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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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| 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
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Tunes by William Billings (64) | As | Instances | Incipit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADORATION (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 53434 56567 16551 |
| AFFIRMATIVE | William Billings (Composer) | 3 | 13353 21711 11564 |
| AFRICA (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 3 | 13451 76513 43223 |
| AMHERST (Billings) | William Billings (Composer (melody)) | 5 | 13543 21515 65432 |
| AN ANTHEM: PSALM 42 | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 17151 23732 15534 |
| [And I saw a mighty Angel proclaiming with a loud voice] | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 15123 23155 13214 |
| ANDOVER (Bilings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 51717 65671 27115 |
| ASSURANCE (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 13332 13555 56717 |
| AURORA (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 51354 32123 21717 |
| BY THE WATERS (Jewish) | William Billings (Composer (attributed to)) | 4 | 17656 76545 65434 |
| BEAR CREEK | William Billings (Composer) | 3 | 55517 12321 76512 |
| BENEFICENCE (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 51112 34321 22117 |
| BENNINGTON (Billings) | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 13213 21222 34321 |
| BERLIN (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 55175 34543 21555 |
| BETHLEHEM (W. Billings) | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 3 | 51717 65434 32155 |
| [Blessed is he that considereth the poor] (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 23156 17654 55555 |
| BOSTON (Billings) | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 3 | 15555 17655 12343 |
| BROOKFIELD (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 5 | 51323 21712 23217 |
| CHARLSTON | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 13343 21556 54322 |
| CHESTER (Billings) | William Billings, 1746-1800 (Composer) | 3 | 56715 61765 55556 |
| DAVID'S LAMENTATION | Billings (Composer) | 5 | 11232 32342 77112 |
| [Down steers the Bass with grave majestic air] | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 15312 34551 51234 |
| EASTER ANTHEM (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 9 | 15675 17123 25434 |
| EMANUEL | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 51312 42353 15131 |
| FRAMINGHAM (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 51212 34345 53457 |
| FUNERAL ANTHEM (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 5 | 15517 65543 45555 |
| GOLGOTHA (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 51715 34555 45175 |
| HARTFORD (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 15132 72432 34531 |
| HATFIELD (Billings) | William Billings (Composer (attributed to)) | 1 | 11234 53112 34325 |
| HULL (Billings) | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 13345 54332 13221 |
| JAMAICA (Billings) | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 56715 65553 51711 |
| JORDAN (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 10 | 51132 12323 43232 |
| JUDEA (Billings) | William Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 11312 42312 13222 |
| LEBANON (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 3 | 13217 12345 56543 |
| [Let every mortal ear attend] (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 11765 43232 12345 |
| LEWIS-TOWN | William Billings, 1746-1800 (Composer) | 8 | 51321 53223 12512 |
| MAJESTY (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 11 | 51716 53143 11765 |
| MANCESTER (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 56711 21765 51715 |
| MARYLAND (Billngs) | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 12543 22254 32112 |
| MENDON (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 2 | 11751 71235 43211 |
| MODERN MUSICK | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 12334 51765 43423 |
| NORTH PROVIDENCE | Wm. Billings (1746-1800) (Composer) | 2 | 13332 12223 45143 |
| [O praise the Lord! my soul is filled] (Billings) | Wm. Billings (Composer) | 2 | |
| PARIS (Billings) | William Billings, 1746-1800 (Composer) | 3 | 11234 35432 11323 |
| PETERSBURG (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 51115 35172 72757 |
| PHOEBUS | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 15543 45567 76545 |
| REDEMPTION (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 53117 16553 14321 |
| RESIGNATION (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 55651 76545 55177 |
| ROSE OF SHARON (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 4 | 15555 53135 43231 |
| RUTLAND | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 15517 15165 55555 |
| SHEFFIELD (Billings) | Williiam Billings? (1746-1800) (Composer (attributed to)) | 2 | 11322 34553 1432 |
| SHILOH (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 3 | 51112 33334 55671 |
| SUDBURY (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 4 | 51713 21765 12551 |
| [The beauty of Israel is slain] | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 15436 54322 34551 |
| [They that go down to the Sea in Ships] | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 53215 43456 56543 |
| [Thou O God art Praised in Sion] | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 15123 43454 32223 |
| UNION (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 3 | 51123 21223 21217 |
| VERMONT (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 3 | 53151 71765 43454 |
| [Vital spark of Heav'nly flame] | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 15123 21751 76543 |
| WAREHAM (Billings) | William Billings (Composer) | 1 | 11234 54321 23543 |
| WARREN (Billings) | Billings (Composer) | 2 | 12123 45432 14322 |
| WATER TOWN | William Billings (Composer) | 2 | 55171 54654 32212 |
| WHEN JESUS WEPT | William Billings (Composer) | 29 | 15456 73543 21117 |
| [Who is this that cometh from Edom] (Billings) | William Bililngs (Composer) | 1 | 55517 17656 71551 |
Data Sources
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