Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

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nolinesbarred
Posts: 78
Joined: 30 Sep 2008 01:35
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by nolinesbarred »

I'm looking for a cappella arrangements of both Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger - SAB or SATB. I believe they are both USA traditional hymns. Can anyone help?
DrewE
Posts: 28
Joined: 24 Oct 2008 03:37
Location: Vermont, USA

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by DrewE »

"Holy Manna" is indeed an American hymn tune, ascribed to Wiklliam Moore in the mid-19th century book Columbian Harmony. The words by George Atkins ("Brethren, we have met to worship...") are the most commonly sung with it, and presumably gave the tune its name. See http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000260.htm for a copy of the four-part harmonization (sans words), or http://www.ccel.org/ccel/walker/harmony ... Manna.html for a three-part harmonization and all the words. I would think either one would feel pretty repetitive after five verses without some variation. (I do have a harmonization in a hymnal in front of me, as well, but it's the same as the four-part harmonization above save for being transposed to a different key.)

I'm not personally familiar with Wayfaring Stranger, although wikipedia does have a page on it with the words and some recordings. I didn't stumble upon any scores in a quick search about, either in my (tiny) library or online, although it seems a copy ought to exist somewhere online.
nolinesbarred
Posts: 78
Joined: 30 Sep 2008 01:35
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by nolinesbarred »

Thanks very much DrewE. I heard both these songs on radio here in Australia: http://www.2mbs.com

They were sung beautifully by the Anonymous Four. I then looked for the songs on YouTube and found a Blue Grass version of Holy Manna. For all the startling contrast between the two groups I thought the music itself had great integrity, and look forward to pursuing your suggestions for our small ensemble.
Tim Henderson
Posts: 10
Joined: 08 Dec 2005 22:11
Location: London , UK

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by Tim Henderson »

Both are in the current edition of "The Sacred Harp" .

The words for Wayfaring Stranger are at

http://fasola.org/indexes/1991/?p=457

I'll have a search to see if I can come up with a public domain copy of the music.
Tim Henderson
Posts: 10
Joined: 08 Dec 2005 22:11
Location: London , UK

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by Tim Henderson »

When I looked on google books there was a limited preview visible at

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Xgm4 ... 3#PPA72,M1

(from Exploring the Folk Harp).

Still searching for a public domain 4 part version .....
nolinesbarred
Posts: 78
Joined: 30 Sep 2008 01:35
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by nolinesbarred »

Thanks for those tips Tim. I must admit that after listening to the YouTubes Blue Grass version of Holy Manna a couple of times, I began to doubt whether it would
be interesting enough for a choral ensemble. I couldn't get the thing out of my head for about three days! It was driving me crazy; I had to counteract it (as soon as the first note of Holy Manna struck) with a short Brahms lied that we're working on just now - Erlaube Mir. What a tussle, but Brahms won out! I'm still interested in the other though.
joe_gamba
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 15:26
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by joe_gamba »

Hello:

Did you go to Holymeasures.com there is a (Holy Manna) "Brethren, we have met to worship" for SATB, I think I did a good job on it! maybe next week I'll start on "Wayfaring Stranger"
Joe
vaarky
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Joined: 22 Aug 2008 07:28

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by vaarky »

Your comment about wondering whether it would be a good fit for your chorus makes me wonder if you want to find another piece. In case you're looking for add'l ideas for nice traditional tunes for this or a future performance (though the versions below are commercial arrangements):

Paulus, The Road Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cemJVtFY1-A
Dare to Breathe, How Can I Keep from Singing: http://www.jdavidmoore.net/works_mixed.html
nolinesbarred
Posts: 78
Joined: 30 Sep 2008 01:35
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by nolinesbarred »

Thanks for those suggestions Joe and vaarky.
joe_gamba
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 15:26
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by joe_gamba »

Hello:

Have you gone to Holy Measures .Com ? and looked at ‘Holy Manna’ ? and also I’ve just dropped in “Wayfaring Stranger” I think I’ve done a real good job on both, I'm having lots of fun with these religious folk songs!

Have a great day!

Joe
nolinesbarred
Posts: 78
Joined: 30 Sep 2008 01:35
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by nolinesbarred »

Thanks for the suggestion Joe. When I go to the holymeasures site it presents me with a 'Composer Log-in'. I'm not a composer so am not sure whether I should log in or not. When I click on 'Browse Songs (or is it 'Music'?)' I'm told to log in at the Composer Log-in. Not sure what to do. I'm probably missing something as I'm not particularly adept at this computer stuff.
joe_gamba
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 15:26
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Re: Holy Manna and Wayfaring Stranger

Post by joe_gamba »

Hello Everybody:
Good news! holymeasures.com is now up and working, Wayfaring Stranger and Holy Manna are both there.

Joe
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