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Play “Retirement and Meditation”
Free same-meter accompaniment for Retirement and Meditation (William Cowper): organ, piano or guitar playing the tune ST. ANNE (William Croft) in four-part harmony, 6 verses, with the words on screen. Choose the key and speed, add an introduction, project the words on a TV, or practice your own choir part. Made for churches and home groups without a musician.
Sung here to ST. ANNE (William Croft), a Common Meter (8.6.8.6) tune — not necessarily the tune usually paired with this text. Any tune in the same meter fits the words.
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- 1Far from the world, O Lord, I flee,
- From strife and tumult far;
- From scenes where Satan wages still
- His most successful war.
- 2The calm retreat, the silent shade,
- With prayer and praise agree;
- And seem by Thy sweet bounty made
- For those who follow Thee.
- 3There, if Thy Spirit touch the soul,
- And grace her mean abode,
- O with what peace, and joy, and love,
- She communes with her God!
- 4There, like the nightingale, she pours
- Her solitary lays;
- Nor asks a witness of her song,
- Nor thirsts for human praise.
- 5Author and Guardian of my life,
- Sweet Source of light divine,
- And, all harmonious names in one,
- My Saviour,--Thou art mine!
- 6What thanks I owe Thee, and what love,
- A boundless, endless store,
- Shall echo through the realms above
- When time shall be no more!
About this music
ST. ANNE — William Croft. Setting: composite found in "The Lutheran Hymnary", 1913.. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project, copied from 'The Lutheran Hymnary', 1913, Hymn 261. Arrangement is composite, first half from "Hymns Ancient and Modern", 1869, Hymn 231. ed William Henry Monk Second half is from "The Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer", 1890, Hymn 279. ed. Charles Vincent, D.J. Wood, John Stainer; music and setting are in the public domain. The words above are from the hymnal cited on the Retirement and Meditation page.
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