John Jacob Niles - I Wonder as I Wander
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- "I Wonder As I Wander" is a Christmas carol written by folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. The carol has its origins in a song fragment collected by Niles on July 16, 1933.
While in the town of Murphy in Appalachian North Carolina, Niles attended a fundraising meeting held by evangelicals who had been ordered out of town by the police. In his unpublished autobiography, he wrote of hearing the song:
"A girl had stepped out to the edge of the little platform attached to the automobile. She began to sing. Her clothes were unbelievable dirty and ragged, and she, too, was unwashed. Her ash-blond hair hung down in long skeins.... But, best of all, she was beautiful, and in her untutored way, she could sing. She smiled as she sang, smiled rather sadly, and sang only a single line of a song."
The girl, named Annie Morgan, repeated the fragment seven times in exchange for a quarter per performance, and Niles left with "three lines of verse, a garbled fragment of melodic material-and a magnificent idea". (In various accounts of this story, Niles hears between one and three lines of the song. Based on this fragment, Niles composed the version of "I Wonder as I Wander" that is known today, extending the melody to four lines and the lyrics to three stanzas. His composition was completed on October 4, 1933. Niles first performed the song on December 19, 1933 at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. It was originally published in Songs of the Hill Folk in 1934.
Niles's "folk composition" process caused confusion among singers and listeners, many of whom believed this song to be anonymous in origin. Niles undertook lawsuits to establish its authorship and demanded royalties of other performers of the song.
(From Wikipedia)
Omg. I love this man's music so much. It's crisp and pure and real. He feels like a bard singing with the same clear voice be it on a walk through the woods or at the town square for money. Just a bard, a story teller, and yet...so much more. Can't be more honest than that. True American folk music. Just beautiful. 👏
I feel the same way. He’s my great-uncle and I always wished I could have met him. Funny to think that growing up I played w the dulcimers he made, that inspired Bob Dylan! Just incredible!
I love this guy. I remember I did a paper in college where I wrote about whom I considered to be the three most important American composers (Copland and Gershwin being the other two ). I wish more music lovers would pay attention to him.
A haunting melody befitting our savior who was a man of sorrows and well acquainted with grief.
I agree this is a more natural, therefore more universal performance of the Carol. Thanks for posting it.
I prefer this pure, eloquent, beautiful performance to any other rendition of this song. It's a folk song, and when I hear Niles singing it, it belongs to everyone.
ruclips.net/video/zF3zb4Hbmhk/видео.html
Absolutely riveting! Bravo John.
This reminds me so much of my Mom - she loved this song sung by him
gosh his vocal range is exceptional
I've been researching the story behind various hymns and this was one of the songs. Then plan is to present 2 versions of each song in different styles with the background in between. So grateful to find it sung by its originator.
What a beautiful voice with a terrific range & presentation. Now I'll be looking up his catalog for my own pleasure.
absolutely stunning vocal performance
This was the first song I ever performed in public at age 14. A school holiday concert. Embarrassed to say I didn't know the composer! How wonderful JJN is. :-)
An exciting piece of NC history! See Guideposts December 2012 issue for more on this renowned folklorist and singer.
I thought Niles was from Kentucky?
@@dulcimoredan Niles collected songs in Appalachia and elsewhere, including in NC.
awesome
fantastic
Such a talented man and I love his music! I have learned a few of his songs for high voice in my lessons :)
Brilliant
im related to john Jacob niles I'm a bass player and my brother plays guitar.
My Mother was also related to John Niles 3rd or 4th cousin, she always told me the stories of his Folk singing, my mom played organ piano and trumpet in church, I played sax clarinet and sang in church choir growing up. small world as they say. Needless to say one of my favorite Carols !!
The actual gospel that we are to proclaim to all the nations in Jesus' own words is this:
"This is what is written- The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS will be preached IN HIS NAME to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24: 47
John Jacob Niles visited a poor Appalachian family in their time of need, stole this song from them, made himself "legal owner", and sued anyone else who performed it. This man is a disgrace.
#artax: Niles adapted a song fragment and made it into a complete, coherent song. He was a collector, scholar, songwriter and an evocative performer. The song fragment would likely have been lost without his efforts. What are a few bucks in royalties compared to creating beauty?
He only sued for those who illegally performed his copyrighted adaptation. He was a folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He *worked* for what he did, and credited it (hence the existing documents in the commentary, with an unclear explanation of what we're discussing. He documented folk music history. Don't.
There are songs of his I have found, that when listened to at the right particular time and mood, have moved me in a way that only few other artists ever have, let alone a male vocalist. Breathtaking, haunting, beautiful, and at times outright brash, but always on point.