Article " Balm in Gilead" by Harry Thacker Burleigh

Balm in Gilead, 1919, by Harry Thacker Burleigh, 1866-1949.

Balm in Gilead, 1919. Harry Thacker Burleigh, 1866-1949. Music Division, Library of Congress. Call number: M1671.B

As with most of Burleigh's works for chorus, Balm in Gilead was originally set for solo voice. He dedicated the solo arrangement to John Wesley Work of Fisk University, author of the treatise Folk Songs of the American Negro (1915). The SSA version, arranged for women's chorus by Burleigh, is inscribed to the Schumann Club, conducted by Percy Rector Stephens. Balm in Gilead was published in 1919 for solo voice, men's chorus, and women's chorus by G. Ricordi & Co., New York.

The text of this spiritual was inspired by the biblical passage: "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" (Jeremiah 8:22). Burleigh's setting alternates three nearly identical repetitions of the refrain with two verses. The refrain features a B-flat pedal tone in the piano accompaniment underlying a simple harmonization of the melody in sixths. In the final repetition of the refrain, the second alto part doubles the piano pedal tone.

About this Item

Title

" Balm in Gilead" by Harry Thacker Burleigh

Headings

- Burleigh, H. T. (Harry Thacker), 1866-1949
- Worship and Praise
- Songs and Music
- Parlor and Concert Stage
- Traditional and Ethnic Songs and Music
- Progressive Era to New Era (1900-1929)
- Articles

Genre

article

Additional Metadata Formats

METSXML Record

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is providing access to these materials for educational and research purposes and makes no warranty with regard to their use for other purposes. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or other rights holders (such as holders of publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. There may be content that is protected as "works for hire" (copyright may be held by the party that commissioned the original work) and/or under the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations.

Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permission ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Users should consult the bibliographic information that accompanies each item for specific information. This catalog data provides the details known to the Library of Congress regarding the corresponding items and may assist users in making independent assessments of the legal status of these items as related to their desired uses.

Items included here with the permission of the rights holders are indicated as such in the bibliographic record for each item.

In some cases, the Library was unable to identify a possible rights holder and has elected to place some of those items online as an exercise of fair use for strictly non-commercial educational uses. The Library of Congress would like to learn more about these materials and would like to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information or know of their history. Please contact: Performing Arts Reading Room.

Suggested credit line: Library of Congress, Music Division.