"Hearken Unto Me, Ye Holy Children" is an anthem composed by Maurice Greene in 1728. The first performance was probably given on 1 March 1728 at the King's College Chapel, Cambridge; however there is some conjecture that the actual first performance date was 25 April 1728 (to coincide with King George II's visit).
A typical performance takes about 17 minutes.
The work has the following movements:
| Movement | Type | Voice | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solo | Countertenor | Hearken unto me, ye holy children: bud forth as a rose growing by the brooks of the field. Give a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as the lilies. Sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all His works. | Sirach 39, 13-14 |
| 2 | Chorus | Magnify His name, and shew forth His praise with the songs of your lips and with harps. | Sirach 39, 15 | |
| 3 | Chorus | And in praising Him you shall say: blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing into the king's heart; to build this house and set up a holy temple to the Lord, which was prepar'd for everlasting glory. | Sirach 39, 15; Ezra 7, 27; Sirach 49, 12 | |
| 4 | Solo | Tenor | To be a father to the fatherless; to feed them with the bread of understanding, and give them the waters of wisdom to drink. | Sirach 4, 10; Sirach 15, 3 |
| 5 | Duet | Countertenor and Tenor | Therefore shall he receive a glorious kingdom and a beautiful crown from the hand of the Lord. | Wisdom of Solomon 5, 16 |
| 6 | Recitative | Bass | How is he numb'red among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints. | Wisdom of Solomon 5, 5 |
| 7 | Solo | Bass | His name shall endure for ever; His name shall remain under the sun among the posterities, which shall be blessed through him. | Psalm 72, 17 (Book of Common Prayer) |
| 8 | Chorus | Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing into the king's heart; to build this house and set up a holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory. Hallelujah, Amen. | Ezra 7, 27; Sirach 49, 12 | |