Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Grade Level 3

Year: 2003

Type: Eb/F Solo

Composer: James Anderson

Program Notes:

The words of the Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” were written by Charles Wesley and first published in 1739 as part of a collection entitled “Hymns and Sacred Poems.”  The ‘hallelujahs’ now considered so much a part of this song were a later addition.  Originally set to a tune entitled Georgia, an adaptation of Handel’s “See the Conquering Hero,” this solo uses as its inspiration, the Welsh melody Llanfair, which means “The Church of St. Mary.”  The tune, written by Robert Williams in 1817, may not apply to a specific town by possibly the church that the composer attended.  He was a blind basket maker and lived his whole life in Anglesey.

American Instrumental Ensemble Series (AIES/ABES)