When He Cometh, or "Jewels"
Old-Time Gospel Music
When He Cometh is an old-time gospel hymn. Very sweet, and very simple, this is one your piano students can learn from!
Alison Krauss and the Cox Family singing "Jewels," the other name of this song:
An arrangement for piano and voice (scroll down the page for the free PDF links):
Like "Farther On," this music is another old-time gospel hymn I first heard from the Zahasky family of the Alaska String Band.
There is no online video of them singing it that I could find, but their rendition, a combination of voices and stringed instruments, is sweet, heart-felt, warm, and very polished - my favorite. This is my adaptation of their version.
A word about the piano arrangement: The arrangement above is - basically - how I play When He Cometh when I accompany a singer (or myself, singing for fun).
If you are baffled by the G chord with C in the bass in measures 4 and 8, and you find you don't like it, just use a G broken chord instead.
I like using a "pedal point" (unchanging bass note under changing chords) sometimes, because it either builds excitement or musical tension, or makes the change to regular bass notes, when it finally comes, feel so RIGHT - like a fulfillment.
And here is "Jewels" with guitar tabs (scroll down the page for the free PDF links):
Simple for guitar...
Very simple chords - I, IV, & V - make this an easy song for beginning guitarists.
Either "baby" chords using 3 strings in the key of C (to avoid the difficult and painful F chord), or if your students already play big chords, choose the key of D.
and pianists...
Playing both melody and chords together will require some careful RH (right hand) fingering.
With my piano students, I have used this lovely hymn to encourage chord accompanying (the lead sheet approach) and then when that is pretty well in hand in the key of C, transpose it up to the key of D.
and singers...
For vocalists, an easy harmony is possible. This would be primarily a 3rd apart, which sounds particularly sweet when singers are in unison until the chorus, breaking into harmony at that point.
Download When He Cometh gospel hymn arrangement for piano in C
Download free old-time gospel hymn for piano in key of D
Download guitar tablature and lead sheet in key of C
Download free hymn sheet music guitar lead sheet in D
Another version of Jewels can be found over at MusicFolkPlayHymns.com, where a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible is transcribed onto the sheet music:
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; -- Malachi 3:17
Here is the background to the lyrics of When He Cometh, from the website ScriptureAndMusic.com:
William Orcutt Cushing conceived the idea for his “Jewel Song” text from the promise in Malachi 3:17: “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” Pastor Cushing wrote the text for the children in his own Sunday school in 1856.
Several years later, William Cushing suffered a period of deep despair in his life. After the death of his wife, he developed a paralysis and the loss of his speech at the age of forty-seven. He was forced to retire from the ministry after twenty-seven years as a pastor in the Disciples of Christ churches. When he pleaded, “Lord, give me something to do for Thee,” God answered, giving him the gift of writing appealing hymn texts. He worked with such musicians as Ira Sankey and George Root to produce more than 300 gospel hymns during his remaining years.
A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls.
The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.
Lots of trolls in this book.
Recent Articles
%2C%20at%20Music-for-Music-Teachers.com){kind=link}
-
"I'll Fly Away" Free Fiddle Sheet Music & Easy Guitar Tabs
I'll Fly Away free fiddle sheet music, with an easy lettered version for beginners! Also, solos & harmonies for voice and guitar.
-
Home on the Range Free Guitar Tabs & Sheet Music
Home on the Range, free guitar tabs are an easy way to show your guitar student how to dress up a song with secondary chords. First show them the simple version with 3 chords, then move on to the fanc…
-
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Lyrics & Sheet Music
Hark the Herald Angels Sing - an easy Middle C piano arrangement for young students still learning to read notes, and a guitar tab arrangement too!
-
Carol of the Bells Guitar Tab
Carol of the Bells guitar tab for your student who is beginning to stretch their abilities with classical or fingerstyle guitar playing. These tabs are LEGIBLE!
-
Oh Holy Night Sheet Music for Elementary Piano
Oh Holy Night sheet music for elementary piano - NOW with an EASIER secondo part that your intermediate students can play! The easy solo shares the melody between the two hands.
-
Christmas Song Lyrics and Free Piano Sheet Music for Holly and Ivy
Christmas Song Lyrics & sheet music of "The Holly and the Ivy" for your intermediate & now BEGINNING piano players: 3 energetic arrangements with flowing left hand chords and one SIMPLE Middle C arran…
-
Gabriel's Message: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
Gabriel's Message: "The Angel Gabriel from heaven came" is a beautiful Christmas song that is almost unknown. It makes a lovely vocal duet. - now updated and SIMPLIFIED.
-
Teaching Young Singers Who Have No Music Background
Teaching young singers: what do you do with a non-musician who can't even read their own language, much less music notes? Here is some QUICK ADVICE!
Cailan:
There are an incredible amount of people online who just want to be heard, but very few who have given what you have so clearly. Regarding instruction for those of us who can't afford lessons,your site has been a real gift to stumble across. I'm looking forward to now removing a few bad habits. My humblest thanks from Australia.
Donna:
Thank you for providing this website of piano music. I am a retired music educator. My 90-year old mom wants to play the piano again! Her age and eye sight have robbed her of her technique, but not her love of music. She often says about herself: “the old grey mare just ain’t what she used to be.” But deep down, the old grey mare is still kicking around and enjoying life. I can't wait to try some of the beginner music with her. I am so grateful for your well-organized resource. Thank you! It is remarkable what a difference music can make in a person’s life. It brings great joy to my mom.
Comments: Do you have a story or a question about music teaching? Share it!
Please note that all comments are moderated, and will not appear until I have approved them. Also, IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR MUSIC THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, YOUR REQUEST WILL BE IGNORED. That's pretty much any music written in the last 75 years...
Sign up for "Take Note!" to see what's new every month.
Search Music-for-Music-Teachers:
Contact About Me Privacy Policy
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2009-2018 Music-for-Music-Teachers.com All rights reserved.
Comments
Have your say... Leave me a comment in the box below.