Baptismal Anthem/John the Baptist
Public Domain Old-Time, Shape-note Gospel by Benjamin Franklin White, 1844;
ARTIST: Sacred Harp- Benjamin Franklin White, 1844
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: 1844 words and tune; First Recorded in
RECORDING INFO: Baptismal Anthem - White, B. F.
Alabama Sacred Harp Convention Singers. White Spirituals from the Sacred Harp, New World NW 205, LP (1977), trk# B.03 [1959]
Matthews, Bill. Southern Journey. Vol. 9: Harp of a Thousand Strings, Rounder 1709, CD (1998), trk# 13 [1959/09/12]
OTHER NAMES: "John the Baptist"
SOURCES: Sacred Harp;
NOTES: Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8) is 385b in the Sacred Harp. "Baptismal Anthem" was a fuging composition by B. F.White in 1844 based on Matthew 3:1-4.
"When he started to compose a tune,” wrote a contemporary,“it was his habit to
invoke the blessing of the Maker. If he felt he did not have it, he would abandon and lay aside that piece of music.”
Baptismal Anthem 227
Tune: Benjamin Franklin White, 1844
Alto: Miss Leila Underwood, 1844
Lyrics: Holy Bible: Matthew 3:1-4; Meter: Prose
In those days came John the Baptist,
Preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
And saying, Repent ye;
For the kingdom of heaven is at hand,
For this is He that was spoken of
By the prophet, Esaias, saying,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight,
And this same John had his raiment of camel's hair
And bound with a leathern girdle,
And his meat was locust and wild honey.
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