Were You There? (arr. John Lehrack) by African-American Spiritual Sheet Music for Piano Solo at Sheet Music Direct

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This arrangement of the African-American spiritual, Were You There, takes us through the crucifixion of Jesus, his entombment and resurrection. After the plaintive introduction, the first verse is a modified arrangement of the standard hymn and asks "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" Verse 2 begins with a little hope that quickly turns to disbelief at watching nails being driven into the Christ: "Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?". The left hand simulates the hammer and slowly, slowly, Jesus dies. The key of the third verse is lower than the first two, minor and dissonant and symbolic of Christ being lowered into a tomb. "Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?" The opening motif returns now, full of quiet despair but gradually evolves into light shining from the tomb and bringing forth hope. Finally, the last verse "Were you there when he rose up from the grave?" is in an entirely new key from the first three verses and moves with more excitement. Joy builds and the left hand never stays down for long, constantly rising again and again as Christ is raised from the dead in triumph. We conclude with a softening and slowly into contented joy, secure in our faith and knowledge of rebirth.

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Other Arrangements

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