Hear the Lambs A-Cryin'
Oh Shepherd, Feed-a My Sheep
by Traditional Spiritual
SSA - Sheet Music

Choral SSA choir, piano

SKU: CF.BL1125

Oh Shepherd, Feed-a My Sheep. Composed by Traditional Spiritual. Arranged by Lynn Shaw Bailey. Fold. Octavo. 12 pages. Duration 3 minutes, 22 seconds. BriLee Music #BL1125. Published by BriLee Music (CF.BL1125).

UPC: 680160912360. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: A minor. English, English. Traditional Spiritual.

Compelling, compassionate and carefully crafted, Lynn Shaw Bailey's arrangement of this tender African American spiritual for SSA voices speaks to the need for love and compassion for each other. A treble choir must-sing!.
Hear the Lambs A-Cryin' is an excellent example of an early African-American spiritual. Spirituals are sacred songs composed anonymously by black Americans. The influences of this beloved musical genre are thought to be a fusion of eighteenth- and nineteenth century American slave melodies, Western harmonies, and Christian faith, along with the syncopated rhythms and segmented melodies of African music. After the Civil War, much credit for preserving and popularizing African-American folk songs is owed to early visionaries and leaders of historically black educational institutions. To raise funds for their universities, touring groups of student singers introduced black spirituals to audiences in the United States, England and Europe. The earliest of these ensembles were the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee), directed by George L. White, and the Hampton Student Singers of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute of Virginia (now Hampton University), directed by Thomas P. Fenner. Both White and Fenner transcribed, arranged and published books of spirituals for their student ensembles. Hear the Lambs A-Cryin' was first published in Fenner's Cabin and Plantation Songs As Sung by the Hampton Students (New York, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1874). The words of this spiritual refer to the Gospel of John, chapter 21 where Jesus, the Good Shepherd, restores his relationship with Peter, one of his faithful disciples. Jesus understood human frailty, and showed great compassion. Just prior to Jesus' crucifixion, Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Here, after Jesus is raised to life and walks the earth for another forty days, he gently asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Each time, Peter reaffirms his love for Jesus. To which Jesus replies, "Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep," meaning for Peter to love and shepherd the people of Jesus' flock. At its core, singing is a form of storytelling that gives life and expression to notes and words. In addition to excellent musical technique, hearts are touched most when songs are sung with emotional understanding and deep spiritual feeling. As you sing this song, do so knowing that you are loved, and you have immense capacity to love and care for others. --Soli Deo Gloria! LSB.
Hear the Lambs A-Cryin’ is an excellent example of an early African-American spiritual. Spirituals are sacred songs composed anonymously by black Americans. The influences of this beloved musical genre are thought to be a fusion of eighteenth- and nineteenth century American slave melodies, Western harmonies, and Christian faith, along with the syncopated rhythms and segmented melodies of African music.After the Civil War, much credit for preserving and popularizing African-American folk songs is owed to early visionaries and leaders of historically black educational institutions. To raise funds for their universities, touring groups of student singers introduced black spirituals to audiences in the United States, England and Europe. The earliest of these ensembles were the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee), directed by George L. White, and the Hampton Student Singers of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute of Virginia (now Hampton University), directed by Thomas P. Fenner. Both White and Fenner transcribed, arranged and published books of spirituals for their student ensembles.Hear the Lambs A-Cryin’ was first published in Fenner’s Cabin and Plantation Songs As Sung by the Hampton Students (New York, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1874). The words of this spiritual refer to the Gospel of John, chapter 21 where Jesus, the Good Shepherd, restores his relationship with Peter, one of his faithful disciples. Jesus understood human frailty, and showed great compassion. Just prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Here, after Jesus is raised to life and walks the earth for another forty days, he gently asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Each time, Peter reaffirms his love for Jesus. To which Jesus replies, “Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep,” meaning for Peter to love and shepherd the people of Jesus’ flock.At its core, singing is a form of storytelling that gives life and expression to notes and words. In addition to excellent musical technique, hearts are touched most when songs are sung with emotional understanding and deep spiritual feeling. As you sing this song, do so knowing that you are loved, and you have immense capacity to love and care for others.—Soli Deo Gloria! LSB.