JORDAN (Billings)

Composer: William Billings

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 Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: JORDAN (Billings)
Composer: William Billings (1786)
Meter: 8.6.8.6 D
Incipit: 51132 12323 43232
Key: G Major
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Arrangements

Organ Solo

  • Organ Voluntaries Based on Early American Hymn Tunes: For Organ - Hammond Registration Included
    Composer/Editor Herbert Colvin
    Published By: R. D. Row Music Company, Inc. (1964) pp. 38

Piano Solo

  • Keyboard Worship & Praise Volume 11 Number 3 Winter 2018: The Best of Christian Music for Today's Church
    Composer/Editor Larry Shackley
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2018) pp. 18

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)

A New Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #574

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #751

The Sacred Harp #66

Include 11 pre-1979 instances
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