“When Jesus Wept” – Barry Phillips
From the recording: The World Turned Upside Down
Recorded and mixed by Justin Mayer and Barry Phillips at Bear Creek Recording,
Santa Cruz, CA, December 1991 - February 1992.
Produced by Barry Phillips (with thanks to Justin and Shelley).
Executive producer: Neal Hellman.
Editing by Alan Goldwater on the Dyaxis System.
Mastering by Rainer Gembalczyk at The Music Annex, Menlo Park, CA.
Publishing: Gourd Music (BMI) /Koustic Music (BMI)

Esther Landau: flute
Chris Latham: violin
Shelley Phillips: oboe & harp
Barry Phillips: cello and harpsichord
Produced by Barry Phillips

William Billings (1746-1800) was trained as a tanner, a trade he gave up to devote his life to music. He became a very respected singer, teacher, composer and conductor who in concert was often heard to exclaim, "Great art thou, O music...and with thee there is no competitor..." Billings was a true musical innovator of his day, glorying in his musical independence and lack of formal training. He attributed the inspiration for his compositions to nature, and he was prolific, publishing half a dozen collections of psalm tunes, anthems and canons. When Jesus Wept is a lovely round for four voices from his first book, The New England Psalm Singer (1770), which was engraved by his fellow Bostonian, Paul Revere.

“When Jesus Wept”

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