Nearer, My God, to Thee

I wrote this arrangement of Nearer, My God, to Thee in just 24 hours.  When we moved to Kansas City, we came to know a wonderful family.  This arrangement was written with them in mind as they recently had a beautiful daughter, Maddy, pass away from a rare type of cancer.  When Maddy learned she only had a short time to live, she was sad because (as she told her mom), she wanted to make a difference in the world.  Thus started Maddy the Mighty, where people would perform acts of kindness in her honor.

This arrangement is scored for Vocal solo with Piano and String Trio accompaniment.  I am pleased to have gotten the help of some friends to record it.  Thanks to the mom and daughter team of Valerie and Emma-Kate Salin on the vocal part, Corinne Mosher (violin), Maren Hufford (viola), Devin Jackson (cello),  and Markus Merrill (piano).

Download the score here: Nearer, My God, to Thee – Full Score

Download the string parts here: Nearer, My God, to Thee – Parts

Audio file (live) below.  Volume level is very low…sorry!

Synthesized audio file below (normal volume):

Music: attr. to Lowell Mason, 1792-1872
Text: Sarah F. Adams, 1805-1848
Arranged: Richard Tolbert
Created: Jul 2015
Duration: 00:04:40

Lyrics:

1. Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me.
(Chorus) Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
(Chorus) Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

3. There let the way appear,
Steps unto heav'n;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy giv'n;
(Chorus) Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!