Shop for Music

About the Composer

Christopher H. Harris

Dr. Christopher H. Harris, native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a music educator, conductor, performer, and choral composer. In August 2017 he joined the faculty at Arkansas Tech University as Director of Choral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music. He received his PhD in Choral Music Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, his...

Learn More About Christopher H. Harris

Graphite Publishing

Were You There?

Name: Were You There?
SKU: GP-H016
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.50 (2 reviews)

Christopher H. Harris

Lush chords and expressive dissonances in this beloved spiritual.

Difficulty: 4

Duration: 5-10 min.

GP-H016

Add to cart

SATB, a cappella

“Were You There?” provides a fresh and challenging take on the beloved spiritual. This new work by Christopher Harris offers a variety of textures: from a single solo voice to four mixed voices, then expanding to SSAATTBB. Every voice part is challenged as an equal player in this arrangement, and choirs will relish the opportunity to bring the lush chords and expressive dissonances to life.

Text

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when the stone was rolled away?
Were you there when the stone was rolled away?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

– African-American Spiritual

$2.15 per licensed PDF