I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry

• No Shared Bells: No Shared Bells
• Author/Composer/Arranger: John Ylvisaker, Martha Lynn Thompson
• Use: Sacred
• Octaves Used - Select One: 3 - 6 Octaves
• Level: Level 2
• Topic: Baptism, General
• Options: Narrator, Voice
• Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution

The ethereal opening and closing motifs, played on randomly-malleted suspended chimes, suggest the mystery surrounding the beginning and ending of life. The music of the stanzas depicts the various stages of life as described in the hymn text.  Mirroring the opening section, the piece grows softer until the final malleted chord. An optional hymn page for vocal soloist is included. If desired, the hymn text may be read by a narrator, beginning each stanza at the places indicated within the score.