Virtual accompanist
Play “The Swift Declining Day”
Free same-meter accompaniment for The Swift Declining Day (Philip Doddridge): organ, piano or guitar playing the tune ST. THOMAS (Aaron Williams) in four-part harmony, 4 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. THOMAS (Aaron Williams), a Short Meter (6.6.8.6) tune — not necessarily the tune usually paired with this text. Any tune in the same meter fits the words.
Choir part trainer (soprano, alto, tenor, bass)
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- 1The swift declining day,
- How fast its moments fly!
- While evening's broad and gloomy shade
- Gains on the western sky.
- 2Ye mortals, mark its pace,
- And use the hours of light;
- And know, its Maker can command
- At once eternal night.
- 3Give glory to the Lord,
- Who rules the whirling sphere;
- Submissive at his footstool bow,
- And seek salvation there.
- 4Then shall new lustre break
- Through death's impending gloom,
- And lead you to unchanging light,
- In your celestial home.
About this music
ST. THOMAS — Aaron Williams. Setting: "The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged" (Episcopal), 1905.. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project, copied from Episcopal Hymnal, 1905 Hymn 485.; music and setting are in the public domain. The words above are from the hymnal cited on the The Swift Declining Day page.
Played in your browser with instrument sounds from the FluidR3 soundfont by Frank Wen (MIT license). No recordings are used.