The Great Worship

Representative Text

1 The harp at Nature’s advent strung has never ceased to play;
the song the stars of morning sung
has never died away.

2 The prayer is made, and praise is given,
by all things near and far;
the ocean looketh up to heaven
and mirrors every star.

3 The green earth sends sweet incense up
from many mountain shrines;
from folded leaf and dewy cup
now pours the sacred wine.

4 The blue sky is the temple’s arch,
its transept, earth and air;
the music of its starry march,
the chorus of a prayer.

5 So nature keeps the reverent frame
with which all years begin;
and nature’s signs and voices shame
the prayerless heart within.

Source: Singing the Living Tradition #75

Author: John Greenleaf Whittier

Whittier, John Greenleaf, the American Quaker poet, was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, Dec. 17, 1807. He began life as a farm-boy and shoemaker, and subsequently became a successful journalist, editor and poet. In 1828 he became editor of the American Manufacturer (Boston), in 1830 of the New England Review, and an 1836 (on becoming Secretary to the American Anti-Slavery Society) of the Pennsylvania Freeman. He was also for some time, beginning with 1847, the corresponding editor of the National Era. In 1840 he removed to Amesbury, Massachusetts, where most of his later works have been written. At the present time [1890] he lives alternately at Amesbury and Boston. His first poetical piece was printed in the Newburyport Free Press in 182… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The harp at nature's advent strung
Title: The Great Worship
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

PETERBOROUGH (Harrison)


EVAN (Havergal)

This tune is likely the work of the composer named here, but has also been attributed to others as shown in the instances list.

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #2491
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
Text

Singing the Living Tradition #75

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2491

Include 46 pre-1979 instances
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