Choral ~ Holiday ~ with Keyboard
“Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”
(An original setting of the 18th-century text)
SOUND CLIP / WATCH VIDEO ON VIMEO / SCORE SAMPLE
SCORING: SATB (some divisi), acc. by piano
DURATION: ca. 3:20 — DIFFICULTY: 3/5 — PAGES IN PDF SCORE: 11
HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER — PDF: $50 (for all the copies you need)
DESCRIPTION
Written in the style of Appalachian folk music, this original carol has a haunting melody that is presented in a strophic fashion. Like the poem itself, my piece is uncomplicated, yet stirs within us a sense of longing.
Although this text is usually associated with Christmas, this piece would also be suitable for performance year-round.
TEXT INFO
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Anonymous 18th-century text
COMPLETE TEXT:
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.
His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.
For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought;
I missed of all, but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.
I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest a while:
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.