Shenandoah - Original Arrangement for Voice and Harp

Shenandoah

An original arrangement of the song for Voice and Harp by Brandon M. Sherman, a Vocal Performance Major at San Diego State University.

The lyrics may tell the story of a roving trader in love with the daughter of an Indian chief; in this interpretation, the rover tells the chief of his intent to take the girl with him far to the west, across the Missouri River. Other interpretations tell of a pioneer's nostalgia for the Shenandoah River Valley in Virginia, and a young woman who is its daughter; or of a Union soldier in the American Civil War, dreaming of his country home to the west of the Missouri river, in Shenandoah, Iowa (though the town lies some 50 miles east of the river). The provenance of the song is unclear.

The song is also associated with escaped slaves. They were said to sing the song in gratitude because the river allowed their scent to be lost.


Lyrics:


Oh Shenandoah,
I long to hear you,
Away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah,
I long to hear you,
Away, I'm bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri.


Oh Shenandoah,
I love your daughter,
Away you rolling river,
I'll take her 'cross
Your rollin' water,
Away, I'm bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah,
I'm bound to leave you.
Away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah,
I'll not deceive you.
Away, I'm bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri.

'Tis seven years,
I've been a rover,
Away you rolling river,
When I return,
I'll be your lover,
Away, I'm bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Completed on January 1, 2010


All images, as always, were found through Google Images

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shenandoah
• Shenandoah River Valley
• Art Song
• Voice
• Harp
• Original
• Arrangement
• Brandon M. Sherman
• San Diego State University
• SDSU
• Music
• Composer
• Arranger
• Performer
• Vocalist.

[jetgeo4]

very nice folk song. not too many can top it.