Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted (for Violin and Cello Duet with Piano accompaniment)
by Sharon Wilson
Piano Trio - Digital Sheet Music

This deeply moving hymn is arranged as an instrumental trio (for violin and cello duet with piano accompaniment). The melody subtly weaves between the two parts while the piano provides a flowing, delicate accompaniment.

The title was inspired by the words of Isaiah (53:4) -- "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted." This arrangement is very solemn throughout matching the powerful lyrics (see below) about the death of Christ and how our hope is built on him. If the song is presented during a church service, having the words read before (or projected on a screen) might be beneficial and then an excellent follow-up would be to have the congregation sing "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" or "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today."

The range for each part is as follows: VIOLIN ~ A#4 to A5; CELLO ~ E2 to B3. For the violin, all notes are playable in the first position and all notes for the cello are playable in the first and second positions. This arrangement is an excellent choice for early intermediate string players.

The purchase price includes these printing options:
1. a grand staff (9 pages) with all parts on each page
2. separate scores for the CELLO and VIOLIN (2 pages each) and PIANO (4 pages)
Lyrics by Thomas Kelly
Verse 1
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
This is Christ by man rejected;
Here, my soul, your Savior see.
He’s the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
He’s the true and faithful Word.

Verse 2
Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
was there ever grief like His?
Friends thro' fear His cause disowning,
foes insulting his distress;
many hands were raised to wound Him,
none would intervene to save;
but the deepest stroke that pierced Him
was the stroke that justice gave.

Verse 3
You who think of sin but lightly
nor suppose the evil great
here may view its nature rightly,
here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
see who bears the awful load;
It’s the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

Verse 4
Here we have a firm foundation;
here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the Rock of our salvation,
His the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
who on him their hope have built.