Wayfaring Stranger (Traditional)

Music files

**L E G E N D**
ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Midi
	Mp3
	MusicXML
	MuseScore3
	File details
	Help

(Posted 2021-02-24) CPDL #63140:

Editor: Joseph Knapicius (submitted 2021-02-24). Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 69 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Arranged for SSA.

(Posted 2021-02-23) CPDL #63129:

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2021-02-23). Score information: Letter, 1 page, 52 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: For one part, arranged by William T. Dale, 1893, in 3:4 time (E minor). Four stanzas, as in Dale 1893.

(Posted 2021-02-22) CPDL #63120:

Editor: Joseph Knapicius (submitted 2021-02-22). Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 94 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Vocal arrangement in 3:4 time (D minor) for four parts SATB, a cappella.

(Posted 2021-02-22) CPDL #63119:

Editor: Joseph Knapicius (submitted 2021-02-22). Score information: Letter, 11 pages, 337 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Jazz arrangement in 4:4 time (G minor) for five woodwinds.

General Information

Title: Wayfaring Stranger
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Lyricist: Anonymous

Genre: Sacred, Folksong Meter: 98. 98

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1882 in Revival Hymns and Plantation Melodies
Description: A folk hymn of unknown origin, apparently first published in 1882; the words first published in 1858 (Garst 1980). However, Boni (1947) says: "After the Revolutionary War, this spiritual sprang up all through the southern mountains … and appears in the old shape-note hymn books of the period. This is a version sung by the early settlers of De Kalb County, Texas." So far, it has not been found in any nineteenth-century shapenote book. A version appears in The Sacred Harp in 1935 and following editions, arranged by John M. Dye. There are several versions of the words.

References

Bever, Joseph. 1858. The Christian Songster. Dayton, Ohio: United Brethren in Christ.
Boni, Margaret B. 1947. Fireside Book of Folk Songs. New York, New York: Simon and Schuster.
Dale, William T. 1893. Times of Refreshing. Macon, Georgia: G. W. Burke.
Garst, John F. 1980. Poor Wayfaring Stranger – Early Publications. The Hymn 31(2):97-101.
Taylor, Marshall W. 1882. Revival Hymns and Plantation Melodies. Cincinnati, Ohio: Taylor and Echols.
Tillman, Charlie D. 1891. The Revival. Williston, South Carolina: Author.

External websites:

Original text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at I am a poor wayfaring stranger.