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Play “The Contrite Heart”
Free same-meter accompaniment for The Contrite Heart (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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- 1The Lord will happiness divine
- On contrite hearts bestow:
- Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
- A contrite heart or no?
- 2I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
- Insensible as steel;
- If aught is felt, 'tis only pain
- To find I cannot feel.
- 3I sometimes think myself inclin'd
- To love thee, if I could;
- But often feel another mind,
- Averse to all that's good.
- 4My best desires are faint and few,
- I fain would strive for more;
- But when I cry, "My strength renew,"
- Seem weaker than before.
- 5Thy saints are comforted I know,
- And love thy house of prayer;
- I sometimes go where others go,
- But find no comfort there.
- 6O make this heart rejoice or ache;
- Decide this doubt for me;
- And if it be not broken, break,
- And heal it, if it be.
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 The Contrite Heart page.
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