Since I Laid My Burden Down, arr. Kyle Pederson | Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.

Since I Laid My Burden Down [level: Medium]
arr. Kyle Pederson: Bio and other works

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voicing: SATB | catalog number: SBMP 1563 | price: $2.25
accompaniment: piano

This piece pairs two iconic melodies--Glory, Glory Hallelujah and the chorus of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, set in a driving gospel/blues groove. An energetic piano adds to the excitement. [ Errata ]

First Readings Project - Directed by David Ostenso Moore [© all rights reserved]

CLICK HERE: See and Hear the Complete Score or download a perusal copy: HERE

CLICK HERE: Read the Text or Poem

Glory hallelujah, since I laid my burden down
I have joy now like a fountain
I have joy deep in my soul
I have joy now like a fountain
Since I laid my burden down.

I have peace now, like a river
I have peace deep in my soul
I have peace now like a river
Since I laid my burden down.

traditional, adapted by Kevin Pederson

CLICK HERE: Choral Tracks (Practice made simple)

Since I Laid My Burden Down choral track bundle contains a part dominant track for each voice part, a balanced voices track, and an accompaniment track if the work is not a cappella (the accompaniment is also included with the part dominant and balanced voices track). Get more information and listen to samples HERE

Price: $49.99 (Each bundle is licensed to be used by up to 50 users)
Please adjust the quantity accordingly if you have more than 50 users.

CLICK HERE: Composer Notes

To me, spirituals are the most powerful type of music. Spirituals were birthed and rooted in the experience of chattel slavery in the United States—and arose out of, as Arthur C. Jones suggests, "deeply meaningful, archetypically human experiences, relevant not only to the specific circumstances of slavery but also to women and men struggling with issues of justice, freedom, and spiritual wholeness in all times and places.”

My arrangement of Since I Laid My Burden Down integrates the iconic melodies of two spirituals (Lay Your Burden Down and Glory Glory Hallelujah). I've always been struck by the seeming contradiction of the text--which is a text about joy and praise--and the unjust and tragic experience of slavery from which it arose. It is beyond remarkable to me that in the midst of such suffering and pain, the original writers of these spirituals could still find voice to praise God and sing about joy. And I think there is an invitation in that to the choirs and audiences of today; in the middle of our own personal and communal trials and pain, where can we find joy? Can we still find reason to sing praises? And what particular burdens (both personal and community-wide) do we need to lay aside to more fully step into freedom and peace? When we lay down our burdens of hate, judgement, and apathy--how might our lightened load spin more compassion, love, and grace out into the world?

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Featured on the following reading sessions
2020 | 70th Annual Dorian Festival-Decorah, IA - January 13
2019 | Missouri Choral Directors Convention - July 17-20