Composer

:

John Weldon

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:32

"Stop, O ye waves" is a sacred anthem composed by John Weldon, an English composer and organist who lived from 1676 to 1736. The piece was likely composed in the early 18th century, although the exact date of composition is unknown. The anthem is written for four-part choir and organ accompaniment, and is typically performed in a church setting. It is a relatively short piece, with a duration of around three minutes. "Stop, O ye waves" is divided into three movements. The first movement begins with a slow, mournful introduction in which the choir sings the words "Stop, O ye waves, ye boisterous floods, / And in your channels be confined." The music is characterized by its use of suspensions and dissonances, which create a sense of tension and unease. The second movement is more lively and upbeat, with the choir singing "Let all the earth adore the Lord, / And all the inhabitants thereof." The music is characterized by its use of imitative polyphony, in which different parts of the choir sing the same melody at different times. The final movement returns to the slow, mournful tone of the first movement, with the choir singing "For he hath made the world so sure, / That it cannot be moved." The music is characterized by its use of homophonic texture, in which all parts of the choir sing the same melody at the same time. Overall, "Stop, O ye waves" is a beautiful and expressive piece of sacred music that showcases Weldon's skill as a composer. Its use of dissonance, polyphony, and homophony create a sense of drama and emotion that is well-suited to its religious subject matter.

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