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Just As I Am
Composer Benjamin Hutto Text Charlotte Elliott
Voicing SATB
Topics Confession, Forgiveness, Dedication
Length 2' 00" Price $1.65 (U.S.) Released 6/95
Catalog no. 420-136 Difficulty Moderately Difficult
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Reviews
"Speaking of surprises, who could have imagined fifteen years ago that this Journal, Oxford University Press, and a former President of AAM could all be involved in promoting settings of 'Just As I Am'? Bob Chilcott (Oxford) and Ben Hutto (former AAM President) are both represented with highly recommended and original settings of this once-scorned text. Since they are very different from each other, each deserves further comment. Hutto's more straight-forward version is a strophic series of six stanzas; beyond Ben's skill at pacing, what really makes this setting work is his delicious pentatonic tune. It bathes Charlotte Elliott's shopworn words in a new light." AAM Journal, Feb. 1996
"The first rehearsal of this anthem elicited comments about Billy Graham and changing the good old tunes--until the choir read through it. Everyone quickly agreed that the rather stark, pentatonic melody gave new meaning to the text, and it quickly became a Lenten favorite. The two stanzas set for SSAA and TTBB, respectively, have identical music, which can save on note-learning time." --Jane Bourdow, AAM Journal, December 2002
Description You know this deeply personal text written by a woman who was an invalid most of her life. Hutto's setting gives the text something new that adds to the familiar. Even though SSAATTBB, the writing is simple enought to be accessible even to choirs of smaller size.
Text
1 Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
2 Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
3 Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
4 Just as I am, Thou wilt receive;
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
5 Just as I am, Thy love unknown
has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
6 Just as I am, of thy great love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
here for a season, then above:
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
--Charlotte Elliott, 1840
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