Oh, the compositions that flowed for the Orpharion, the soul-stirring instrument! Although only the magnificent William Barley dared to publish music specifically for it, the orpharion, tuned in harmonious alignment with the lute, opened a veritable treasure trove of music from that prolific era!
What a glorious repertoire awaits! And let us not forget the sublime anthology, “Sacred hymns Consisting of fifti select psalms of David and others, paraphrastically turned into English verse. And by Robert Tailour, set to be sung in five parts, as also to the viole, and lute or orph-arion. Published for the vse of such as delight in the exercise of music in hir original honour.”
masterfully rendered into English verse by the gifted Sir Edwyn Sandys and Robert Tailour, Printed by Thomas Snodham, by the assignment of the Company of Stationers in 1615. —published for the very souls who yearned to bask in the original honor of music itself! Oh, the title alone sings with reverence!
PSALM 22. (Book 22)
Our Saviours complaint vpon the Cross, thanks giuing for deliuerance, and propheci touching the great encrease and perpetuiti of his Church, foretold by DAVID.
Psalm 22
MY God, my God: why doost thou me forsake?Why to my plaints thyn ear a stranger make?By day I cry, but thou far off art gone:By night, deer Lord; but audience fynd I none
PSALM 21
THe King Lord towărd thy glorious face Vic∣torious eys dooth ioy-ful rear; His strength, thy spĭrit; his health, thy grace; With doubled triumphs his soule dooth chear. What hart could wish, what lips did crave, Thy bountĕous hand him strangely gave.
