Wayfarin' Stranger

Program Notes:

This traditional hymn from the Appalachian mountains expresses the longing to reunite with lost loved ones in an afterlife, even though that means leaving this life. Long a favorite of folk singers, this arrangement draws from jazz rhythms and harmonies, particularly in the piano.

Notes on preparation and performance:

Let the piano part carry the rhythm forward, and have the singers focus on creating the long, arched phrases. All the long notesshould have direction and movement rather than sit in one place and wait.

Take your time at the end.

Pianist, really find the off-beat groove. Look for your little riffs where you get to really come out of the texture. Find the strength of the left hand part. At the begnning and at the end, convince the conductor that you can play without being conducted by playing with a lot of expression.

Text

I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger a-travlin' through this world of woe

But there's no sickness, toil, nor danger in that bright land to which I go.

I'm goin' there to see my father, I'm goin' there no more to roam

I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home.

I know dark clouds will gather o'er me

I know my way is rough and steep

But beauteous fields lie just before me

Where souls redeemed their vigil keep

I'm goin' there to see my mother, I'm goin' there no more to roam

I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home.