You get a pdf of the score of the arrangement and an mp3 of a live recording. The text and the tune are both from the oral tradition. Peter Amidon's arrangement is based on Neely Bruces stunning SATB shape note arrangement of the song which can be found in two American shape note song collections: Northern Harmony and the September 2025 edition of the Sacred Harp. This performance is by West Willow (Hannah North - solo, Emma Schneider, Zara Bode, Arthur Davis, Fred Breunig, and Stefan Amidon – Anna Patton clarinet, Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin accordion, Cathy Martin piano).
This is an extraordinarily beautiful combination of lyrics, melody and harmony.
While passing a garden, I paused there to hear the voice of a stranger, the planter was near. I wept to behold him, I asked him his name, and he answered ‘tis Jesus, from heaven I came.
I am thy redeemer, for thee I must die; The cup is most bitter, but cannot pass by. His eyes bright as diamonds, to heaven were raised, While the angels stood wond’ring, around him amazed.
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