Text: Spiritual
Language: English
Ensemble: SATB (div.), solo
Accompaniment: a cappella
Genre: Spiritual
Duration: 5 minutes
Page Count: 6
Catalog Number: NWC-183
Available from J. W. Pepper.
An extended expressive a cappella setting of the familiar spiritual "Steal Away", beginning simply with a tenor solo. Verses begin from tranquil unison voices and expand outward, each verse unfolding further afield harmonically, expanding the vocal ranges as the music progresses, with declamations on "the trumpet sounds". As the expressive harmonies evolve in richness, they ultimately settle and arrive peacefully on the final "steal away home." Note the occasional divisi in the alto part, independent writing for baritone and bass parts, and high "A" for the sopranos.
Text:
Steal away, steal away home,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the thunder;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
Green trees are bending,
Poor sinners stand a-trembling;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the lightning;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.