“Lam the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." Song of Solomon 2:1 (AKJV) PROGRAM NOTES He's the Lily of the Valley is one of my Papa’ favorite African American spiritual He often sung both variants of this work to me. I was never able to write dow! singing of folk music until I finally mastered melodic and rhythmic dictatios England Conservatory. I soon became dedicated to that task. I would retusn fr to Virginia during the summers to write down hundreds of “Papa's tut Thave published many of them. This ttle is also a favorite of mine. My conservatory teachers always told me to try to authentic: learned from Papa. However, regarding original primary tunes (slaves) are long dead and, according to the Libra also been lost. Nevertheless, I went looking for the fary sources I cot ‘The earliest secondary source of this ttle isa sai 10 dition arrange: William Arms Fisher in 1926. It is in a volume titl legro Spirituals (Oli Ditson). Itis an excellent, but overly lush setting. It is Valdble because it gives the first reference to the three known verses of the tex Papa said that he knew of three of this title, He di ie third one, so he would not sing it to me fed urgings. arian js the one he called the slow, then faster version. Thi include or lea rigital first verse: lis chariot ric Of the three most populde modermehoral editioy srk, Moses Hogan uses the first variant and the origi e1s6(Hal Leongfél- 3002). Alice Parker also used the first variant and uses, verse (La id. 1966). Wendell Whalum uses the music of as well. However, textually, he does not use the above first verse (Warner 1981). There are nfajor differences in all three of their middle (B) sections. ‘The pr ion is the secon Fas my Papa called it, He and I do not use the originabirst fy tempo is ni the first variant, although it is not foo fast eith ddl (B) section -second variant is totally unlike that of the middle es) of thesfirst any of the above-mentioned arrangers. I have men’s and then men’s voices. Next, they are followed sus is like the Lily of the Valley! ‘affirmati is interesting thaf the Old ‘Testament’s Rose of Sharon is not a rose at all, but a hibiscus (hibiscu: |. It is a many-flowing plant of different species. The real, usually white flower ly of the Valley is poisonous yet sweetly scented, and it is extremely beautiful ( ‘majalis)! It seems doubtless that quality is the real reason that the ori poet selected this lovely imagery to describe Jesus. still searching for that third variant. So, until I find it, this second one will h fo Until a third variant is found. However, keep singing, “Oh, my Lord!” James McCullough Cambridge, Massachusetts 2018TEXT NY REFRAIN: He's the lily of the valley, Oh, my Lord! He’ the lily of the valley, Oh, my Lord! Since Heaven is so high, @ And I'm so low: I wonder if Ill ever, ‘The Heaven I know: I’ve never been to Heavei But I’ve beet Ls ‘These shoes f wear Are gos ‘And ear some James McCullough (b. 1939) For biographical information visit: www.ecspublishing.com/composers4 Catalog No. 1.3556 For Dr. Allen Hightower Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies, ‘and The University of North Texas A Cappella Choir, Denton, Texas, and dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King (1929-1968) He’s the Lily of the Valle for SATB Chorus (divisi) unaccompanied Traditional Text African fan Spiritu: Song of Solomon 2:1 (AKJV) An imes McCull Andante moderato « = 76-80 (not too fast) ‘mp always flowing, with joyous conviction and than! (uns repeat) Soprano He's the lil-y of the > 7 mp always flowing, with joyous oni ving Alto He’s the il-y mp always flowing, Tenor I FE He's the with joyous convictic thanksgiving of Tenor 2 lil-y of the val -ley,. vous conviction and thanksgiving poco Bass of the val ley, -y lerato ¢ = 76-80 (not too fast) Keyboard Gor rehearsal only) © Copyright 2019 by Galaxy Music Corporation, Inc., a division of ECS Publishing. www.ecspublis Alll rights reserved.rn He's the lil- y mp He's the il- y mp He’s the lil - y =——_— He is the lil - y, “y of the val- —=——_ Lord! He’s the i= y___ - Gey —__ Keep sing-ing, 7277 ‘elected voices) ‘on sing-ing.Ss sempre cantable =—— > dark, rich A F * Lord! 1.Since Heav-en is so high, and nev - er been to Heav-en, but ——— mp sempre cantable 5 Z Lord! 1.SinceHeav-en is so high, and, nev - er been to Heav-en, bi sempre cantable =——_ af _Tellthe story! B F Lord! 1. Since Heav-en is so high, an nev - et been t n, but A 1 won- That the sb T won-der if Ill ev -er Heav-en 1 know. the” streets up there paved with gold. — I won-der if Til ev -er Heav-en 1 know. ‘That the streets up there paved with gold.__ a * Altemate performance suggestion: Altos and tenors may sing on “Ah!” both times, with words at “Ob, my Lord.”(Women’s Chorus) imp lightly and quickly, with gusto (19) ———— . He's the il anf lightly Mi He's th y of val = ley, 77 Oh, omy ind icy, with us ——.-s »p— val - ley, the val - ley,the val - ley, Lord|__________He’s the the nf ——— p Lord! Oh yes, He is! He's the Prag) S (a few selected voices Sing,. sweet(Men’s Chorus) 9 map — (Sing mecco-voce or falsetto as needed.) (29) 1.“What kind of those?. mf shoes gos - pel shoes, =a gos - pel “Tenors: Please sing the “E” only on the frst time through, ‘Then, on the repeat please sing the high “G” and “B” with the “" as a full chord, and observe Fermata both times.i atempo Mt == mf. pt Lord!____ 2. “These a tempo a= Ss Lord! 2. “These a tempo =r Lord! 2. “These a temp(Mixed Chorus) nN a tempo, with conviction 40 St 1 know Now, a tempo, with conviction tS. 1 know He is, Now, a tempo, with conviction Sf Now, 1 know He is the a tempo, with conviction fia Xs42 — Ss “Oh, my Lord! e's the mf A my Lor Ay TL St T2 lil-y of the val-1 is the lil - y, fe) =.13 —_ 2 ky14 With glorious finality ‘ono nat 48 poco rr) OO Oh, my Lord! Keep sing -ing, Sf Keep sing-ing, poco — iPr ou — Keep sing-ing, Keep sing- ing, With gloriot February 2, 2017 Glen Allen, Virginia &, a, 2:40