haiku - Posted - 10/08/2010:  22:29:23

Howdy all.

Today's special is more of a song, or hymn, rather than a pure tune.

When Sorrows Encompass Me 'Round

Well, of course, the first name that comes to mind with this title is obviously Tommy Jarrell
It appears that most, if not all, of other artists rendition have a direct inspiration from Tommy's playing.

You can hear Tommy's solo fiddle on:
"Stay All Night...And Don't Go Home"
amazon.com/gp/product/B001IYYC...51&sr=1-8
or along Fred Cockerham fine banjo on
"Tommy & Fred" (is it out of print?)
Available on Gadaya's Blog:
timesaintliketheyusedtobe.blog...rham.html

Others version I like are:
Mike Seeger's solo banjo on his "True Vine" album:
amazon.com/gp/product/B000S98J...51&sr=1-1

Dirk Powell & Riley Baugus (fiddle & banjo) on "Come to the Mountain: Old Time Music for Modern Times"
amazon.com/gp/product/B00129RR...51&sr=1-3

Tim Eriksen w/ Cordelia's Dad solo voice on the "Cordelia's Dad" album:
timeriksenmusic.com/cordeliasdad/
which probably comes from the Warner Collection, where you can hear Linzy Hicks singing it:
cdbaby.com/cd/warnercol2


Let's talk banjo!!

A good tuning for this tune is gDGCD

This video is a good example:
youtube.com/watch?v=NSqqZnV4nIM

I like to play a thumb-lead version, in aCFAD:
youtube.com/watch?v=3M88lm-pqHU

Here's a tab for it: banjohangout.org/tab/browse.as...l&v=13870

I also like to play it the clawhammer way, in eDGBD - almost the fretting that the thumb-lead version.

I'll end with the lyrics:


When sorrows encompass me round
And many distresses I see
Astonished I cry, Can a mortal be found
Surrounded with troubles like me?

Few seasons of peace I enjoy
And they are succeeded by pain
If e'er a few moments of praise I employ
I have hours and days to complain

O! when will my sorrows subside?
O! when will my sufferings cease?
O! when to the bosom of Christ be conveyed?
To the mansions of glory and bliss?

May I be prepared for that day
When Jesus shall bid me remove
That I may in raptures go shouting away
To the arms of my heav'nly Love.

My spirit to glory conveyed
My body laid low in the ground
I wish not a tear at my grave to be shed
But all join in praising around

No sorrow be vented that day
When Jesus hath called me home
With singing and shouting let each brother say
"He's gone from the evil to come."

If souls disembodied can know
Or visit their brethern beneath
My spirit shall join you, while singing you go
And leave all my cares in the grave

Immersed in the ocean of love
My soul, like an angel shall sing
Till Christ shall descend with a shout from above
And make all creation to ring

Our bodies, in dust shall obey
And swifter than thought shall arise
Then, changed in a moment, go shouting away
To mansions of love in the skies.

Edited by - haiku on 10/09/2010 07:11:58

mojo_monk - Posted - 10/09/2010:  05:50:12

Awesome tuning for that thumb lead version!

This song never fails to send chills down my spine - especially the version from the Tommy and Fred album.

The album is indeed out of print and can be downloaded here: timesaintliketheyusedtobe.blog...rham.html

The lyrics to this hymn are attributed to Methodist preacher/poet Caleb Jarvis Taylor. According to a few old sources (ask and I'll send you citations), Rev. Taylor was born in St. Mary's county, Maryland in 1753, spent most of his adult life in Kentucky and Tennessee as a "preacher in the wilderness," and was "naturally gloomy, yet at times possessed a great flow of spirits." In June of 1816, "after a painful illness, he closed his eyes in death." Many of his compositions can be found in the various "shape note" hymnals of the Southern mountains - including "While Sorrows Encompass Me Round" which was written sometime in the 1790s.

- Sean
2ftlbanjer.wordpress.com/

derwood400 - Posted - 10/09/2010:  06:02:42

Really nice hymn. And great job with all the info and examples. Some of the two-finger stuff is what I've been really wanting to learn lately, so I really appreciate your version with the thumb lead. Thanks.

Darren

haiku - Posted - 10/09/2010:  07:13:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by mojo_monk


This song never fails to send chills down my spine - especially the version from the Tommy and Fred album.

The album is indeed out of print and can be downloaded here: timesaintliketheyusedtobe.blog...rham.html

---

Adam Kiesling - Posted - 10/09/2010:  08:54:00

Nice tune, and I really enjoyed your rendition as well.

Thanks!

Adam

harvey - Posted - 10/09/2010:  10:02:48

Very nice. It reminds me (on first listen) a little of "And Am I Born to Die?"

RG - Posted - 10/09/2010:  18:26:07

Great choice and well played!

haiku - Posted - 10/10/2010:  06:50:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by harvey

Very nice. It reminds me (on first listen) a little of "And Am I Born to Die?"

---

banjoannie - Posted - 10/11/2010:  07:14:48

vary cool song love playing it great for fall!!!

Hunter Robertson - Posted - 10/11/2010:  14:18:33

Nice choice Mathieu and I liked your playing of it. Great tuning for it too.

Those Warner CDs are well worth getting (and the Folk-Legacy albums from Beech Mountain with a lot of the same people). Great songs and singing.

Hunter

brokenstrings - Posted - 10/11/2010:  18:45:41

Agreed (on Matthieu's playing).

banjoannie - Posted - 10/12/2010:  20:17:26

Here is my attempt.

When sorrow encompass me ' round.

atleson - Posted - 10/13/2010:  13:26:12

I've always been fascinated by this tune. Riley Baugus does a wonderful version. Anyone have a clawhammer tab?

jim

banjoannie - Posted - 10/13/2010:  20:42:41

I picked it up by the youtube it's in gDGCD..

rbell - Posted - 10/15/2010:  23:00:46

Posting to this thread as well... here's my version, first in thumb lead and then in clawhammer. Reiter fretless tuned to aEAC#E.

When Sorrows Encompass Me Round