William Billings Quotations

It is much the best way... to lay the emphasis on the first part of the bar in triple time, and on the first and third parts of the bar in common time.

In the first place, you must pay great attention to the key note.

I will also call the companies and say, 'I really don't appreciate you sending money to people that are that arrogant about our taxes,'

It is also well worth your observation, that the grand contention with us, is, not who shall sing loudest; but who shall sing best.

Every letter has its own peculiar air, which air is very much hurt if the tune is not rightly pitched; for instance, if a tune is set on A natural, and in pitching the tune, you set it a tone too low, you transpose the key into G, which is perhaps quite different from the intention of the author, and oftentimes very destructive to the harmony.

The best general rule I know of, is, to set the tune on the letter the author has set it, unless he has given directions to the contrary.

When Jesus wept, the falling tear in mercy flowed beyond all bound; when Jesus groaned, a trembling fear seized all the guilty world around.

Let tyrants shake their iron rod.