The Great Day

Name: The Great Day
SKU: RP 02-0004
Availability: InStock

John P. Reese (1827–1900)

A chilling shape-note hymn about the Last Judgment.

Choral

treble choir

a cappella

Difficulty: 3

RP 02-0004

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SA soli, SSA a cappella

Referencing the biblical books of Joel, Matthew, and Revelation, this text about a darkened sun, bleeding moon, and falling stars serves both as a prophetic call from the mountaintop and also a call to action. The score contains source information, historical context, editorial notes, and performance suggestions.

Composer’s Notes

The roots of Southern (and Christian) Harmony singing (like The Sacred Harp) are found in the American colonial era. In 1801, a book called The Easy Instructor by William Smith and William Little was published for the use of this movement; its distinguishing feature was the employment of four separate shapes that indicated the notes according to the rules of solfege. To avoid proliferating shapes excessively, each shape (and its associated syllable) except for mi was assigned to two notes of the musical scale. A major scale in the system would be sung Fa – Sol – La – Fa – Sol – La – Mi – Fa, and a minor scale would be La – Mi – Fa – Sol – La – Fa – Sol – La. It should be noted that the traditional methods of this rich heritage (still practiced by thousands today) dictate that the choir begin singing a piece with the appropriate solfege syllable for each pitch, using the shapes to guide them. Once the shapes have been sung, the group then sings the actual text of the song.

Text

1. I’ve a long time heard that there will be a judgment, That there will be a judgment in that day. Oh there will be a judgment in that day, Oh! sinner, where will you stand in that day? 2. I’ve a long time heard that the sun will be darkened, That the sun will be darkened in that day. Oh the sun will be darkened in that day, Oh! sinner, where will you stand in that day? 3. I’ve a long time heard that the moon will be bleeding, That the moon will be bleeding in that day. Oh the moon will be bleeding in that day, Oh! sinner, where will you stand in that day? 4. I’ve a long time heard that the stars will be falling, That the stars will be falling in that day. Oh the stars will be falling in that day, Oh! sinner, where will you stand in that day? 5. I’ve a long time heard that the earth will be burning, That the earth will be burning in that day. Oh the earth will be burning in that day, Oh! sinner, where will you stand in that day? -Anonymous

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