Whew.
As I mentioned, my plan for the next phase is to do more arranging.
For “The Wayfaring Stranger”, I challenged myself to write a piano part along with the 4 clarinet parts.
Clarinet/Piano Arrangement:Poor_Wayfaring_Stranger
Which wouldn’t have been so bad, except I ran into a weird problem with Apple’s GarageBand about half way through.
I’d written a part for the piano, exported it to a midi file. And whenever I imported it into GarageBand, it started doing some sort of weird auto-transposing of all the other parts. It took me about a week, but I finally figured out what was going on.
If you choose the option to “Import Tempo Information” from your midi track, GarageBand does this. I have no idea why, but the easy solution is to choose not to import Tempo Information from your midi track.
“The Wayfaring Stranger” is thought to be a traditional American song, but no one knows for sure where it comes from.
Some historians have traced its genesis to the 1780s, others, the early 1800s. Depending on who you’re talking to the song may be a reworked black spiritual, a lifted native hymn, or even a creation of nomadic Portuguese settlers from the southern Appalachian region.
It has been covered, as far as I can tell, by just about everyone in the universe.
Harmonically, the melody is quite similar, being Pentatonic, to the Irish song, “Keg of Brandy,” and the Who’s, “Behind Blue Eyes,” among many other songs.
One of my favorite songs.
1 I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger,
I’m trav’ling through this world below;
There is no sickness, toil, nor danger,
In that bright world to which I go.
I’m going there to see my father,
I’m going there no more to roam;
I’m just a going over Jordan,
I’m just a going over home.2 I know dark clouds will gather o’er me,
I know my pathway’s rough and steep;
But golden fields lie out before me,
Where weary eyes no more shall weep.
I’m going there to see my mother,
She said she’d meet me when I come;
I’m just a going over Jordan,
I’m just a going over home.3 I want to sing salvations story,
In concert with the blood-washed band;
I want to wear a crown of glory,
When I get home to that good land.
I’m going there to see my brothers,
They passed before me one by one;
I’m just a going over Jordan,
I’m just a going over home.4 I’ll soon be free from every trial,
This form will rest beneath the sod;
I’ll drop the cross of self-denial,
And enter in my home with God.
I’m going there to see my Saviour,
Who shed for me His precious blood;
I’m just a going over Jordan,
I’m just a going over home.