ARIRANG

Tune Information

Title: ARIRANG
Meter: Irregular
Incipit: 56561 21232 32165
Key: G Major
Source: Korean traditional

Texts

Christ, You Are the Fullness

"Abba, Abba, Hear Us," We Cry


“Abba, Abba, hear us,” we cry;
God’s Spirit cries in us
and proclaims us slaves no more, but heirs,
the heirs of God.
All creation waits, eager and longing;
soon God’s children, glorious and free, will be
revealed.

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God, who made the earth, declared it good in the beginning

Notes

The tune ARIRANG is named after a Korean folk song that has long been a favorite in Korea and became known by many American soldiers during the Korean War (1950¬1953). The song was probably composed around 1865, when laborers were conscripted from allover Korea to rebuild the Kyonbok Palace in Seoul. These workers brought their regional folk songs with them; this one presumably came from the legendary Arirang mountains, which in Korean culture symbolize the sometimes bitter separation of loved ones. Arirang is a lament with romantic connotations; the original text can be translated:

As the stars, my tears are countless
as they ceaselessly flow!
You, so faithless, are leaving me alone and pale.
May your feet pain you at the end of the trail!

ARIRANG is a fascinating tune featuring repeats of complete phrases and small motifs. Polman changed one of the original cadence patterns to make four clear phrases for this song, which is intended for unison singing. The 1986 keyboard harmonization by Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) features a drone (held note) in the bass, a device common in much Asian music. Because of the irregular number of syllables in each stanza, have a soloist or choir introduce it to the congregation.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1987

Timeline

Arrangements

Organ Solo

  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 50 Number 1 September October 2015: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Douglas E. Wagner; Michael Ryan
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2015) pp. 2
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 50 Number 1 September October 2015: The Organist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Douglas E. Wagner; Michael Ryan
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2015) pp. 2
  • The Organist's Companion Volume 29 Number 4 May 2007 General, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity: A Bi-monthly Journal of Quality Organ Music for the Practical Church Musician
    Composer/Editors Wayne Leupold; Joy Koning
    Published By: McAfee Music Corporation (2007) pp. 3
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 41 Number 4 March April 2007: The Organist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Gilbert M. Martin; F; Dennis Eliot
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2007) pp. 12
  • The Organist's Companion Volume 25 Number 3 March 2003 General, Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, Easter Season, Festivals: A Bi-monthly Journal of Quality Organ Music for the Practical Church Musician
    Composer/Editors Wayne Leupold; Edmond-Jean-Louis Missa
    Published By: McAfee Music Corporation (2003) pp. 6
  • A Celebration of Many Peoples - The Balboa Park Organ Suite
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1996) pp. 13
  • The Organist's Companion Volume 12 Number 5 July 1990 General, Weddings: A Bi-monthly Journal of Quality Organ Music for the Practical Church Musician
    Composer/Editors Wayne Leupold; Peter A. Togni
    Published By: McAfee Music Corporation (1990) pp. 20
  • The Organist's Companion Volume 1 Number 5 August 1979 General, Weddings: A Bi-monthly Journal of Quality Organ Music for the Practical Church Musician
    Composer/Editors Wayne Leupold; Th
    Published By: McAfee Music Corporation (1979) pp. 12

Instances

Instances (1 - 12 of 12)

Catholic Book of Worship III #431

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #228

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #228

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #229

Audio

Sing! A New Creation #211

Singing the New Testament #137

Singing the New Testament #201

Songs for Life #232

The Book of Praise #785

The Covenant Hymnal #597

The Presbyterian Hymnal #346

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