Composer

:

Thomas Tomkins

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Anthem

Average_duration

:

6:18

Thomas Tomkins was an English composer who lived from 1572 to 1656. He was a prolific composer of sacred music, and his works were highly regarded during his lifetime. One of his most famous compositions is "O Lord, let me know mine end." "O Lord, let me know mine end" is a choral anthem that was composed by Tomkins in the early 17th century. It was first performed in 1622 at the funeral of Sir Henry Fanshawe, the English ambassador to Spain. The piece is written for four-part choir and is set to text from Psalm 39. The anthem is divided into three movements. The first movement is a somber and reflective setting of the opening lines of the psalm: "O Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live." The music is slow and mournful, with long, sustained notes and a sense of resignation. The second movement is more upbeat and hopeful, reflecting the psalmist's plea for God's mercy: "Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity." The music is more lively and energetic, with a sense of urgency and a plea for salvation. The final movement returns to the somber mood of the opening, with a setting of the psalmist's final plea: "O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen." The music is slow and mournful, with a sense of finality and acceptance. Overall, "O Lord, let me know mine end" is a powerful and moving piece of sacred music. It reflects the human experience of mortality and the need for divine mercy and salvation. Tomkins' skillful use of harmony and counterpoint creates a sense of depth and complexity, while the simple yet profound text of the psalm speaks to the universal human experience of mortality and the search for meaning and purpose in life.

More....