I wonder as I wander - John Rutter, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Melanie Marshall, Andrew Williams

Details

Description

'I wonder as I wander' - arr. John Rutter
From the album ‘A Christmas Festival’

Composer John Rutter (arr.)
Conductor John Rutter
Mezzo-Soprano Melanie Marshall
Viola Andrew Williams
Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Buy, download or stream: https://lnk.to/AChristmasFestival

Find more of the catalogue and curated playlists by subscribing to the channel:
http://bit.ly/2uQMe9P

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnruttermusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnrutter.composer/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johnrutter.bsky.social
Website: https://www.johnrutter.com

The musical folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles collected this haunting carol in the Appalachian mountains in 1933. It was first published in his collection 'Songs of the Hill Folk' and soon became widely known, both from Niles's own solo performances and in choral arrangements.

LYRICS:
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus, the Saviour, did come for to die
For poor or’nery people like you and like I:
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, ‘twas in a cows’ stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing:
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing;
Or all of God’s angels in heaven to sing,
He surely could have had it, ‘cause he was the King!
(The first verse is repeated.)

(Appalachian carol, coll. J. J. Niles)

John Rutter, English composer and conductor, is associated with choral music throughout the world. His recordings with the Cambridge Singers (the professional chamber choir he set up in 1983) have reached a wide global audience, many of them featuring his own music in definitive versions. Among John’s best-known choral works are Gloria, Requiem, Magnificat, Mass of the Children, and Visions, together with many church anthems, choral songs and Christmas carols.

Contact
info@collegium.co.uk