‘WONDROUS LOVE’ basic melody (free PDF)

$0.00

A basic adaptation of the haunting, traditional American shape-note hymn ‘WONDROUS LOVE’ (a.k.a. ‘What Wondrous Love Is This?’), a hymn that is particularly well-suited for Scottish-style pipes.  Please see below for the free download, more information about this melody, and audio and video samples.

 

Description

A basic adaptation of the haunting, traditional American shape-note hymn ‘WONDROUS LOVE’ (a.k.a. ‘What Wondrous Love Is This?’), a hymn that is particularly well-suited for Scottish-style pipes. A very similar version was recorded on smallpipes on The Piper in the Holler album. Though this hymn is uniquely American, the melody may have some English DNA, an early version having likely been used for a 1701 pirate ballad about Captain [William] Kidd (among other English songs).

If you are seeking the version of ‘WONDROUS LOVE’ with a harmony part derived from the traditional shape-note version, please see here. For a more contemporary setting closer to what was published in ‘An Ift of Efts’ collection and recorded on Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band’s The Calling album, please see here. There also exists a printed arrangement of this melody for Highland pipes and organ which may be found here. (These other arrangements are not available for free.)

Click on the below link to download your free copy of this setting:
WONDROUS LOVE

Audio sample, featuring Border pipes:

And another, featuring Scottish smallpipes (D-chanter):

And a video of shape-note singers singing the original shape-note hymn (which this version is based upon):