Violin Arrangement of Psalm 137

Psalm 137 for Violin and Piano

Here is a free violin arrangement of Psalm 137. And you can download it for free for throughout the whole month of April. It’s an ancient tune that has an amazing history. The tune has endured for over 200 years. and been sung in a variety of venues and settings. I learned this tune when a friend from church introduced this song to us a few months ago. But, instead of Psalm 137 they matched these words from Isaiah 53:5.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

The album, He Will Not Cry Out, produced by BiFrost Arts includes this song on their album. Isaac Wardell combined the words and tune together. So you should check out the album on their bandcamp.com site. I love this version and the tune keeps running through my head since I heard it.

So, I began looking for the background and composer for the tune. My research lead me on a journey back to the late 1800’s to a classical composer from England, Philip Hayes.

Psalm 137 in the Classical Era

As I began to look for the composer of the tune, I discovered it was attributed as a traditional Jewish melody. But it was published in a collection called “The Muses Delight: Catches, Glees, Canzonets, and Canons.” This is a collection of works by Philip Hayes. Hayes set the words of Psalm 137 with this song. And published the tune in 1786 as a 4-part canon. You can see the original on page 105 thanks to the Boston Public Library.

Psalm 137 in the Modern Age

In 1971 American singer-songwriter Don McLean arranged and recorded the song as the last track on his album American Pie. He titled the song “Babylon,” taking the title from Psalm 137.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.

Philip Hayes originally wrote this as a 4 -part canon or round. Don McLean arranged his as a 3-part round. And he also adapted some of the original rhythms that Hayes used.

Psalm 137 in 2020

With COVID-19 here, Good Friday and Easter look very different this year. Concerts, performances, services, gatherings, have all been canceled. I have been drawn to tunes and pieces in minor keys over the last few weeks. We see the suffering of people across our country and throughout the world who due to the virus have lost health, lost jobs, lost savings, lost milestone events, and the list could go on.

It’s been easy to forget that this is Holy Week. This Friday is Good Friday. And that Sunday is Easter! To help me remember and to spend some time in meditation. I arranged this tune for violin and piano. Between Psalm 137 and Isaiah 53, my favorite text for this tune is Isaac Wardell’s Isaiah text. But also the message of Psalm 137 is appropriate for this time in history.