21515 65432
AFRICA (Billings)William Billings (Composer)313451 76513 43223
AFFIRMATIVEWilliam Billings (Composer)313353 21711 11564
ADORATION (Billings)William Billings (Composer)153434 56567 16551

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