Augsburg Fortress

Come Away to the Skies

Come Away to the Skies

A spirited, joyful setting of this early American tune and Wesley text, perfect for small choirs on Easter or the Sunday after. The organ accompaniment is lively and weaves together other tunes that comment on the text being sung. Several stanzas could also be used to accompany congregational singing.
  • In stock

$2.50

  • Publisher Augsburg Fortress
  • Format Sheet Music
  • ISBN 9781506422008
  • Brand Augsburg Choral Library
  • Dimensions 7 x 10.25
  • Pages 8
  • Season/Occasion Easter
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Voicing Organ; Unison
  • Publication Date October 17, 2016

Video

Composer Commentary

This arrangement was written for an Easter Sunday when I found myself unexpectedly with a very small but capable choir. I wanted to write a piece that would help these few singers sound their best and to use the organ, which still had all its voices, to help interpret the text. The second stanza speaks of Jesus being born both human and divine and our participation in that duality, so the Christmas hymn "From Heaven Above" is quoted in the right hand. Stanza 3 has the Easter hymn "This Joyful Eastertide" hidden in the left hand as a nod to the joy and anticipation of meeting "at the feast of the Lamb." It's not expected that the listener will catch these other tunes; rather, my hope is that by including references to other hymns, the choir will be better able to sing their anthem with a broader story in mind and a context for the joy of Easter.
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